Gazing in the Congo (DRC): the dark heart of Africa (2006-2017)

[M-A Lagrange]

even if it hurts.

Here is a link to the DRC Group of Experts report.
Unfortunately, the crucial annexes with proofs of Rwanda involvement have been removed. And it's USA who is guilty of it.
I can understand why and how a delayed publication might help. But anyways, I also past a link to the join NGO call for publication.

The report is difficult to access in its pdf format. Therefore, I encourrage to download it in WORD format.
Here is the link: http://documents.un.org/mother.asp
Symbol: S/2012/348

NGO Coalition Urges Full Disclosure of Evidence Linking Rwanda to Congo's Rebellion
22 June, 2012 - 19:55
The Enough Project joined a coalition of human rights organizations, which includes Open Society Foundation and Humanity United, urging the U.S. government to pressure the U.N. Security Council to release all of the U.N. Group of Expert’s most recent findings related to Congo. In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the groups expressed concern that the publication of a crucial annex linking the government of Rwanda to the M23 mutiny in Congo was being postponed for political reasons.

http://www.humanitariannews.org/2012...ngos-rebellion

In addition, DRC MPs have called for an increase of defense 2012 budget...

To quote DRC speaker: "we are not at war with Rwanda but in a broken peace relationship."
I do not know what that means but for me DRC is on the path of war and so is Rwanda. Nothing good will come out of this.

[M-A Lagrange]

U.S. Tells Rwanda to Halt Support for Rebels in Eastern Congo

An addendum to a report by the United Nations Group of Experts on Congo accused top Rwandan officials including its Minister of Defense of coordinating military operations with several Congolese rebel groups. Rwanda has denied the allegations.

“We are deeply concerned about the report’s findings that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to Congolese rebel groups,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in the statement. The U.S. has “asked Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support from its territory.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...ern-congo.html

The addendum can be found at the following link:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533...2012/348/Add.1

All the ingredients of an invasion of DRC through proxies and exCNDP (Pro Rwanda) forces integrated in FARDC are here.
The evidence are disturbing.

200 000 IDPs + 20 000 refugees for the momment. May be it is time to call for stronger sanctions than just saying: "you're naughty boy!".

[M-A Lagrange]

UN: peacekeeper killed in volatile eastern Congo
The Indian peacekeeper was killed overnight on Thursday as fighters from the M23 rebel group attempted to take the town of Bunagana, said Madnodje Mounoubai, the United Nations spokesman in Congo.
"I confirm the death of a peacekeeper of Indian origin working for the United Nations mission in Congo," he said. "He was hit by shrapnel from an exploding shell during an attack by the M23 mutineers in Bunagana last night."
"We took the town of Bunagana this morning at around 6 a.m. but we do not plan to stay," said M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarama, who was reached by telephone in eastern Congo. "We plan to leave our police there for security, but we are going to return to our initial positions in the surrounding hills. ... We do not need to take the towns or the villages even if we control several now. We are only asking the government of Kinshasa to respond to our demands, which are known by all."
A United Nations report says that the rebels are led by Ntaganda, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, and backed by Rwanda _ a charge Rwanda denies.
On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley said he had issued a strong message to Rwanda. "I'm coming from Kigali, where I passed on a forceful message that outside support to the M23 group must stop, must cease," said the recently appointed U.S. special representative to the Great Lakes region that includes Rwanda and Congo.

http://www.timesonline.com/news/worl...34b647c27.html

Kinshasa and Kigali must talk. Let's push in that direction.

[M-A Lagrange]

Statement: Office of the Prosecutor on Lubanga sentence

By sentencing Thomas Lubanga Dyilo to 14 years in prison for the crimes of enlisting, conscripting and using children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities, International Criminal Court judges have sent a clear message to perpetrators of crimes: you will not go unpunished. The Prosecution had requested a longer sentence in line with the gravity of the crimes and the aggravating circumstances. The Prosecution is now studying the Judgment in detail and will consider whether or not to appeal. The Prosecution is also expecting to hear the judges’ decision on reparations in order to ensure the victims of Lubanga’s crimes see the full scale of justice.

The ICC's Prosecution continues to conduct investigations in the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where violence is still ongoing and escalating. The local populations including children continue to be exposed to the dramatic consequences of war at the hands of armed groups supported by regional actors. Civilians are used as a bargaining tool in the search for power and economic gain. In the context of this situation, an arrest warrant was issued in 2006 by the Court for Bosco Ntaganda who is among those responsible for this situation. The Prosecution has recently asked for new charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes to be brought against him, including for murder, persecution, intentional attacks against civilians, rape and sexual slavery and pillaging. Recent information has surfaced that a new group called M23 associated with him has reverted to violence and armed confrontation against the DRC army. As a consequence civilians pay the highest price. This is unacceptable and must end. Those responsible for these crimes should be isolated, arrested and brought to justice. This is the only way to put an end to this vicious cycle of violence, reprisals and attacks against the civilian population in Eastern DRC.

http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/E2A...56F2F23DF0.htm

14 years is not much as Lubanga spent already 8 years in jail. So he'll be free in 6. But that's a strating point.

[M-A Lagrange]

US-trained Congolese troops to aid efforts against M23 rebels
Congolese soldiers undergo training at a camp in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, in this September 2010 photo. A U.S.-trained light infantry battalion of Congolese soldiers will help in efforts to halt advances by the M23 rebel group in the DRC, the United Nations says.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us-train...ebels-1.183281

[M-A Lagrange]

SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2012
US State Department's Statement on Rwanda

In light of information that Rwanda is supporting armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Department of State has decided it can no longer provide Foreign Military Financing (FMF) appropriated in the current fiscal year to Rwanda, considering a restriction imposed by the 2012 appropriation act.

As a result, we will not obligate $200,000 in Fiscal Year 2012 FMF funds that were intended to support a Rwandan academy for non-commissioned officers. These funds will be reallocated for programming in another country.

We will continue to provide assistance to Rwanda to enhance its capacity to support peacekeeping missions.

The Department continues to assess whether other steps should be taken in response to Rwanda’s actions with respect to the DRC.

The United States government is deeply concerned about the evidence that Rwanda is implicated in the provision of support to Congolese rebel groups, including M23.

The United States has been actively engaged at the highest levels to urge Rwanda to halt and prevent the provision of such support, which threatens to undermine stability in the region.

Restraint, dialogue, and respect for each other’s sovereignty offer the best opportunity for Rwanda and the DRC, with the support of their partners, to resume the difficult work of bringing peace and security to the broader region.

We are encouraged by the ongoing high-level dialogue among the states of the Great Lakes region, and we join the Security Council in taking note with interest of the communiqué issued by the eleven member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on July 12.

Developing a disciplined and unified army as part of a comprehensive security sector reform process remains critical to the stabilization of the DRC.

We support efforts to bring to justice alleged human rights abusers among the mutineers, including Bosco Ntaganda, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. We are concerned by reports that the mutineers have forcibly recruited child soldiers.

Hilary Fuller Renner
Spokesperson
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State

[M-A Lagrange]

Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes

The head of the US war crimes office has warned Rwanda's leaders, including President Paul Kagame, that they could face prosecution at the international criminal court for arming groups responsible for atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Stephen Rapp, who leads the US Office of Global Criminal Justice, told the Guardian the Rwandan leadership may be open to charges of "aiding and abetting" crimes against humanity in a neighbouring country – actions similar to those for which the former Liberian president Charles Taylor was jailed for 50 years by an international court in May.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...ame-war-crimes

Washington is increasing pressure on Rwanda while in the field, military pressure is set by M23 on FARDC and MONUSCO:

Early this morning, at 3am (local time), the M23 started an offensive against the FARDC in Rutshuru. Heavy fightings took place between M23 and FARDC who are supported by MONUSCO. MONUSCO, to enforce FARDC movement deployed 3 light infantry "tanks" in Rutshuru on 22 july 2012.
At 15h00, after nearly 12 hours of fightings, combats in Rutshuru and Kiwanja have stopped but FARDC and M23 are still fightings in the surrounding areas.
Yesterday, on 24 july 2012, M23 launched an offensive in the south of their position. MONUSCO used its airpower to stop them, 23 km far from Goma, the North Kivu capital.

UN helicopters fire on rebels in eastern DR Congo

United Nations helicopters fired on rebel positions Tuesday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after new clashes broke out between rebel fighters and loyalist troops, officials said.

The second such UN action against rebels came in response to a rebel offensive "against the civilian population", said Mamodj Munubai, a spokesman for MONUSCO, the UN mission in DR Congo.

The airbourne action followed renewed clashes that broke out between M23 rebel fighters and loyalist troops, north of the regional capital Goma.

Major Olivier Hamuli, the army spokesman for Nord Kivu province, said fighting erupted after rebels attacked army positions around Rugari and Kimumba, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of regional capital Goma.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120724-...rn-dr-congo-un

To all my friends there: stay safe!