HEADLINES

DR Congo:

· M23: troops being held in Uganda (and Rwanda?), left large arms depot

· Kampala: Congo Government doesn’t want ‘agreement’ with defeated M23, only ‘declaration’; new split within M23

· security: head of MONUSCO to Pinga (North Kivu); FDLR in north Katanga; new armed group in Maniema

· 2 new IPIS publications relating to ‘conflict minerals’: impact of initiatives on local livelihoods, interactive map of artisanal mining areas in the east & analysis

Central African Republic:

· resurgence of violence in capital Bangui

· more than a million at risk of hunger (WFP)

IPIS’ Latest Publications

Analysis of the interactive map of artisanal mining areas in Eastern DR Congo | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
In August 2009 the ‘International Peace Information Service’ (IPIS) published a first map of militarised mining areas in Eastern DR Congo. By 2012, the international interest in the issue had grown but the map was out-dated. To find a structural solution, IPIS sat down with the Congolese mining cadastre (CAMI) and agreed to set up a permanent system to monitor artisanal mining activities and the involvement of armed groups in the mineral exploitation and trade.
A first version of the resulting map has been published at https://ipisresearch.be//mapping/webmapping. It shows the location of nearly 800 mining sites and 85 trading centres, including information about armed groups presence and involvement, and the scale of the mining activity. The map includes at least 410 cases of illegal taxation by armed groups or the Congolese army.

‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
The exploitation of minerals is an important source of income for many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yet this mineral wealth also plays a significant role in the continuation of insecurity in parts of the country.
Over recent years, several domestic, regional and international initiatives have been developed to address the so-called ‘conflict minerals’ problem and the high level of informality in the DRC’s artisanal mining sector. These initiatives have provoked varying reactions regarding their impact on local livelihoods.
This report aims to provide insight into the impact of initiatives on the livelihood strategies of local communities in the DRC, based on field research in a wide range of mining areas; and document the perceptions of local stakeholders of these initiatives and their impacts.

IPIS Insights: Why businesses should assess human rights impacts from the outset of projects. SOCO International Oil Company in Virunga National Park, DRC | 26 August 2013 | International Peace Information Service (IPIS)
SOCO International, a British oil company, is prospecting for oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park – a World Heritage Site. For the past year, their presence has been criticised for putting a fragile environment at risk. However, more recently, their impact on human rights has also been questioned. In this Insights IPIS looks at why it is so vital for companies to employ rights-respectful processes, such as those advised in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, from the very beginning of the prospection stage.

Strijd tegen conflictmineralen: sleutel tot conflictresolutie in Oost-Congo? | 25 July 2013 | IPIS (Internationale Spectator)
De PDF van dit artikel is met toestemming van de redactie overgenomen uit de ‘Internationale Spectator, Clingendael Magazine voor Internationale Betrekkingen’, uitgegeven door de Koninklijke Van Gorcum, te Assen namens het Nederlands Instituut voor Internationale Betrekkingen ‘Clingendael’ te Den Haag.

Business, Human Rights, and Uganda’s Oil. Part I: Uganda’s oil sector and potential threats to human rights | 25 July 2013 | International Peace Information Service (IPIS) – ActionAid International Uganda
The following report is the first of a series of four collaborations between IPIS Research and ActionAid International Uganda. The series sheds a light on the oil sector in Uganda, its possible impact on human rights, and how government, companies, and civil society can best enable a positive bond between oil and the welfare of the Ugandan people.

The formalisation of artisanal mining in the DRC and Rwanda | December 2012 [April 2013] | IPIS
This report describes and evaluates initiatives to formalise the artisanal mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, in order to locate lessons learned. We hope that these perspectives will support the formation of well-informed policy and regulatory options – both by the EU and by harvesting countries – concerning the formalisation of timber production in tropical countries.
The report was commissioned by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), which is dedicated to advancing human well-being, environmental conservation and equity through providing information that leads to better informed and equitable decision making about the use and management of forests in tropical countries.

Gold and diamonds in the Central African Republic. The country’s mining sector, and related social, economic and environmental issues | 26 March 2013 | IPIS
Gold and diamonds in Central Africa easily conjure up images of conflict, rebel funding, human rights violations, and smuggling. As a country landlocked within an unstable region, neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and recently the scene of another coup, the Central African Republic (CAR) might be considered an appropriate candidate for analysis within the conflict-mineral perspective. Yet this framework would ignore the country’s mining sector’s very specific characteristics. The sector offers an essential livelihood to many households, represents the country’s second most important export product, and is organised in a particular way. Nonetheless, a wide range of issues regarding the country’s mining sector persist.
This report aims to analyse both the Central African Republic’s gold and diamond mining sector and related environmental and socio-economic issues.

Arms Trade and Security in the Great Lakes Region

Recent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region

Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)
Capturing Ugandan Rebel Leader Joseph Kony a US Interest | 7 November 2013 | Voice of America
U.S. military planners continue their discussions on a possible of expansion of efforts in Africa to capture the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony.

LRA attacks kill two in Western Equatoria State | 7 November 2013 | Miraya FM
South Sudan Blames LRA for Deadly Attacks | 7 November 2013 | Voice of America
South Sudan has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Western Equatoria to root out Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) fighters suspected of carrying out deadly attacks in the state this week, army spokesman Philip Aguer said Thursday.

CPI/LRA – La LRA et son chef dans le collimateur de la CPI et de la société civile | 8 November 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency
La Cour pénale internationale (CPI) reste préoccupée par la non-exécution de son mandat d’arrêt contre l’Ougandais Koseph Kony, le chef de l’Armée de résistance du Seigneur (LRA).

African rapid response force
Does the unwieldy label of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises conceal a real determination to act? | 7 November 2013 | Institute for Security Studies
All the attention this week on the unconditional surrender of the M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – including the Southern African Development Community (SADC)/International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) summit on the topic in Pretoria which South African President Jacob Zuma hosted on Monday night – rather overshadowed another important summit which he hosted the next night.

East African Peace & Security Conference
Major Peace Conference Opens in Bujumbura | 13 November 2013 | The Independent (Kampala) | allAfrica
The 2nd East African Community Peace and Security Conference opened on Nov. 13 in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura. Delegates include senior government officials, members of the East African Community Legislative Assembly (EALA), academicians, judges, and conflict sensitive journalists within the EAC.

DRC

M23 after the defeat
RDC : le Conseil de sécurité de l’Onu satisfait de l’action des casques bleus et de l’armée | 7 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Les membres du Conseil de sécurité de l’Onu saluent l’action des casques bleus de la Monusco et des militaires congolais contre les rebelles du M23.

Ugandan source says Congo rebel commander held in Uganda | 7 November 2013 | Reuters
DR Congo’s M23 rebel chief Sultani Makenga ‘surrenders’ | 7 November 2013 | BBC Africa
Ugandan Officials: M23 Commander, 1,500 Rebels in Ugandan Custody | 7 November 2013 | Voice of America
The surrender of Sultani Makenga [a vague sketch] | 7 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
RDC : le chef militaire du M23 Sultani Makenga se rend aux autorités ougandaises | 7-8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
RDC: le chef militaire du M23 aux mains des autorités ougandaises | 7-8 November 2013 | RFI
Julien Paluku conteste le nombre de rebelles du M23 réfugiés en Ouganda | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Ouganda : Sultani Makenga et les combattants du M23 ne seront pas remis à la RDC | 8 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Ugandan military officials say at least 1,500 fighters from the defeated M23 rebel movement in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo have surrendered, while the group’s top commander Sultani Makenga is in Ugandan custody.

RDC: combien de rebelles du M23 sont passés au Rwanda ? | 8 November 2013 | RFI
Alors que l’Ouganda affirme détenir le chef militaire du M23, Sultani Makenga, la situation des combattants M23 qui ont, selon les autorités congolaises, traversé massivement la frontière pour se rendre au Rwanda, reste jusqu’ici encore floue.

M23 : la pression des Etats-Unis sur Kigali a été déterminante, selon James Swan | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le nouvel ambassadeur américain en RDC, James Swan se dit satisfait de la fin de la rébellion du M23 après plus de deux ans d’efforts politiques et diplomatiques. Il a affirmé jeudi 7 novembre que les Etats-Unis d’Amérique ont imposé une pression déterminante sur le Rwanda pour qu’il arrête son soutien à ce mouvement rebelle.

RDC: des diplomates «étonnés» par la quantité de munitions du M23 découvertes à Chanzu | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le Conseil supérieur de la défense fournit la preuve d’un soutien extérieur au M23 | 9 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Les attachés à la Défense de plusieurs ambassades accréditées en RDC affirment être étonnés par la découverte, à Chanzu, de la quantité de munitions et d’armes lourdes, appartenant aux rebelles du M23.

RDC : hommage aux militaires morts aux combats contre le M23 | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Les autorités politiques, militaires et celles de la Monusco ont rendu hommage, samedi 9 novembre à Goma, aux sept militaires morts lors des combats contre le M23 dans les collines de Runyonyi au Nord-Kivu.

RDC : après la défaite militaire, le M23 se scinde en deux branches distinctes | 13 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
RDC : Le M23 et ses parrains se divisent | 13 November 2013 | Afrikarabia
C’est officiel : le Mouvement du 23-Mars (M23) a désormais deux branches distinctes. Son secrétaire permanent, Serge Kambasu Ngeve, affirme bénéficier du soutien de la “majorité” des membres de l’ex-rébellion et annonce son intention de signer les “conclusions” des pourparlers de Kampala avec le gouvernement congolais.

No end yet to Kampala talks
Congo says to sign peace deal with M23 rebels on Monday | 8 November 2013 | Reuters
Kampala : Kinshasa prêt à signer un document officialisant la fin du M23 | 7 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
RDC: après la fin militaire du M23, qu’attendre des négociations de Kampala? | 7 November 2013 | RFI
RDC – François Mwamba : “Pas d’amnistie ni d’intégration en bloc” dans l’armée pour les ex-M23 | 8 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Kampala : Kinshasa confirme la signature lundi d’un accord avec le M23 | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
RDC: vers un accord de paix à Kampala | 8 November 2013 | RFI
RDC: Mary Robinson salue l’annonce d’un accord entre le M23 et le Gouvernement | 10 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
A Kampala, RDC et M23 face à face pour faire la paix | 11 November 2013 | RFI
Majorité et opposition refusent un «accord » entre Kinshasa et le M23 | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Democratic Republic of Congo will sign a peace deal on Monday with the M23 rebel group that laid down its arms this week after a string of military defeats, Congo’s Foreign Minister Raymond Tshibanda told Reuters on Friday.

Peace deal signing ceremony between Congo and M23 rebels delayed | 11 November 2013 | Reuters
Congo, M23 rebels peace signing delayed over wording of pact | 11 November 2013 | Reuters
Why Congo, M23 Peace Deal Flopped | 12 November 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
A ceremony to formally end Congo’s bloodiest conflict in a decade was delayed on Monday by an 11th-hour spat between the government and M23 rebels over whether the document should be entitled a peace agreement or a vaguer declaration.

UN and partners voice regret at delay in signing of DR Congo-M23 peace deal | 11 November 2013 | UN News Centre
L’ONU et ses partenaires inquiets du retard pris par la signature de l’accord de paix entre la RDC et le M23 | 11 November 2013 | UN News Centre
RDC: l’accord de paix entre le gouvernement et le M23 n’a pas été signé | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
RDC: la signature de l’accord de paix entre le M23 et Kinshasa reportée «sine die» | 11 November 2013 | RFI
RDC : Kinshasa et le M23 échouent à signer un accord de paix | 12 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Accords Kinshasa-M23, journée de dupes à Entebbe | 12 November 2013 | RFI
Kampala : les envoyés spéciaux regrettent le manque de compromis entre la RDC et le M23 | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
United Nations envoys and their diplomatic counterparts today voiced regret that peace talks between the M23 rebel group and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could not be concluded this evening, while also stressing that any solution to their conflict must ensure accountability for those who have committed grave crimes.

Congo blames mediator Uganda for collapse of rebel talks | 12 November 2013 | Reuters
DRC Official Blames Uganda for Breakdown of M23 Agreement | 12 November 2013 | Voice of America
The Congolese government delegation has quit Ugandan-hosted talks with M23 rebels, saying Kampala’s support for insurgents was to blame for the failure to sign a document due to officially end Congo’s latest rebellion.

DR Congo peace talks to go on despite failure to sign deal | 12 November 2013 | AFP | Reliefweb
Peace efforts between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and defeated M23 rebels will continue, Uganda said Tuesday, a day after the two sides failed to sign a much hoped for agreement.

Kampala : Martin Kobler invite Kinshasa et le M23 à ne pas exclure l’option politique | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi

RDC: retour sur le désaccord de Kampala | 13 November 2013 | RFI

Kampala : pourquoi Kinshasa veut une «déclaration» et non un «accord» avec le M23 | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
L’accord de paix qui devait proclamer lundi 11 novembre la fin de la guerre n’a pas été signé à Kampala par le gouvernement de la RDC et l’ex-rébellion du M23. Le point d’achoppement : l’intitulé du document qui devrait être une « déclaration » de fin de guerre et non un « accord », insiste le gouvernement congolais. Mardi, François Muamba, chargé du suivi de l’accord-cadre d’Addis-Abeba a affirmé à Radio Okapi que le document final doit acter que les rebelles du M23 ont été vaincus et que la guerre ne s’est pas terminée grâce à un accord.

What’s left to save in Kampala? | 13 November 2013 | Congo Siasa
On Monday, the peace talks in Kampala seemed to (again) be on the verge of success. The M23 and the Congolese government delegations were on their way to State House, and international envoys said both sides had agreed on the eleven articles of the agreement. At the last minute, however, the deal fell apart––over the simple issue of a title.

Congo ready to sign document formalizing rebel defeat | 13 November 2013 | Reuters
The Democratic Republic of Congo said on Wednesday it was ready to sign a “declaration” that reflects the defeat of M23 rebels, despite pulling out of Ugandan-hosted peace talks a day earlier.

Background, analysis, comments, interviews
Big victory as M23 surrenders, but not an end to Congo’s travails | 7 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
This week, almost a year after the March 23 movement (M23) briefly occupied Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a series of joint operations between the Congolese army and the UN peacekeeping mission’s intervention brigade finally led to adecisive victory over the rebel group.

Daily Beast Op-ed: How Congo Defeated the M23 Rebels | 7 November 2013 | Enough Project
Good news is hard to come by in Congo, so no one should be surprised to see Congolese citizens dancing in the streets these days, overjoyed by their government’s rare battlefield victory over the reviled M23 rebellion.

DRC – the War Might Be Won, but Who’s Going to Win the Peace? | 7 November 2013 | Daily Maverick | allAfrica
There’s lots to celebrate as rebels in the eastern DRC lay down their arms and surrender, concluding the latest chapter of a long-simmering rebellion. But no one should be celebrating too hard: winning the war was the easy part. Winning the peace will be a lot harder.

Analysis: Extending peace in DRC after M23’s demise | 8 November 2013 | IRIN
With the predominantly Tutsi rebel group M23 routed and vowing to disarm, attention is shifting to how to cement and extend peace across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and ease the decades-long suffering and deprivation of millions of civilians.

Le général Olenga commente la victoire de l’armée congolaise | 8 November 2013 | Le carnet de Colette Braeckman
Nommé chef d’état major des forces terrestres après la suspension du général Amisi, soupçonné de trahison, le général François Olenga est un nationaliste de la première heure : opposant au président Mobutu, il étudia en Tchéquie, puis fut longtemps réfugié en Allemagne et il ne revint au Congo que dans le sillage de Laurent-Désiré Kabila, lorsque ce dernier entreprit, durant la guerre de 1996-97, de chasser le dictateur, avec le soutien des armées du Rwanda et de l’Ouganda.

Concern over unexploded ordnance in eastern DRC | 8 November 2013 | IRIN
With thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) expected to return to villages abandoned by M23 after recent fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), there are worries about unexploded ordnance (UXO).

RDC: le Rwanda a-t-il lâché le M23? | 9 November 2013 | AFP | Jeune Afrique
Le gouvernement rwandais a toujours démenti toutes les accusations de soutien militaire ou financier de l’ex-rébellion congolaise. Et pourtant bon nombre d’observateurs estiment que si le M23 n’a pas pu faire face à l’offensive des FARDC et de la Monusco, c’est parce que justement Kigali serait resté en retrait.

Factbox: M23 revolt arose from east Congo’s ethnic, political rivalries | 10 November 2013 | Reuters
Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and M23 rebels are to sign a peace deal on Monday in Uganda’s capital Kampala, ending a 20-month revolt that drew attention again to tangled ethnic tensions and political rivalries in east Congo.

M23 Leader: DRC Needs Political, not Military Solution | 11 November 2013 | Voice of America
The leader of the M23 rebel movement told VOA the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo requires a political, not military solution.

Congo, M23 rebels make peace but region still unstable | 11 November 2013 | Reuters
Congo and defeated M23 rebels are to sign a peace deal on Monday aimed at ending the country’s most serious conflict in a decade, though other militias still roam and stability remains a distant prospect.

Conflict trends (no. 20): Real-time analysis of African political violence, November 2013 | 11 November 2013 | ACLED | Reliefweb
November issue of the Armed Conflict Location & Event Dataset (ACLED) Conflict Trends. Each month, ACLED researchers gather, analyse and publish data on political violence in Africa in realtime. This month, the report focuses on the intensification of violence in DR-Congo as international and national security forces redouble their efforts against the M23; …

L’accord signé à Kampala pose toujours question | 11 November 2013 | Le carnet de Colette Braeckman
La paix signée à Kampala, après la victoire des troupes congolaises contre les rebelles pro rwandais du M23 et qui devrait clôturer une guerre entamée durant l’été 2012 serait-elle déjà mort née ?

Communities still at risk: Any future military action in eastern DRC must minimize harm to civilians | 11 November 2013 | Oxfam International
The M23 has been defeated militarily and today are set to sign a peace agreement with the government, but dozens of armed groups remain in eastern DRC, exposing civilians to daily violence. Government and the UN must ensure that communities do not become the casualties of any military action against these groups.

Kampala : Les raisons d’un échec | 11 November 2013 | Afrikarabia
La signature de l’accord de paix entre le gouvernement congolais et les rebelles du M23, prévue le 11 novembre à Kampala, a été reportée sine die. En cause : la dénomination du texte, mais aussi le sort des ex-rebelles, la transformation du M23 en parti politique et des raisons de politique intérieure. Explications.

Disbanding of M23 Rebel Group in Democratic Republic of Congo Offers Hope for a Safer Future for Mountain Gorillas | 11 November 2013 | African Wildlife Foundation | allAfrica
Presence of other rebel groups in region, in combination with other threats against great apes, still pose potential harm to the endangered species.

Jason Stearns: après l’échec de ce lundi 11 novembre, «la médiation a une part de responsabilité» | 12 November 2013 | RFI
Cela avait été annoncé par le facilitateur ougandais la semaine dernière, la communauté internationale avait fait le déplacement et pourtant, pas d’accord signé à Kampala entre le gouvernement congolais et l’ex-rébellion du Mouvement du 23 mars (M23). Un report sine die. Pourquoi ? C’est ce que Sonia Rolley a demandé à Jason Stearns, chercheur sur le Congo et directeur du programme Oussalama qui étudie les groupes armés dans l’est du Congo.

DR Congo peace deal teeters on brink after talks collapse | 12 November 2013 | AFP | Reliefweb
The chances of forging a political deal to end a bloody insurgency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo seemed increasingly slight Tuesday after the government and rebels failed to sign a peace accord.

New U.N. Brigade’s Aggressive Stance in Africa Brings Success, and Risks | 12 November 2013 | New York Times
UN Brigade Makes Mark on DRC Conflict | 12 November 2013 | Voice of America
U.N. Peacekeeping Goes on the Offensive | 13 November 2013 | IPS
As U.N. peacekeeping operations assume a more agressive role in conflict zones, the first concrete results came last week when the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) defeated the M23 rebel group after a 20-month-long insurgency.

Au delà de la sémantique, pourquoi Kinshasa dit non | 12 November 2013 | Le carnet de Colette Braeckman
Réhabiliter les rebelles ? Le Congo dit non, à l’unanimité.

Olivier Nduhungirehe : “La RDC et la Monusco n’ont plus d’excuses pour neutraliser les FDLR” | 12 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Après la défaite du Mouvement du 23-Mars (M23) dans l’est de la RDC, le Rwanda appelle l’armée congolaise et la Monusco à s’attaquer “en priorité” aux éléments des Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR). Interview.

Insight: Rebel defeat boosts Kabila but peace in Congo distant | 13 November 2013 | Reuters
The defeat of Democratic Republic of Congo’s most important rebel group has strengthened President Joseph Kabila’s grip on political power, but bringing peace to his vast central African nation remains a remote prospect.

RDC : de l’AFDL de Kabila au M23 de Makenga, la fin d’un cycle ? | 13 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
La défaite militaire du Mouvement du 23-mars (M23) amorce-t-elle la fin d’un cycle de violences dans le Kivu ? AFDL, RCD, CNDP, M23, etc. Retour sur les dates clés des rébellions qui ont secoué l’est de la RDC ces deux dernières décennies.

Diplomatic tricks, military victories, regional integration, and hopes for peace: in DRC, nothing is impossible | 14 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
Amani Itakuya #15, by Willy Change
The M23 surrender and reactions.

MONUSCO weekly press conference
Conférence de presse des Nations Unies du mercredi 13 novembre 2013 | 13 November 2013 | MONUSCO

Armed groups in eastern Congo & DDR
RDC: les groupes armés appelés à rejoindre le processus DDRR | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le Conseil supérieur de la Défense de la RDC recommande aux groupes armés encore actifs dans ce pays à rejoindre le processus Démobilisation, désarmement, réinsertion et rapatriement (DDRR), faute de quoi l’armée congolaise le fera par la force.

Démobilisation et désarmement: la RDC veut s’inspirer de la Colombie | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le gouvernement congolais veut s’inspirer du modèle colombien pour réussir l’intégration des ex-rebelles dans l’armée nationale.

Nord-Kivu : au moins 7 groupes armés toujours actifs à Rutshuru | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Sept groupes armés locaux et étrangers continuent à semer la terreur à Rutshuru, territoire du Nord-Kivu qu’occupaient partiellement la rébellion du M23 jusqu’à sa récente débâcle face à l’armée congolaise. Environ une quarantaine de groupes armés pullulent dans l’Est de la RDC.

M. Kobler, Chef de la Monusco – « La question des drones est toujours d’actualité… » | 11 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Malgré la victoire des FARDC sur les rebelles du M23, « la question des drones reste toujours d’actualité, c’est très important de les avoir », a déclaré le représentant spécial du secrétaire général de l’Onu en RDC et chef de la Monusco.

Nord-Kivu : la population appelée à être solidaire des autorités contre les groupes armés | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le ministre de l’Intérieur, Richard Muyej Mangez, a appelé mardi 12 novembre la population du Nord-Kivu à être solidaire des autorités dans la lutte contre les groupes armés, qu’il a d’ailleurs invité à déposer les armes.

Démobilisation des rebelles : l’ONU exhorte la RDC à se doter d’un “plan” | 13 November 2013 | AFP | Reliefweb
Les Nations unies ont exhorté mercredi la République démocratique du Congo à se doter d’un “plan” permettant la démobilisation, le désarmement et la réinsertion sociale (DDR) de tous les combattants des nombreux groupes armés présents dans le pays.

Rwandan troups in Nyiragongo, North Kivu?
Des troupes rwandaises signalées à Murambi, à 3 km de l`aéroport de Goma | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Une centaine de militaires de l’armée Rwandaise (RDF) viennent d’établir leur position en RDC, vers la frontière congolo-rwandaise, dans la localité de Murambi, territoire Nyiragongo au Nord-Kivu, selon des sources de la société civile confirmées par l’administrateur du territoire.

Martin Kobler : « Nous n’avons aucune indication sur la présence des soldats rwandais au Nord-Kivu » | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
« Nous avons parlé avec le commandant des FARDC pour vérifier comment est le système de contrôle des frontières dans cette région sur la présence des rwandais ici dans le pays. Nous n’avons aucune indication sur ça », a déclaré mercredi 13 novembre le patron de la Monusco, Martin Kobler, lors de la conférence des Nations unies à Kinshasa.

Rutshuru, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu : au moins 7 groupes armés toujours actifs à Rutshuru | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Sept groupes armés locaux et étrangers continuent à semer la terreur à Rutshuru, territoire du Nord-Kivu qu’occupaient partiellement la rébellion du M23 jusqu’à sa récente débâcle face à l’armée congolaise. Ces miliciens sont essentiellement des combattants Maï-Maï et des rebelles rwandais des FDLR divisés en plusieurs groupuscules qui s’allient au gré de leurs intérêts.

Nord-Kivu : la réserve de gorilles de Sarambwe menacée par plusieurs groupes armés | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La réserve des gorilles de Sarambwe est occupée par des groupes armés locaux et étrangers depuis plus d’une année. La présence de ses milices actives menace la sécurité des animaux protégés de cette réserve faisant partie du parc des Virunga dans le Nord-Kivu.

Nord-Kivu : paralysie du transport frontalier vers l’Ouganda à Ishasha depuis un an | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le trafic transfrontalier entre la RDC et l’Ouganda, à partir du poste frontalier d’Ishasha, est quasi paralysé depuis près d’une année suite à l’insécurité causée par les groupes armés basés dans le Rutshuru, au Nord-Kivu.

Nord-Kivu: reddition de près de 150 miliciens à Rutshuru | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Près de 150 miliciens Maï-Maï se sont rendus, le week-end dernier, aux autorités de l’administration du territoire de Rutshuru, à 75 km au Nord de Goma (Nord-Kivu).

Masisi/Walikale, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu: Martin Kobler envisage des solutions urgentes pour sécuriser Pinga | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le chef de la Monusco, Martin Kobler, a déclaré qu’il envisageait des solutions urgentes à la situation sécuritaire dans la localité de Pinga, située à près de 200 km au Nord-Ouest de Goma (Nord-Kivu).

Nord-Kivu : Sheka demande l’amnistie et l’intégration de sa milice dans l’armée | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le chef de guerre du mouvement Nduma defense of Congo (NDC), Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, a affirmé qu’il est prêt à abandonner la rébellion à condition que sa milice soit amnistiée et intégrée au sein de l’armée ou de la police nationale congolaise.

Nord-Kivu : le chef milicien Sheka présente de nouvelles revendications avant de déposer les armes | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Avant de déposer les armes, le général autoproclamé Ntabo Taberi Sheka demande que la Mission des Nations unies en RDC déploie ses bases partout dans le territoire de Walikale au Nord-Kivu et que le gouvernement renonce à toute attaque contre lui.

Beni, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu: 13 miliciens se rendent aux FARDC à Beni | 7 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Treize miliciens Maï-Maï du groupe de Kasereka Lianabo se sont rendus, mercredi 6 novembre, aux Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC), dans la ville de Beni (Nord-Kivu).

Uvira, South Kivu
Sud-Kivu : un militaire et un policier tués par des hommes armés à Uvira | 11 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Un militaire des Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) a été tué par balles dimanche 10 novembre par des bandits armés à Kiliba Kabulimbo, dans la plaine de la Ruzizi, en territoire d’Uvira (Sud-Kivu). Le commandant du 1011e régiment, le Colonel Innocent Habarugira qui livre cette information a indiqué que les auteurs ont été identifiés comme des rebelles burundais du FNL. La veille, des hommes armés identifiés au Maï-Maï Nyerere avaient tué un policier à son domicile.

Ituri, Province Orientale
Mahagi: la société civile de dénonce le regain d’insécurité sur le lac Albert | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La société civile du territoire de Mahagi en Ituri (Province Orientale) dénonce la recrudescence d’insécurité observée depuis un mois sur le lac Albert vers les localités de Mahagi-port et de Mukambo. Elle déplore des cas d’attaques des pêcheurs par des bandits armés et des arrestations des Congolais sur ce lac par les militaires ougandais.

Maniema
Maniema: près de 350 familles fuient les exactions du groupe armé de Kem’s à Kumba-Basoko | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Près de 350 familles ont abandonné leurs localités dans le groupement de Kumba Basoko en territoire de Kailo (Maniema) pour fuir les exactions d’un groupe armé conduit par un certain Kem’s.

Maniema : les FARDC et l’armée belge en exercices de raid et d’embuscade à Kindu | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Un bataillon des Forces armées de la RDC (FARDC) et une brigade de l’armée belge ont commencé mardi 12 novembre des manœuvres militaires en forêt, sur le triangle Muyengo-Lubao-Kindu, dans le Maniema.

Katanga
Katanga : la Société civile dénonce les attaques des FDLR sur l’axe Kalemie-Bendera | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Les miliciens des Forces démocratiques pour la libération du Rwanda (FDLR) ont attaqué jeudi 7 novembre des agents de la Société nationale d’électricité (Snel) chargés de la maintenance de la centrale de Bendera qui alimente la ville de Kalemie et ses environs en énergie électrique. Ces attaques deviennent de plus en plus fréquentes notamment sur l’axe Kalemie-Bendera au Katanga.

Amani Itakuya essay series
La consolidation de la paix dans un contexte fragile | 8 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
Amani Itakuya #12, by Bulambo Mulonda
L’insécurité grandissante qui sévit à l’Est de la RD Congo serait le résultat d’une sous gouvernance et de l’absence de l’autorité de l’Etat dans certains recoins et régions surtout enclavés où les infrastructures communautaires de base sont quasi inexistantes et aussi la présence des gisements miniers constituant des bases arrières aux groupes armés occasionnant des exploitations illicites et par voie de conséquence la sous administration du secteur minier, foncier, etc.

How can peace be achieved in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? | 10 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
Amani Itakuya #13, by Richard Kapend
What started as a spill over of the 1994 Rwandan genocide into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, then Zaïre) has developed into a complex armed conflict involving many factors and actors; some enforcing one another and some incapacitating the others.

Est de la RDC, ces guerres…au nom des Tutsis!? | 12 November 2013 | ChristophVogel.net
Amani Itakuya #14, by Jean-Mobert N’Senga
1996 : la guerre qui allait emporter le régime trentenaire de Mobutu éclate, quelque part au Sud-Kivu. En première ligne se trouvent les Banyamulenge – ces Tutsis Congolais vivant principalement sur les plateaux de Mulenge au Sud-Kivu et dont la citoyenneté zaïroise était déniée par les caciques du Mouvement populaire de la Révolution, parti-état.

Central African Republic

Enough 101: Crisis in the Central African Republic: What You Need to Know Now | 7 November 2013 | Enough Project
Since Central African Republic President François Bozizé was deposed in March 2013 by a conglomerate group of rebels known as Seleka, information about the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country has been murky at best.

Massacre evidence found in CAR | 7 November 2013 | Al Jazeera
CAR – Mass Grave of 18 People Uncovered | 8 November 2013 | Daily Maverick | allAfrica
RCA: 18 personnes tuées et 12 blessées dans une maison, à Bouar | 8 November 2013 | RFI
Al Jazeera has uncovered evidence of a massacre of women and children by members of the Seleka rebel group, who are now ruling the Central African Republic.

New satellite images reveal shocking aftermath of abuses in Central African Republic | 8 November 2013 | Amnesty International
Central African Republic: Aftermath images ‘shocking’ | 8 November 2013 | BBC Africa
New satellite images from the Central African Republic show the “shocking” aftermath of recent violence, according to Amnesty International.

CAR – Warning Bells As State Collapses and Fears of Genocide Mount | 8 November 2013 | Daily Maverick | allAfrica
As the state collapses into nothing, diplomats are warning that genocide in the Central African Republic can’t be ruled out as tensions between the Muslim and Christian communities stretch to breaking point. But even with the warnings, it is unclear if anyone can do anything to stop it.

Central African Republic: UN rights chief warns cycle of violence may ‘spin out of control’ | 8 November 2013 | UN News Centre
La RCA, au bord d’un cycle de violences «incontrôlables», prévient Pillay | 8 November 2013 | UN News Centre
The top United Nations human rights official warned today that the deteriorating violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) may spin out of control, further destabilizing the country.

RCA : appel urgent à l’action du Secrétaire général pour résoudre la crise | 8 November 2013 | UN News Centre
Le Secrétaire général adjoint pour les affaires politiques, Jeffrey Feltman, a transmis l’appel vigoureux du Secrétaire général Ban Ki-moon à agir pour mettre fin à la « terrible » situation qui frappe le pays et sa population.

Carte interactive : les troupes étrangères déployées en Centrafrique | 11 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Près de 3 000 militaires étrangers sont actuellement présents sur le territoire centrafricain pour aider à la stabilisation du pays. Ils sont tchadiens, congolais, burundais, gabonais, équato-guinéens ou encore français.

Bangui : fin de la réunion du G.I.C | 11 November 2013 | BBC Afrique
Une quarantaine de pays et d’organisations non gouvernementales viennent de boucler une importante réunion sur la situation en Centrafrique.

Du président du Tchad et des Seleka Centrafricains | 11 November 2013 | Africa Info (Douala) | allAfrica
Officiellement, la coalition SELEKA n’existe plus depuis que leur commandant en chef a pris le décret de la dissoudre. Mais sur le terrain, la réalité est tout autre.

RCA : recrudescence d’incidents à Bangui impliquant la Seleka | 13 November 2013 | RFI
5ème arrondissement en ébullition, villages fantômes dans le nord de la RCA | 11 November 2013 | Radio Ndeke Luka
Centrafrique : un Français reçoit deux balles dans le dos | 11 November 2013 | Afrik.com
En Centrafrique, la capitale Bangui est à nouveau plongée dans le trouble depuis plusieurs jours. Alors que les patrouilles conjointes de la Fomac, la Force multinationale d’Afrique centrale, avec la police et la gendarmerie avaient rendu les éléments de la Seleka moins visibles, on a assisté ces derniers temps à une série d’incidents impliquant des éléments de l’ancienne rébellion.

Centrafrique : au moins un mort à Bangui, le président Djotodia pris à partie | 13 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Violences à Bangui, Djotodia caillassé | 13 November 2013 | BBC Afrique
De nouveaux heurts entre des ex-rebelles de la Séléka et les habitants d’un quartier de Bangui ont fait au moins un mort, mardi. Le président de la transition Michel Djotodia, qui s’est rendu sur place, a été pris à partie par la population.

Three killed in clashes in Central African Republic’s capital | 13 November 2013 | Reuters
Centrafrique: nouvelle flambée de violence à Bangui | 13 November 2013 | RFI
RCA: Bangui en proie aux violences | 14 November 2013 | RFI
Three people were killed and several wounded in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui on Wednesday in clashes between security forces and former rebel fighters, police and government officials said.

‘We Live and Die Here Like Animals’ | 13 November 2013 | Foreign Policy
The Central African Republic has suffered a horrific collapse. But is the worst violence between the country’s Muslims and Christians yet to come?

Seeds of genocide in CAR, warns U.N. (video) | 13 November 2013 | CNN

Centrafrique: à Bossangoa, des communautés «au bord du gouffre» | 14 November 2013 | RFI
En République centrafricaine, des dizaines de milliers de villageois qui ont fui les attaques et exécutions sommaires perpétrées tant par des groupes armés que par des forces de la Seleka dans le nord-ouest du pays, « n’ont toujours pas regagné leurs habitations ».

Bangui : une prison secrète où les doits humains sont bafoués | 13 November 2013 | Radio Ndeke Luka
Selon une enquête menée par RNL, la cellule d’Etat pour la Défense des Acquis Démocratiques en abrégé CEDAD, est soupçonnée avoir une prison, dirigée en ce moment par un officier général de l’ex-coalition Séléka.

Refugee and IDP Reports

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on the status of refugees in the Great Lakes Region

Armed non-state actors and displacement
Armed non‐state actors and displacement in armed conflict | 31 October 2013 | Geneva Call
This report was stimulated by a conference on armed non-State actors (ANSAs) and the protection of internally displaced people organized in 2011 jointly by Geneva Call and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

DRC

In traumatic arc of a refugee camp, Congo’s war runs deep | 7 November 2013 | The Washington Post
Mugunga Camp, Congo — Bright orange flowers marked the execution spot. The bodies of 11 men of fighting age lay in a heap near a latrine. They had been shot.

RDC: un million de dollars débloqué par l’OCHA pour répondre à la crise qui sévit dans la province Orientale | 8 November 2013 | UN News Centre
Province Orientale: 1 million USD pour les besoins humanitaires d’Irumu | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le Fonds commun humanitaire de la RDC, un mécanisme de financement de différents bailleurs de fonds, a alloué un million de dollars américains pour répondre aux besoins humanitaires du territoire d’Irumu (Province Orientale).

11 000 familles congolaises expulsées d’Ouganda | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
L’administration ougandaise a expulsé depuis mercredi 6 novembre onze mille familles congolaises qui avaient trouvé refuge dans ce pays.

UNOCHA bulletins & maps
Province Orientale- District d’Ituri-Territoire de Irumu : Situation des personnes déplacées (30 Sept 2013) | 11 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin humanitaire provincial: Province du Sud-Kivu, RD Congo – octobre 2013 | 11 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Région de Goma : Personnes déplacées internes dans les sites et camps (au 25 octobre 2013) | 13 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire, Province du Maniema No. 33/13, 05 novembre 2013 | 7 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire, Province du Sud-Kivu, N° 46/13, 12 novembre 2013 | 12 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province Orientale No 44/13, 12 novembre 2013 | 13 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire – Province du Nord-Kivu No 38/13, 12 novembre 2013 | 13 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Bulletin d’Information Humanitaire, Province du Katanga No. 44/13, 13 novembre 2013 | 13 November 2013 | UNOCHA | Reliefweb

Uganda

In Uganda, Mobile Courts Deliver Justice for Refugees | 7 November 2013 | Voice of America
Life in a refugee camp is hard, but seeking justice as a refugee can be even harder.

Rwanda

75 Rwandan Refugees Repatriate From DR Congo | 8 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
Seventy-five Rwandans who have been living in various parts of DR Congo as refugees have returned home. They are grouped in 31 families and most of them have spent nearly 20 years in refugee camps, having left Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Central African Republic

Conflict In Central African Republic Puts More Than A Million At Risk Of Hunger | 8 November 2013 | WFP
République Centrafricaine: plus d’un million de personnes risquent de souffrir de la faim en raison du conflit | 8 November 2013 | PAM
A recent study has found that 1.1 million people in the Central African Republic (CAR) risk going hungry and warns the situation could worsen because of poor harvests and a drastic slowdown in economic activity following months of violence.

Justice and Tribunals

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on major trials and tribunals for crimes committed in the Great Lakes Region

ICC
Africa Can Tackle ICC Qualms At Hague Talks | 10 November 2013 | CapitalFM | allAfrica
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it expects African countries to air their views concerning their relationship with the court in the coming Assembly of State Parties (ASP) conference to be held at The Hague.

Does the ICC case against Kenya’s leaders undermine international peace and security? | 13 November 2013 | Institute for Security Studies
On 5 November 2013, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) began handling the request to defer the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) cases in the Kenyan situation. The request, which was submitted on 1 November for consideration by non-permanent members Rwanda, Togo and Morocco under instruction from the African Union (AU), relates specifically to the cases against Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto.

DRC

ICC Bemba trial
Judges Deny Prosecution Request to Question Bemba | 6 November 2013 | Bemba trial website | allAfrica
Prosecutors will not be allowed to put questions to Jean-Pierre Bemba when he makes an unsworn statement in his war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Soldier Testifies About Date Bemba’s Forces Were Deployed in Conflict | 12 November 2013 | Bemba trial website | allAfrica

Rwanda

ICTR
ICTR/UN – Rwanda tribunal will miss closure deadline
TPIR/ONU – Le TPIR ne pourra pas respecter la date du 31 décembre 2014 pour la fin de ses travaux | 8 November 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) will not be able to meet its December 31, 2014 closure deadline set by the United Nations, Hirondelle learned Friday.

Parties civiles et défense dénoncent la lenteur des deux affaires du TPIR confiées à la France | 11 November 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency
Les parties civiles et les équipes de défense dénoncent la lenteur « déraisonnable » des deux affaires confiées à la justice française par le Tribunal pénal international pour le Rwanda (TPIR), a rapporté lundi le Mécanisme pour les tribunaux pénaux internationaux (MTPI).

Denmark to extradite genocide suspect
Denmark to Extradite Genocide Suspect Mbarushimana | 7 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
La Cour Suprême danoise confirme l’extradition d’un présumé génocidaire rwandais (sources rwandaises) | 7 November 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency
A top Danish court today ruled that Genocide suspect Emmanuel Mbarushimana must be extradited to Rwanda to stand trial.

Rwanda Welcomes Denmark Genocide Extradition Ruling | 8 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
The Government has described as “a vote of confidence in Rwanda’s judicial system” a decision by a top Danish court to uphold an earlier extradition verdict involving a wanted Genocide suspect.

French court rules for extradition genocide suspects
Rwanda/France – Paris Appeals Court rules for extradition of two Rwandans | 13 November 2013 | Hirondelle News Agency
Génocide : la cour d’appel de Paris favorable à l’extradition de deux Rwandais | 13 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Paris favorable à l’extradition de deux Rwandais accusés de participation au génocide | 13 November 2013 | RFI
Génocide: la justice française évolue | 13 November 2013 | BBC Afrique
La cour d’Appel de Paris valide deux demandes d’extraditions vers le Rwanda | 13 November 2013 | Afrikarabia
The Paris Appeals Court ruled for the first time Wednesday in favour of extraditing two Rwandans wanted by Kigali for suspected participation in the 1994 genocide.

Ilegally repatriated former presidential guard charged with terrorism
Un ancien garde présidentiel rwandais comparaît pour «terrorisme» à Kigali | 14 November 2013 | RFI
Rwanda ex-presidential guard Mutabazi charged with terror | 13 November 2013 | BBC Africa
Joël Mutabazi, l’ancien garde présidentiel rwandais rapatrié illégalement au Rwanda alors qu’il avait un statut de réfugié en Ouganda a comparu mercredi 13 novembre devant un tribunal de Kigali qui l’accuse notamment de « terrorisme ».

Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region

Recent news on issues relating to natural resource extraction and governance in the Great Lakes Region

DRC

Artisanal mining and ‘conflict minerals’
Analysis of the interactive map of artisanal mining areas in Eastern DR Congo | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
In August 2009 the ‘International Peace Information Service’ (IPIS) published a first map of militarised mining areas in Eastern DR Congo. By 2012, the international interest in the issue had grown but the map was out-dated. To find a structural solution, IPIS sat down with the Congolese mining cadastre (CAMI) and agreed to set up a permanent system to monitor artisanal mining activities and the involvement of armed groups in the mineral exploitation and trade.
A first version of the resulting map has been published at https://ipisresearch.be//mapping/webmapping. It shows the location of nearly 800 mining sites and 85 trading centres, including information about armed groups presence and involvement, and the scale of the mining activity. The map includes at least 410 cases of illegal taxation by armed groups or the Congolese army.

The African mining investment case | 8 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
The current downturn in commodity prices has resulted in decreased project activity globally. This current cycle means that companies are looking for greater security from any potential investment into mines, notes professional services firm KPMG.
(…)
Further, labour unrest and violent conflicts on the continent, such as the attacks by M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, compound the challenge for African countries to secure mining investment. Rebels, who often earn income from illegally ‘taxing’ informal artisanal miners, dispute the authority of central government to bestow mining licences to the international mining industry.

Artisanal miners demonstrate and loot in Bisie, North Kivu
Nord-Kivu : la population saccage le bureau de la police des mines à Bisie | 10 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La population a saccagé samedi 9 novembre le bureau de la police des mines à Bisie (Walikale), dans le Nord-Kivu, après que trois creuseurs ont été blessés par balle lors d’une manifestation réprimée par les policiers. Les creuseurs artisanaux de Bisie, à environ 80 Km au nord-est de Walikale centre, regroupés en coopérative minière, manifestaient contre leur évacuation de ce site en faveur de la société Mining Processing Congo.

Several killed in artisanal mine collapses
Ituri : 5 morts dans deux éboulements de terre en territoire de Djugu | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Cinq exploitants artisanaux sont morts sur leurs lieux de travail vendredi 8 novembre lors de deux éboulements de terre survenus dans le territoire de Djugu.

Kasaï-Oriental : 2 morts dans un éboulement de mine de diamant à Bakua Bowa | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Deux personnes sont mortes et une autre grièvement blessée dans un éboulement de terre qui s’est produit vendredi 8 novembre dans la mine de diamant artisanal de Dix Zaïres dans la cité de Bakua Bowa, 25 Km de Mbuji-Mayi (Kasaï-Oriental).

Five wounded at mine concession in Lubumbashi, Katanga
Lubumbashi : 5 personnes blessées dans les échauffourées autour de la concession de Ruashi Mining | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Cinq personnes ont été blessées par balles dimanche dans le voisinage de l’entreprise minière Ruashi Mining à Lubumbashi (Katanga).

National railroad company wants monopoly on minerals transport in Katanga
Katanga: le syndicat de la SNCC réclame le monopole du transport des minerais | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La délégation syndicale de la Société nationale des chemins de fer du Congo (SNCC) réclame le monopole dans le transport des minerais dans la province du Katanga.

Hydropower – Inga
SA, DRC plan regional bilaterals in wake of Inga treaty | 8 November 2013 | Engineering News
Following the signing of the Grand Inga Hydropower Project Treaty the South African and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) governments are planning a series of engagements with other countries in Southern African to assess their role, or interest in participating in the project.

Le barrage d’Inga avec son gigantesque potentiel se révèle une alternative durable en source énergétique pour plusieurs nations du monde | 13 November 2013 | ACP | Digitalcongo.net
Au moment où se discute à Varsovie en Pologne l’avenir des écosystèmes de la planète avec en fond de débats la lutte contre la pollution au gaz à effet de serre, Inga figure en alternative la plus crédible et la plus durable pour beaucoup d’Etats.

Oil pollution
Pollution à Moanda: une commission du Sénat met en cause l’entreprise pétrolière Perenco | 8 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La commission d’enquête du Sénat sur la pollution causée par l’exploitation pétrolière dans le Bas-Congo a présenté son rapport ce vendredi 8 novembre. Elle met en cause l’entreprise pétrolière Perenco Rep et déplore « l’irresponsabilité » du gouvernement face à la pollution de la cité de Moanda.

L’exploitation pétrolière pollue l’océan atlantique, dénoncent des pêcheurs angolais et congolais | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
L’exploitation pétrolière pollue les eaux de l’océan atlantique, ont dénoncé jeudi 7 novembre des pêcheurs angolais et congolais.

Virunga National Park
Parc des Virungas : l’ICCN accorde 2 mois aux autochtones pour récolter leurs champs | 10 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Les communautés locales de Kibirizi, qui ont cultivé dans le Parc des Virungas, ont deux moins pour enlever leurs cultures avant leur destruction par l’Institut congolais de conservation de la nature (ICCN).

Exploitation du pétrole dans le parc des Virunga – SOCO attend les conclusions de l’étude stratégique environnementale | 11 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Une polémique oiseuse entoure l’exploration du brut dans le Graben Albertine, où SOCO International détient un permis d’exploitation suivant un contrat qui le lie à la RD Congo. Dans ce projet, la firme britannique a le soutien inconditionnel de Kinshasa qui a initié une étude stratégique environnementale, financée par l’UE et dont les conclusions sont attendues avec intérêt.

Gorillas threatened by presence armed groups
FEATURE: UN works to protect great apes, habitat, amid ongoing instability in DR Congo | 7 November 2013 | UN News Centre
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the United Nations has been supporting efforts to end armed violence, protect civilians and spur economic investment and political stability, the Organization is also fighting an environmental battle to save great apes, the region’s iconic local totem and a key link in its rich biodiversity.

Forest management evaluation in Equateur Province
L’Agence française de développement évalue la gestion des forêts à l’Equateur | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Une délégation de l’Agence française de développement (AFD) en RDC effectue depuis lundi 11 novembre une mission d’évaluation du projet Appui à la gestion durable des forêts (Agedufor) à l’Equateur.

Uganda

Oil
Oil Refinery Compensation Set to Begin | 12 November 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
The ministry of Energy and Mineral Development is set to start compensating at least 7,118 people in 13 villages in Kabaale parish, Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district, to make way for the construction of an oil refinery.

Minerals
Uganda Needs to Exploit its Own Mineral Riches | 7 November 2013 | IPS
This year, as Uganda gears up to start producing the nearly two billion barrels in oil reserves that were discovered near its western border, critics say that little is being done to exploit the rich mineral resources located in some of the country’s poorest areas.

Lions threatened by bush meat hunters
Uganda’s Lion Population Devastated by Bush Meat Hunters | 8 November 2013 | Voice of America
A recent report found that Uganda’s lion population is down by 30 percent in the past decade. But in the country’s Murchison Falls National Park, the figure is closer to 60 percent, mainly because of snares meant to catch bush meat.

Rwanda

Hydropower
Nyabarongo Hydro Power Plant Nears Completion | 8 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
The project, which started in late 2008, is expected to be ready by the end of January and commissioned in February next year, according to the Minister for Infrastructure, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba.

Extractive Companies, Energy, Trade and Foreign Investment

Recent news on national and international extractive and energy companies and investment in the Great Lakes Region

Cross-country collaboration key for African mining success | 8 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
One of the key challenges the African mining industry faces is insufficient collaboration between countries, natural resources and development solutions company SRK Consulting South Africa tells Mining Weekly.

Fleet solutions improve efficiency, reduce costs in African mining | 8 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
Logistics plays a vital role in mining profitability. A unique bulk haulage fleet is supplying reliable, cost-effective materials handling solutions to the Zambian and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) copper industry, using trailers that enable return loads – even if they are bulk liquids.

World Gold Council report on responsible large-scale gold mining
Transparency of gold miners’ economic contribution | 12 November 2013 | EITI
Last week at the annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on Mining and Sustainable Development, the World Gold Council published a report, “Responsible Gold Mining and Value Distribution”, which provides, for the first time, a consolidated view on the economic contribution of responsible large-scale gold mining.

Glencor Xstrata listed on Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Glencore’s Diversity to Draw JSE Investors, Investec Says | 12 November 2013 | Bloomberg
Glencore Xstrata Plc (GLEN), the global metals producer and commodities supplier that starts trading in Johannesburg today, will draw strong demand for its stock from South African investors, according to Investec Asset Management.

Glencore hunting for acreage | 12 November 2013 | Africa Energy Intelligence
With its coffers bulging with cash, the trading concern is seeking to flesh out its E&P portfolio.

South Africans snap up shares as GlencoreXstrata debuts on JSE | 13 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
‘What govts mustn’t do is change rules once we start investing’ – GlencoreXstrata | 13 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
Glencore Xstrata has edge over rivals through mix of businesses | 13 November 2013 | Bloomberg | Mineweb
What does Glencore bring to the JSE? | 13 November 2013 | Miningmx
Mining and bulk commodity trading giant GlencoreXstrata, which listed highly successfully on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Wednesday, finds it acceptable that the South African government has stated unequivocally that it wants a 20% free-carried interest in oil and gas ventures.

DRC

Law on ‘special economic zones’ voted
L’Assemblée nationale vote la loi sur les zones économiques spéciales | 13 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
L’Assemblée nationale a voté mardi la loi créant les zones économiques spéciales en RDC. Ces zones visent à booster l’économie congolaise. Pour y arriver, la loi a prévu des stratégies en vue d’attirer les investisseurs. Ces derniers bénéficieront notamment d’avantages fiscaux, douaniers, administratifs et autres. Surtout, elle met en place un dispositif limitant les tracasseries de tous ordres.

SacOil
SacOil updates on Africa operations | 8 November 2013 | OilVoice
SacOil, the South African based, independent African oil and gas company listed on the JSE and AIM is pleased to provide the following update on the Company’s on-going operational activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Malawi, and Botswana.

SOCO
Exploitation du pétrole dans le parc des Virunga – SOCO attend les conclusions de l’étude stratégique environnementale | 11 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Une polémique oiseuse entoure l’exploration du brut dans le Graben Albertine, où SOCO International détient un permis d’exploitation suivant un contrat qui le lie à la RD Congo. Dans ce projet, la firme britannique a le soutien inconditionnel de Kinshasa qui a initié une étude stratégique environnementale, financée par l’UE et dont les conclusions sont attendues avec intérêt.

Gécamines
Processus ITIE et Gecamines – Les OSC interpellent sur les questions importantes | 7 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Des délégués des Organisations de la Société civile de la République démocratique du Congo, œuvrant dans le secteur des ressources naturelles, se sont retrouvés, du 4 au 5 novembre 2013 au Centre Carter à Kinshasa. Objectif : évaluer le processus ITIE en se focalisant particulièrement sur la publication du Rapport ITIE-RDC 2011 au 31 décembre 2013.

Albert Yuma Mulimbi, patron de la Gécamines : “Je conteste le classement Doing business” | 9 November 2013 | Jeune Afrique
Albert Yuma Mulimbi, le patron des patrons congolais défend son action à la tête de la Gécamines ainsi que les progrès de son pays en matière de transparence.

Jack Rosen – « La Gécamines est bien placée pour répondre aux enjeux croissants de production de ressources » | 8 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
La Générale des carrières et des mines (Gécamines) a annoncé jeudi 07 novembre 2013 la nomination de l’homme d’affaires américain Jack Rosen en tant que membre de son conseil d’administration.

Randgold
Randgold profit up 80% despite 3% drop in gold price | 7 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
Africa-focused miner Randgold Resources’ profit increased by 80% quarter-on-quarter to $97.5-million during the three months ended September, despite a 3% drop in the average gold price, owing to strong performance at its flagship Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali.

Mawson West
Mawson West Limited: Underground Mining Commences at Dikulushi | 11 November 2013 | Mawson West | Marketwired
Mawson West starts underground mining at DRC flagship | 11 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
Toronto – Africa-focused miner Mawson West on Monday said it had started underground mining at its Dikulushi copper/silver mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which would extend the current mine life by nine months.

Mawson West Announces Q3 Financial and Operating Results | 13 November 2013 | Mawson West | Marketwired

Banro
Transparency of gold miners’ economic contribution | 12 November 2013 | EITI
Last week at the annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference on Mining and Sustainable Development, the World Gold Council published a ground-breaking report. “Responsible Gold Mining and Value Distribution” provides, for the first time, a consolidated view on the economic contribution of responsible large-scale gold mining.

Banro Announces Q3 2013 Financial Results | 12 November 2013 | Banro Corporation | Marketwired

Ivanhoe
Preliminary assessment at Ivanhoe’s Kamoa project nearing completion | 12 November 2013 | Mining Weekly
Ivanhoe Mines Announces Financial Results and Review of Operations for the Third Quarter of 2013 | 12 November 2013 | Ivanhoe Mines | Marketwired
Johannesburg – The revised preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for TSX-listed Ivanhoe’s Kamoa copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo was currently being finalised.

Uganda

Total
Buliisa Farmers Angry With Total | 6 November 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
Several farmers in the western district of Buliisa are angry that they got little compensation after French oil giant Total E&P destroyed their crops during its oil exploration activities early this year.

Tullow Oil
Tullow Oil’s woes in Turkana expose the soft underbelly of EA | 9 November 2013 | The East African
The recent two-week closure of Tullow Oil’s operations in Turkana after a standoff with area residents has renewed fears of the rough terrain exploration firms will have to traverse in managing community expectations while trying to profitably run the nascent oil and gas business in the East African region.

Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility

Non-comprehensive overview and selected articles on legal and reputational issues relating to businesses operating in the Great Lakes Region

EITI
Analysis: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative – EITI digs in | 8 November 2013 | Ethical Corporation
Ten years on from its launch, the EITI has developed its standard and is expanding its membership.

DRC

EITI
ITIE-Rdc appelée à finaliser le rapport 2011 dans le délai prévu | 7 November 2013 | Digitalcongo.net
La société civile a appelé mardi dernier le Comité Exécutif ITIE-RDC à respecter le chronogramme pour la finalisation dans le délai du rapport 2011.

Processus ITIE et Gecamines – Les OSC interpellent sur les questions importantes | 7 November 2013 | Le Potentiel | allAfrica
Des délégués des Organisations de la Société civile de la République démocratique du Congo, œuvrant dans le secteur des ressources naturelles, se sont retrouvés, du 4 au 5 novembre 2013 au Centre Carter à Kinshasa. Objectif : évaluer le processus ITIE en se focalisant particulièrement sur la publication du Rapport ITIE-RDC 2011 au 31 décembre 2013.

Conflict minerals
‘Conflict Minerals’ initiatives in DR Congo: Perceptions of local mining communities | 12 November 2013 | IPIS
The exploitation of minerals is an important source of income for many communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yet this mineral wealth also plays a significant role in the continuation of insecurity in parts of the country.
Over recent years, several domestic, regional and international initiatives have been developed to address the so-called ‘conflict minerals’ problem and the high level of informality in the DRC’s artisanal mining sector. These initiatives have provoked varying reactions regarding their impact on local livelihoods.
This report aims to provide insight into the impact of initiatives on the livelihood strategies of local communities in the DRC, based on field research in a wide range of mining areas; and document the perceptions of local stakeholders of these initiatives and their impacts.

Conflict Minerals: Companies May Stop Buying Unless Certification is Sped Up | 11 November 2013 | Enough Project
Coming Clean: A Proposal for Getting Conflict Minerals Certification on Track | 11 November 2013 | Enough Project
Gaps Threaten Conflict Minerals Certification | 12 November 2013 | IPS
Critical gaps in the minerals certification process in eastern Congo, Rwanda, and the surrounding region threaten to undo the development of a clean minerals trade in Central Africa, argues a new Enough Project report released today.

Hydrocarbons law
Loi portant régime général des hydrocarbures – AN, Yves Mobando a 48 heures pour répondre à la plénière | 10 November 2013 | La Prospérité | allAfrica
Disposant d’un potentiel considérable en hydrocarbures, notamment au niveau des trois bassins sédimentaires dont le bassin côtier, la cuvette centrale et l’Ouest du Rift Est Africain, les députés ont examiné à la loupe la proposition de loi portant régime général des hydrocarbures.

Uganda

Buliisa Farmers Angry With Total | 6 November 2013 | The Observer (Kampala) | allAfrica
Several farmers in the western district of Buliisa are angry that they got little compensation after French oil giant Total E&P destroyed their crops during its oil exploration activities early this year.

Tullow Oil’s woes in Turkana expose the soft underbelly of EA | 9 November 2013 | The East African
The recent two-week closure of Tullow Oil’s operations in Turkana after a standoff with area residents has renewed fears of the rough terrain exploration firms will have to traverse in managing community expectations while trying to profitably run the nascent oil and gas business in the East African region.

Rwanda

Mineral certification
Mineral Certification Will Break Barriers, Quash Doubts | 8 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
Two years after the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) established the Mineral Export Certificate, member states have been taking their time on a footing on the certification. The idea of a Mineral Export Certificate was mooted as possible solution to regional and international concerns linking illegal mineral trade to violent and armed conflict in the region.

Other

DRC

Kabila’s choice: reforms or survival? | 7 November 2013 | Congo Siasa
Following the national concertations in Kinshasa in early October, President Kabila gave a speech in which he announced, in the interest of national unity, the formation of a “government of national cohesion.” Now, a month later, there are signs that Kabila will move soon to set up this government. When he does so, he will have a difficult choice: keep the current prime minister and maintain course on state reforms; or bring in someone who can help him rally the political elite around him.

RDC : le président de la Ceni annonce les élections municipales et locales pour 2014 | 9 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
La Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Ceni) a présenté le vendredi 8 novembre aux délégués des partis politiques réunis au Palais du peuple une projection de la feuille de route pour l’organisation du cycle électorale 2013-2016. Le contenu de cette feuille de route n’a pas été révélé à la presse. Mais le président de la Ceni, l’abbé Malu Malu a annoncé que les élections urbaines, municipales et locales seront organisées en 2014.

RDC : plus d’un milliard USD seront alloués au plan d’investissement agricole 2013-2020 | 12 November 2013 | Radio Okapi
Le plan national d’investissement agricole de la RDC bénéficiera de plus d’un milliard de dollars. Les partenaires techniques et financiers du gouvernement ainsi que des acteurs du secteur privé ont souscrit, chacun selon ses moyens, à apporter les financements nécessaires à l’exécution de ce plan de huit ans, lors des business meeting, tenus le 7 et 8 novembre derniers. Le gouvernement avait lancé ces réunions d’affaire pour mobiliser des fonds à cette fin.

Rwanda

Govt Seeks to Rejoin Central African Bloc | 9 November 2013 | The New Times | allAfrica
Rwanda is set to rejoin the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas), six years after it pulled out of the regional bloc, it has emerged.

Does the dominance of women in Rwanda’s parliament signify real change? | 12 November 2013 | Institute for Security Studies
The win by President Paul Kagame’s party in the recently concluded parliamentary elections of 16–18 September 2013 raised hardly any eyebrows. The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) dominated the elections, which most observer missions described as calm and peaceful, with a 76,2% win. Women claimed 51 of the 80 contested seats, representing a 64% female presence in parliament’s chamber of deputies, once again setting a record for Rwanda and the world. Nevertheless, these gains mask the ongoing difficulties faced by women in terms of representation and participation in other decision-making positions outside of parliament.

Burundi

Au Burundi, le gouvernement demande la fermeture du bureau de l’ONU | 8 November 2013 | RFI
Burundi : le gouvernement demande la fermeture du bureau de l’ONU | 9 November 2013 | AFP | Jeune Afrique
Une délégation de l’Onu est venue discuter à Bujumbura de la fermeture du Bureau des Nations unies au Burundi (Bnub) demandée par le gouvernement, mais que l’opposition trouve mal venue à l’approche d’importantes élections, a appris l’AFP de sources concordantes vendredi.

Burundi Applies to Join Commonwealth to Bolster Angolophone Ties | 13 November 2013 | Bloomberg
Burundi has applied to join the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies to build closer trade relations with Angolophone economies, Cooperation Minister Laurent Kavakure said.

Central African Republic

La Centrafrique a un nouveau code électoral | 11 November 2013 | RFI
Elections en RCA, des avancées significatives en cours | 12 November 2013 | Radio Ndeke Luka
La République centrafricaine s’est dotée cette semaine d’un nouveau code électoral. Une étape essentielle en vue d’un retour à la normalité constitutionnelle dans ce pays. Le code a été adopté par le Conseil national de transition (CNT) et promulgué par le chef de l’Etat. Au terme de ce code, le prochain président sera élu pour un mandat de cinq ans renouvelable une fois. Tous les responsables de la transition, président, Premier ministre et membres du CNT, ne pourront briguer la magistrature suprême.

IPIS Recent Publications

Pinocchio Ltd. The NRA and its corporate partners: US shipments of small arms ammunition by sea | 25 March 2013 | TA-R | IPIS
The National Rifle Association (NRA) claims to have monitored in the last 20 years all United Nations activities that could impact Second Amendment rights. Its latest target is the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international treaty to establish common international standards for the import, export, and transfer of conventional arms presently under discussion at the United Nations. The international community has been calling for the inclusion of ammunition and civilian arms within the scope of the ATT. This reasonable call is used by the NRA to claim that the ATT could restrict the lawful ownership of firearms in the United States.

Major Powers Fuelling Atrocities. Why the world needs a robust Arms Trade Treaty | March 2013 | Amnesty International
IPIS contributed to the research for this AI report.
Every year, thousands of people are killed, injured, raped and forced to ﬂee from their homes as a result of abuses and atrocities committed with conventional arms and ammunition. Harrowing testimonies and images from conﬂict zones and human rights crises around the world underline the urgent need to end irresponsible arms transfers and illicit trafﬁcking.

The Arms Trade Treaty: Building a Path to Disarmament | 19 March 2013 | Sergio Finardi, Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert, Ken Matthysen
The goal of this article is to examine and suggest proposals that could enhance the role of the international Arms Trade Treaty—presently in discussion at the United Nations—in the regulation of the international arms trade and in addressing the role of the legal trade in: a) providing the bulk of the arms used in armed conflicts, armed violence and human rights abuses; b) the excessive arming of developing countries; and c) the continuous unsettling of power balances in sensitive world regions, not least because of competition amongst arms-exporting countries.

Upstream Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Final Report on one-year pilot implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | January 2013 | OECD – IPIS
This report is the final in a cycle of three reports on the pilot implementation by upstream companies of the “Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas”. The goal of the report is to provide an overall assessment of the progress and impact of the one-year pilot implementation phase of the OECD Guidance and its Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten. The pilot implementation phase of the Guidance focused on Africa’s Great Lakes region and was carried out during the period August 2011 – October 2012. Drawing on lessons from the ground, this final report identifies key trends and common approaches to overcome challenges as well as tools used by companies to implement the OECD Guidance.

Exploitation minière industrielle et artisanale au Sud-Kivu. Possibilités d’une cohabitation pacifique ? | December 2012 | Gabriel Kamundala Byemba
Le secteur minier en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) en général et au Sud-Kivu en particulier alimente toujours les débats tant au niveau international qu’au niveau national. Présenté sous plusieurs facettes, ce secteur au Sud-Kivu a été dans le temps industriel, puis artisanal et aujourd’hui il est en même temps artisanal et industriel. Le retour en force, ces dernières années, des sociétés industrielles dans le paysage minier du Sud-Kivu coïncide avec l’accélération des dynamiques minières, grâce aux opportunités qu’offre la RDC en matière d’investissements privés et aux réformes amorcées du cadre législatif et réglementaire du secteur minier congolais. Ces réformes ont abouti à la mise en place du nouveau Code minier en 2002 et du Règlement minier en 2003.

Cartographie des motivations derrière les conflits : le M23 | November 2012 | IPIS
À la lumière de la récente occupation de Goma par le M23 et eu égard à la recrudescence du risque de conflit armé à grande échelle en RDC, IPIS publie une brève mise à jour de sa série de rapports « Cartographie des motivations derrière les conflits » (2007-2010), en se focalisant spécifiquement sur les intentions du M23.
Ces rebelles affichent clairement une ambition politique et s’orientent vers l’instauration d’un contrôle politique sur le territoire, en contestant l’autorité de Kinshasa – intérêts stratégiques qu’ils pourraient partager avec le Rwanda.

Mapping Conflict Motives: M23 | November 2012 | IPIS
In light of the recent occupation of Goma by M23 and the renewed risk of large-scale armed conflict in the DRC, IPIS publishes an update to its 2007-2010 ‘mapping conflict motives’ report series focusing specifically on the intentions of M23.
The M23 rebels show a clear political ambition and a tendency to establish political control over territory and challenge Kinshasa’s authority – strategic interests they might share with Rwanda.

A Code of Conduct for Arms Transport by Air. Transport Services under an Arms Trade Treaty Series | August 2012 | IPIS
This report is a discussion of some key considerations for the development of a Cargo Industry Voluntary Code of Conduct relating to the transport of arms, ammunition and other military equipment (ACI Code). The purpose of such a Code is to encourage as many aviation companies and other actors as possible in the air cargo industry to adhere to existing and new standards relating to the transport of arms, ammunition and other military equipment.

Rough Seas. Maritime Transport and Arms Shipments | July 2012 | IPIS
As stated by the authors in their report “Transparency and Accountability” (February 2012), the Chairman’s Draft Paper (14 July 2011) presented by the Arms Trade Treaty’s Preparatory Committee (ATT PrepCom), included within the ATT’s scope certain “services”, such as transport and brokering. However, no provision has been envisaged for the monitoring or ATT-related regulation of arms transport services. Monitoring transport services may be key to implementing and enforcing the Arms Trade Treaty. This report will demonstrate how arms shipments may be monitored and reported where there is a substantial risk that the shipments could contribute to fuelling conflict, repressive state practices, and other human rights abuses. The report provides examples of the monitoring of actual conventional arms shipments to Egypt and Syria in 2011 and 2012, and of suspected conventional arms shipments to Syria in 2012. It also shows that where there is an open society, or at least a fair degree of access to government activities, arms transfers can be monitored and discussed without jeopardizing legitimate security policies.

Upstream Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Cycle 2 Interim Progress Report on the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | May 2012 | OECD – IPIS
The following report is the second in a cycle of three on upstream companies’ implementation of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten to the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. The objective is to report on progress made by upstream companies in their implementation of due diligence, with a focus on current practices and experiences in developing systems and processes for the implementation of the Five-Step OECD Framework.

Etat des lieux du développement socio-économique dans les zones minières au Nord-Kivu (territoires de Walikale et Masisi) | March 2012 | ASSODIP | IPIS (editorial advice)
At a moment when the attention of both the national and international communities is focused on the reorganisation of the mining sector in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the local civil society organisation ASSODIP considered it opportune to carry out a study of the impact of mining exploitation on the socio-economic development in North Kivu’s Walikale and Masisi territories. These territories are among the richest in mineral resources of eastern DRC, with the exploitation and trade in minerals adding greatly to public revenues. Nonetheless, the concrete situations as presented in this paper sufficiently show that the development of the local mining communities has never been taken into due account.

Assessment of existing practices regarding end-user certification | February 2012 | UNODA | IPIS
Already, in 2002, the Security Council called upon States to establish an effective national end-user certificate system and to study the feasibility, as appropriate, of developing such a system at the regional and global levels, as well as information exchange and verification mechanisms. This study assesses existing practices regarding end-user certification in a wide range of countries. It examines concepts, documents and procedures relating to the regulation of end use and end users of conventional arms. It also endeavours to identify political and practical obstacles to the development of an international framework for authentication, reconciliation and standardization of end-user certificates. Finally, it proposes practical guidelines to assist States in the development of a reliable system of end-user certification.

Transparancy and Accountability. Monitoring and Reporting Methods Under An Arms Trade Treaty | February 2012 | TransArms R | IPIS
Without an understanding of the existing practices of States regarding their commonly agreed standards for the monitoring and reporting of their international transfers of conventional arms, it will be very difficult to draft many of the basic provisions of the Treaty to ensure compliance and enforcement. This report therefore seeks to clarify and discuss existing terminology and reporting practices for State regulation of international transfers of goods and services and for international transfers of conventional arms. It is hoped that this will also help contribute to the development of common international standards for monitoring and reporting international transfers of conventional arms. Standardization of statistical requirements and reporting methods is of paramount importance for the ATT to be effective.

Upstream Pilot Implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas Baseline Report on the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum, and Tungsten | November 2011 | OECD | IPIS
IPIS executed the research for and writing of this OECD report. The present baseline report is the first in a cycle of three reports on the implementation by upstream companies of the Supplement on Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (hereafter “the Guidance”). The objective of this report is to understand where upstream companies currently stand with the implementation of due diligence.

Violence against women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Whose responsibility? Whose complicity? | November 2011 | ITUC | IPIS
IPIS contributed the research for and writing of this ITUC report. Summary: Eastern DRC has been ravaged by war and violence since the mid-1990s. Civilians carry the greatest burden of the conflict. Women and girls are especially vulnerable to such attacks.. Hundreds of women and girls get sexually violated in their homes and at their workplace. Fuelled and motivated by Congo’s minerals, rebel and army forces are inclined to maintain an insecure environment that ensures the continuation of the status quo. Congo’s conflict minerals go through a convoluted, yet manageable and traceable, supply chain and end up in industrialised consumer products. The introduction of transparency and governance into the mining sector is advancing, but still much has to be done.

Bisie. A one-year snapshot of the DRC’s principal cassiterite mine | November 2011 | IPIS
Much has happened in the mining sector of Eastern DRC over the last year. President Kabila imposed a ban on all mining activities last fall, during which production fell considerably. As soon as the suspension was lifted in the spring of this year, the major global electronic companies stopped buying minerals from the region, provoking a de facto embargo on Congo’s minerals with detrimental effects on the sector. At the same time, the Congolese government has taken major steps to restructure its army in the east of the country. These different decisions in the mining and security sectors have affected the nature and volume of minerals production and export and have reconfigured the security situation in the region. The consequences of these actions are discussed and illustrated with the use of the most important and well-known cassiterite mine in North Kivu called Bisie.

“Véhicules civils militarisables” and the EU arms embargo on Sudan | September 2011 | IPIS | TA-R | ASER
In this case study we will focus on the use of European manufactured trucks in the Darfur region, and more specifically what the defence industry calls “véhicules civils militarisables” – commercial vehicles that can be militarized. All armed actors in the conflict require vehicles to transport combatants through the vast Darfur deserts. Japanese Toyota (Landcruisers) pick-up trucks are the most common vehicles that are spotted in the region. Usually they are mounted with machineguns, and as such compose an important assault instrument. Furthermore, a wide array of military trucks or civilian trucks modified for military purposes are being used in Darfur, e.g. anti-aircraft guns are mounted on a variety of trucks to function as support and/or attack vehicles. Some of these trucks are European models, assembled by a local company: GIAD Automotive Industry Company.

Conflict motives in Kenya’s North Rift region | September 2011 | IPIS intern series
Kenya’s North Rift Region continues to suffer from violent conflict in which a series of actors are involved. Armed groups perform widespread and devastating raids against neighbouring communities. The strength of these warrior groups varies regionally and from case to case. Security operations are often characterised by their disproportionate brutality. Power figures are known to instigate violence or organise and finance armed militias. Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia bore the brunt of the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008. The violence mainly pitted Kalenjin warrior groups against Kikuyu communities in a struggle over political injustices and power but also over economic discrepancies and feelings of ethnic antagonism.

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Weekly Briefing: 7TH – 13TH November 2013

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