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

[Steve Blair]

Welcome back, stan! or should it be

[Tom Odom]

Intriguing this Mr Albert Prigogine.

He's been into so many rental and lease agreements with the UN (ahem) Purchase Order Awards for Field Missions (cough) Real estate services

Tom, I'd agree...this certainly does raise concerns (at the UN). What's this rich fat cat doing roaming the streets of Goma after dark with no security detail and all that cash

2006 Purchase Order Awards
2007 Purchase Order Awards

Just doing the analyst's SWAG, I would offer he probably failed to pay off all the right folks.

I often wonder what happened to Salim and his company. Sam Melissi came to me in 1997 and offered me a military advisory slot on an air transport outfit to be set up in Rwanda. I said I was interested but never heard another thing.

Maybe we should have taken that all expense paid trip to Salim's wedding...

best

Tom

[Stan]

Welcome back, stan! or should it be

Hey Steve ! Be careful what you wish for !

Just doing the analyst's SWAG, I would offer he probably failed to pay off all the right folks.

I often wonder what happened to Salim and his company. Sam Melissi came to me in 1997 and offered me a military advisory slot on an air transport outfit to be set up in Rwanda. I said I was interested but never heard another thing.

Maybe we should have taken that all expense paid trip to Salim's wedding...

best

Tom

Tom, I met some Swedes last week (in Sweden) that were flying DC-3s out of N'dolo in the 80s and 90s. They told me Salim and family packed up and moved home. They also told me his airframes were sold to (previous part owner) Viktor Bout

Now just how many times did we use Viktor's 707

[Tom Odom]

Hey Steve ! Be careful what you wish for !



Tom, I met some Swedes last week (in Sweden) that were flying DC-3s out of N'dolo in the 80s and 90s. They told me Salim and family packed up and moved home. They also told me his airframes were sold to (previous part owner) Viktor Bout

Now just how many times did we use Viktor's 707

Ohh man....

Especially the BEER flight

Or our luxury soybean suite for the flight home from Goma....

Yep we should have taken that trip to Salim's wedding

Were the Swedes related to Lars??? I wish I had bought some of those Skol beer T-Shirts and a cafe umbrella. You know the Skol guy Lars used for nose art on TAZ DC3s?

be like the beginning scenes of Diehard 3 all over again....


Check out this blog on life in K-town

[Stan]

Ohh man....

Especially the BEER flight

Or our luxury soybean suite for the flight home from Goma....

Yep we should have taken that trip to Salim's wedding

Were the Swedes related to Lars??? I wish I had bought some of those Skol beer T-Shirts and a cafe umbrella. You know the Skol guy Lars used for nose art on TAZ DC3s?

be like the beginning scenes of Diehard 3 all over again....

For the record, there's nothing linking me to beer flights, nor weapons

It was in fact Lars' son Robert and his foxy looking wife. There was also a mechanic from failed C-12 "Air Excellence". Damn, talk about memory lane. Sadly, the Swedes limit 'strong' beer to 2.2 percent. There should be warning labels on this product...which has little to do with alcohol.

I have a summer meet with the same folks, where I hope to introduce them to Estonian beer (min. 4.5%) LMDAO !

[Tom Odom]

Lars and the family business

Air Kasai is an airline based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It operates charter services within Africa. Its main base is N'Dolo Airport, Kinshasa[1].

The airline is on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union.

History

The airline was established in 1983 and was formerly known as TAC - Transport Aerien Congo and TAZ - Transport Aerien Zairois. It is a Swedish owned company[1]. In March 2006 Air Kasai is officially banned from operating in the whole EU, plus Norway and Switzerland.[citation needed]

On 9 September 2005 the Antonov An-2 crashed in the DRC close to Brazzaville.[citation needed]

I wonder if that was the same An-2 we saw Lars putting the bovine bed pans in for smuggling cows into Angola?

[Tom Odom]

Here ya go Stan from the 1942 USAAF Serial Number register . Some of the planes we used to fly in.....

Movie Star:

100514 (c/n 18977) to Portuguese AF as FAP 6177. To Visionair in 1976 as N9984Q, ferried to Sweden to be used in the movie "A Bridge Too FAr" with InterFret Transport Aerien as 9Q-CYC, still as 9Q-CYC to TAZ (Zaire) for Air Kasai. Now stored at Ndjili Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Comradeski:

108950 (c/n 13348) to USSR Jun 1944. To Polish Air Lines (LOT) as SP-LCC. Accident Mar 28, 1950, reguilt. To Iran Air as EP-AEE, to Government of Congo (Democratic Republic) as 90-AEE,then as 9Q-AEE, then to Jansson and Britzelli as9Q-CKA, to TAZ as 9Q-CKA. Presently stored at Kinshasa

[Stan]

Tom, it's a small world. I would later fly on one of Viktor's YAK-40s here in Estonia (there were 3 in total). Until you started Viktor's thread herein, I never gave that flight another thought.

Robert had little to say about the family business, but the Belgian mechanic was eager to have his say.

Hmmm, wonder what Carl has in his memoirs

Here ya go Stan from the 1942 USAAF Serial Number register . Some of the planes we used to fly in.....

Movie Star:


Comradeski:

PS. You were always good at tail numbers !

[Stan]

Straight from Mobutu's hometown, Congolese police women ?

Everything, or almost everything, was there: parade, round table and reflections on the status of the Congolese policewoman, various fun activities..., MONUC Civilian Police/Equateur has celebrated woman, in its own way, in the framework of Women's Month.

Subsequent to the "Launch of the national campaign against sexual violence in the DRC"

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Child, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and members of the “Initiative Conjointe de lutte contre les violences sexuelles” (the joint initiative to fight against sexual violence) officially launched on 18 March 2008 in Kinshasa...

Worth reminding that in the DRC, if sexual violence was used as a weapon by the belligerent forces involved in the different conflicts, currently it is not limited only to men in uniform. Such violence is now also committed by people in position of authority and power, and by the rest of the population.

According to the Initiative...The frequency of sexual violence occurrences in the DRC remained high...an average of 1,100 rape cases occur each month in the 11 Congolese provinces...

Part of the cure, or a new twist to the problems at hand ?

[carl]

When I left Kin, there were half a dozen or so DC-3/C-47's at Ndolo in various states of disrepair. They never flew while I was there, though some looked as if is wouldn't take that much to put them back into the air.

The most interesting C-47 I saw was in Goma. The ramp guys told me it used to belong to the Mobutu and the Kennedy family. All the pieces were there and the whole thing appeared to be WWII original. Almost nothing had been altered.

Air Kasai flew larger airplanes out of Njili. I think they had some connection to one of the operations at Ndolo.

Wimbi Dira was still flying a 707 freighter when I left. An Australian guy named Bruce flew it. One of our pilots was going to apply for a job with Wimbi and they told him to come out and fly a trip with them so they could see how he flew. The airplane they were going to use for the eval ride was the 707. Only in Africa.

I don't remember an AN-2 going down that month near Brazza. An AN-26 went in though.

[Tom Odom]

The most interesting C-47 I saw was in Goma. The ramp guys told me it used to belong to the Mobutu and the Kennedy family. All the pieces were there and the whole thing appeared to be WWII original. Almost nothing had been altered.

Interesting. It was definitely not there in 1994/1995. And Stan and I acted like we owned Ndjili and it was not there either. Probably stashed somewhere upcountry--probably Gbadolite until Mo croaked.

Prettiest A/C I saw in Zaire was the Britannia that was part of the Angola airlift (AKA smuggling).

Tom

[Stan]

Interesting. It was definitely not there in 1994/1995. And Stan and I acted like we owned Ndjili and it was not there either. Probably stashed somewhere upcountry--probably Gbadolite until Mo croaked.

Tom, not sure if the DC-3 I saw in Gbadolite was a C-47, but it was in great shape. That was however 1989. Also see Wiki's List of C-47 operators.

Prettiest A/C I saw in Zaire was the Britannia that was part of the Angola airlift (AKA smuggling).
Tom

She was part of Transair Cargo. Perhaps the singular reason she looked so mint were the Brits taking care of the airframe (well, and the lack of Zairian pilots didn't hurt either ).

Here's a little history on the Bristol Britannia and some of her technicians.

...including a detailed history of Cosfords Britannia, G-AOVF, and several photographs of the work that has taken place on XM496 at Kemble in recent months.

The Winter 2004 issue of Whisper also includes an update from Roger Hargreaves, Chairman of the Britannia Aircraft Preservation Trust. He highlights the ups and downs of 2004, in particular the lack of progress in the first 6 months, which was turned around in the second half, with progress on undercarriage, painting and engines. This was largely due to the appointment of Martin Fenner as 496 Project Co-ordinator, and John Byrne as Technical Director. Martin works for Rolls-Royce at Derby, and John was based in Zaire operating Britannias for many years, and was the Chief Engineer for Transair Cargo when XM496 flew to Kemble in 1997.

Regards, Stan

[Tom Odom]

She was part of Transair Cargo. Perhaps the singular reason she looked so mint were the Brits taking care of the airframe (well, and the lack of Zairian pilots didn't hurt either ).

Here's a little history on the Bristol Britannia and some of her technicians.

WOW! Nice to know she did not end up as a smoking hole somewhere in the Congo or Angola like that L-188 did while we were out in Goma.

Thanks!

Tom

[Tom Odom]

The lastest sit-rep. You have to love it when they fly in the police so they can rob the locals...

Subject: Security Sit Rep March 08/31

Crime rate has alarmingly increased in Goma these days. Confirmed victims are numbered at 9 including a famous businessman, a CAA official, an immigration officer and a FOREX operator. Quick Response Police Units deployed from Kinshasa are alleged to be prey on civilians and some of them are suspected of being street 'children' infiltrated by the hierarchy ; 58 suspects were arrested. A hundred weapons and lots of rounds of ammunition wwere seized.

After three residents were killed last Friday night, riots erupted on the main road to the West, a UN vehicle was stoned by angry mobs. An ASI vehicle driving back to residence was obliged to divert under armed escort. More riots are predictable these days targeting government/police facilities. The Civil Society has decided demonstrations in Goma town next Thursday.

Another attempt to murder a local resident has just been reported today in the West of Goma at around mid day. Primary investigations indicate there is a land conflict between the victim, a local land owner whose property is being confiscated by a local chief, suspected of organising the crime. Unfortunately this land owner was badly wounded and is admitted at Heal
Africa hospital.

UNDSS recommendations : stay watchful, travel in a team, reduce night travel and of course never walk. Stay away from street gatherings which might be hostile demonstrators.

A motorcyclist was stabbed to death by his client in Bunia yesterday afternoon bringing the number of victims to 4 in less than three months. This caused fierce demonstrations all over the town hampering all activities. Motorcyclists are systematically targeted in most of the DRC
towns.

[Stan]

The lastest sit-rep. You have to love it when they fly in the police so they can rob the locals...

Tom, kinda reminds me of when they flew the Special Presidential Division in to watch over the 31st Para... Nothing like having your booty re-stolen

Crime rate has alarmingly increased in Goma these days. ...a FOREX operator.

What in creation are these unarmed folks doing roaming the streets of Goma at night

Just doing the analyst's SWAG, I would offer he probably failed to pay off all the right folks.

Let us not forget about FOREX and their 'engagements' for minerals, especially in Katanga (export of copper ores from DRC to Zambian smelter facilities with the full blessings of Katanga's Governor).

...Motorcyclists are systematically targeted in most of the DRC towns.

Ahh, so reminiscent of the 90s in K-Town...Don't chase cars, they cause pain when you get run over

[Stan]

A fairly old article from 2007 but a good one ! Ties in nicely with our current SITREPS.

Chris McGreal, guardian.co.uk, Tuesday October 2 2007

"There was no government to speak of so people helped themselves..."

"People in Kinshasa haven't really experienced war like we have so they don't think about it. We think about it a lot."

...Adding to the sense of apocalypse, the Nyiragongo volcano that dominates the Goma skyline fired up a carpet of ash that hung over the town, darkening the skies and prompting mutterings of divine retribution.

There is nothing today to mark the mass graves of the Rwandan Hutus in Goma. There is one opposite the airport, covered in banana plants these days...

"It's as though we forgot part of our history," said Lukunato. "We all knew they came here and died. Everyone saw it. They were tripping over the bodies. But I don't think anyone really remembers that they are still here, beneath our feet.

"War has been good to Masumbuko Kakera. The peace is making him richer still but the wily Congolese trader could not have become one of the wealthiest men in Goma without the years of foreign invasion, occupation and rebel governments, besides the help of nature's occasional assault.

The wars, Lukunato said, changed everything.

"It created division between people. Before the war, I could live with you without caring where you are from. But after the war, I would say you are from the south or Rwanda, you are not from my village, you are different," he said. "I don't think we know what we are anymore. We are not one country. We are not one people. We are Gomatraciens."

[Tom Odom]

There is nothing today to mark the mass graves of the Rwandan Hutus in Goma. There is one opposite the airport, covered in banana plants these days...

"It's as though we forgot part of our history," said Lukunato. "We all knew they came here and died. Everyone saw it. They were tripping over the bodies. But I don't think anyone really remembers that they are still here, beneath our feet.

But the bananas were good...

[Stan]

When will they ever learn ?

With the adoption of resolution 1807 on Monday 31 March 2008, the United Nations Security Council decided that the arms embargo which it had imposed on all parties in the DRC by resolution 1493 (2003), would not apply any more to the DRC government.

Terms of Agreement in Lingala basically translates into "Viva la morte, viva la guerre"

Under the terms of this resolution, the Council decided that all states, including the DRC, should take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect transfer of weapons to all Congolese and foreign armed groups in North and South Kivu and Ituri, and to the groups which did not sign the overall and inclusive Goma agreement in the DRC.

Resolution 1807 also urges all other states to continue to respect these measures, including nongovernmental agencies and other agencies undertaking activities on Congolese territory.

[Tom Odom]

latest Congo Sitrep:

A high level meeting including ministers and diplomats was held in Goma yesterday to start implementing resolutions agreed at the North/South Kivu Conference about Peace, Security and Development in January. The expected outcome of this meeting is agreement how to set buffer zones in order to have safe dwelling places for thousands of internally displaced people now estimated at 800,000 souls.

With the adoption of resolution 1807 on Monday 31 March 2008, the United Nations Security Council decided that the arms embargo which it had imposed on all parties in the DRC by resolution 1493 (2003), would not apply any more to the DRC government. The Security Council will re-examine the measures concerned on 31 December, 2008 at the latest, in order to adjust them, according to the consolidation of security in the DRC, with a particular emphasis on the reform of the security sector, including the integration of the armed forces.

Uganda's government and Lord's Resistance Army rebels will sign a final peace deal. Kony was due to sign a final accord on Thursday near his hideout
on the Sudan/Congo border, but LRA negotiators postponed the date until April 10, saying he was still making his way to the agreed assembly area. Some Ugandans doubt whether Kony will quit his jungle hideout in the DRC(Garamba park) where he is supposed to be hiding since 2005.

As a longterm Zaire/Congo guy, you learn that you essentially have two choices in dealing with this region:

a. Start optimistic

b. Start cynical

The "start optimistic" branch of the Congo Club is typically that of the missionary or the peace corps mentality. I have, however, met any number of diplomats and military guys who believe that they will have an effect on the region for the better. Most of the folks who enroll in this branch of the Congo Club have little or no experience on the ground. And most who start optimistic end up completely disillusioned in the end. Those who remain optimistic essentially have a screw loose.

The "start cynical" branch of the Congo Club belongs to those with much experience on the ground, much study of the area, or both. The difference between the cynical branch and the optimistic turned into despair, is that the cynics are more likely to get something done that lasts longer than the initial project funding.

I would have to place the meeting of the ministers and diplomats in Goma as a regional confab of the "Optimists' Club". The one's likely to benefit from that meeting are the ministers who will arrange to benefit from the buffer zones. Never forget they will also be poised to take advantage of the suspended arms embargo.

Tom

[Stan]

As a longterm Zaire/Congo guy, you learn that you essentially have two choices in dealing with this region:

a. Start optimistic

b. Start cynical

Tom,

b.1. Remain skeptical throughout and avoid the "probabilistic approach" known in diplo speak as “Incorporated Uncertainty Without Personal and/or Visual Observation(s). No, that’s not an acronym

And with that, and now this...I fall squarely under answers b. and b.1. !
UN has ‘moral duty’ to act on lessons of Rwanda – Ban Ki-moon

April 2008 – The United Nations has a “moral duty” to act on the lessons of Rwanda and bolster efforts to prevent another genocide, Ban Ki-moon said in a message marking the fourteenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.

I have created the full-time position of Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide and appointed a Special Adviser with a focus on the responsibility to protect -- the obligation accepted by all States to act collectively, through the Security Council, when a population is threatened with genocide, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity.

This Special Adviser has his work cut out for him already !

Regards, Stan