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

[M-A Lagrange]

UPDATE 1-Kabila aide dies, minister hurt in DRC plane crash
"Unfortunately I have to confirm the death of Katumba Mwanke and the pilot," spokesman Lambert Mende said by telephone.

"It's a very big loss, he was considered a pillar of the presidential majority." Mende said of Katumba Mwanke.

He added that Finance Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon and roving ambassador Antoine Ngonda were "heavily wounded" in the crash and Marcellin Cishambo Rohuya, governor of the local South Kivu province, was lightly injured.

http://af.reuters.com/article/drcNew...120212?sp=true

La course au pouvoir has started as would say Alpha Blondy!

[M-A Lagrange]

On 16 February 1992, Mobutu had the army shooting on the civilians peacefully demonstrating for more democracy in Zaire.
On 16 February 2012, Kabila had the police beating up the civilians peacefully demonstrating for more democracy…

Collectif des ONGDH de la RDC – Communiqué de presse : Attaques contre les paroisses catholiques et la brutalité policière
http://www.aeta-network.org/collecti...lite-policiere
(In french)
I translate :

- In the parish of Saint Joseph in Matonge Kalamu commune, Christians chanting hymns were joined by walkers from the parish of Saint Mary Goretti Kauka around 8 hours. Around 8:40, the National Congolese Police (PNC) began to intensively launch tear gas bombs into the precincts of the said parish;
- In the parish of Saint Raphael, on the Boulevard Lumumba in the town of Limete, judoka Munshi alias "Heat", the youth league of PRDP, the head of a group of youths armed with machetes, threatened to enter the enclosure to address the Christians;
- In the parish of St. Gabriel in Yolo south in the municipality of Kalamu, the police threw tear gas bombs to disperse the Christians who were in the precincts of the parish;
- At St. Kizito Parish in Kingabwa district and four trucks water launchers, two large trucks carrying policemen surrounded the church preventing movement of Christians;
- In the parish of St. Dominic Limete, the police threw tear gas bombs into the enclosure.

The brutality of the people was observed in all the starting points of walking.
- At the Parish of Saint Joseph Matonge, women were beaten in all around the parish. The office of Friends of Nelson Mandela for Human Rights has been violated by police looking for walkers. Several people were arrested including Abbots Okalema Placide, Mimbayi Bernard, Leon Matiti and two nuns;
- The Parish Priest St. Raphael and the Christians who were on University Avenue, were beaten and driven into the walls of their parish by the PNC;
- In the parish of St. Dominic de la Commune 13th Limete residential, Christians were beaten, arrested and taken in the 0076 Jeep 02 of the legion commanded by Colonel RIP Elvis. These include: Ms. Suzi, Paul Kitenge gentlemen, Bilomba François Constant and Kangudi;
- On the Avenue in Yolo Kimwenza-South Kalamu commune, the PNC was attacking passers-by. Robert Ilunga, Executive Director of the NGO Friends of Nelson Mandela for Human Rights (ANMDH) was brutalized and extorted his phone;
- At St. Benedict at 9 Lemba district, while the Christians were leaving the parish, the police fired tear gas bombs.

[J Wolfsberger]

Sadly M-A, I think the killing will begin if and when the protesters refuse to be intimidated.

It always does.

[Stan]

There has never been a single instance where the Congolese peacefully tried to express their political protests. In fact, they generally like the military and police involvement, as this is a means of blaming rape, pillage and plunder on the security forces while the civilians go about the same unabated.

To now even suggest that the DRC is not permitting some fundamental human right (just because they signed some treaty that the West deemed necessary to continue aid), is a joke.

The 92 demonstrations ended quickly with live fire and hand grenades. Using tear gas and a thump on the head is actually moving towards some sort of civility albeit 2 decades later. Progress in the DRC has never been fast paced and the mealy-mouthed Carter Center's statement "lacked credibility" was icing on the cake.

[M-A Lagrange]

Well, the question is not to know if Kabila is different from Mobutu or worst than J-P Bemba or less credible than Tshisekedi... He is not!

The question is what progress did international community achieve in DRC.
And the response is close to 0! During last elections, international community has shown little if no interrest in making sure that what we (with our taxe money) finance is almost as it should.
Now DRC is stuck into a dictatoship by default because an handfull of people have no diplomatic imagination and even less political creativity.

Many said a weak Kabila is the best thing that could happen to DRC. Well, explain me how Kabila is weak now. Part from Katumba death, which is a good news for the financial markets, I do not see DRC going forward.

[M-A Lagrange]

I don't know if that was part of AFRICOM initial plan but it's a nice and creative way to reorient military cooperation.

L’armée américaine renforce les capacités des FARDC en agriculturehttp://www.lepotentiel.com/afficher_...article=120992
US army reinforce FARDC capacity for agriculture

Now the remaining question is: what mettric to be applied increase of production per hectares or decrease of rapes per hectares?

[M-A Lagrange]

Let me introduce a great woman who does great job in Kinshasa:
http://cartercenter.org/news/multime...sintheDRC.html

At least she is doing something cause on the otherside, MONUSCO keeps on with stupid useless strategy and tactical deployment:
DR Congo: UN peacekeeping mission receives tactical helicopters from Ukraine
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.as...c&NewsID=41480

With a forest cover between 30 and 10 m high (minimum) in most part of the places militias are active, and a visibility through vegetal cover close to 0… Part from preventing MONUSCO to engage anything (and then suffer casualties) I do not see what progress it will bring.
At least Sophie (the woman from Carter Center) is doing something useful and cost effective.

[Stan]

I don't know if that was part of AFRICOM initial plan but it's a nice and creative way to reorient military cooperation.

L’armée américaine renforce les capacités des FARDC en agriculturehttp://www.lepotentiel.com/afficher_...article=120992
US army reinforce FARDC capacity for agriculture

Now the remaining question is: what mettric to be applied increase of production per hectares or decrease of rapes per hectares?

M-A,
I addressed that last night and both of the AFRICOM officers were surprised.

As far as the new metric - I have to go with reduction in rapes per hectare

[Stan]

With a forest cover between 30 and 10 m high (minimum) in most part of the places militias are active, and a visibility through vegetal cover close to 0… Part from preventing MONUSCO to engage anything (and then suffer casualties) I do not see what progress it will bring.

Assuming someone can maintain these Russian dinosaurs, they will be used to fly diplomats high over the forest to see the razor backs

At least Sophie (the woman from Carter Center) is doing something useful and cost effective.

Not a very convincing video. Staying in Kin and talking the Congolese government to death will not save anyone. Maybe she should consider paying the Guard Civil or soldiers not to rape. That may actually work while they get their potatoes planted

[carl]

Stan:

The story didn't say a word about who would maintain those Hinds. Nor did it say who would fly them, pay the bills nor how they would be incorporated into the organization. Just more additions to the fascinating collection of old derelict airplanes that sit off the ramp or runway of so many DRC airports I suspect.

[Stan]

Stan:

The story didn't say a word about who would maintain those Hinds. Nor did it say who would fly them, pay the bills nor how they would be incorporated into the organization. Just more additions to the fascinating collection of old derelict airplanes that sit off the ramp or runway of so many DRC airports I suspect.

These are minor concerns - I would be happy if they even get Jet-A1 inside the fuel tank

[M-A Lagrange]

Carl, Stan,

You're too critical. I just told you those choppers will be used to hunt down negative forces who hide in the forests of South and North Kivu.
To hunt down LRA, MONUSCO already deployed special ops troops from Jordania...
All this make sens: desert trained special forces and air power to stop militia in forest terrain... It does make sens if you look at the big picture. And the big picture is being capable to say: we did all what we could, now we have to go cause nothing is happening anymore. The fact that you do exactly what is not relevent is way out of considerations in such case.

[M-A Lagrange]

Lubanga Guilty of Use of Child Soldiers

Today, International Criminal Court (ICC) judges in The Hague delivered the Court’s first verdict—a finding of guilt against former Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga.

Prosecutors accused Lubanga of the war crimes of conscripting, enlisting, and using children under the age of 15 years for combat purposes while he served as political head of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) rebel group in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Lubanga denied all allegations against him, insisting that he gave orders for children not to be involved in combat and that prosecutors had influenced witnesses to lie against him.

The ICC judges ruled that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Lubanga is guilty of the crimes charged. Judge Adrian Fulford, Presiding Judge of the Trial Chamber, in delivering the verdict said that there was reasonable evidence to believe that Lubanga was involved in a recruitment drive for his UPC rebel group and that such drive included conscripting children and using them for combat purposes. The judges also found that Lubanga personally used children as his bodyguards.

http://www.lubangatrial.org/2012/03/...hild-soldiers/

For a good news, that's a dam good news. Ocampo almost f---k up the procecutor work but in the end justice prevail!

[Stan]

M-A,
Indeed a victory for humanity ! Perhaps the end to Union des Patriotes Congolais and Forces Patriotiques pour la Liberation du Congo

So, we just have 9,999 more to go with a few Zairian politicians ?

What to do with all those children that know how to employ firearms better than some African military, and have been professionally trained to rape - from life experiences ?

[M-A Lagrange]

Well, this is not going to happen before a while but YEAH! Bosco "Terminator" Ngatanga is back under thespot lights.

OK North Kivu provincial government already said loud what Kinshasa is wispering: not the right time, will never be and we decided that for the sake of our alledgely corrupted regime we choose "peace over justice".

The last part is even funnier as there is no peace in the Kivu right now! Uganda and UN agencies just warned that there are nearly 100 000 civilians who fled DRC since the begining of the year, at a rate of 40 per day and that return from Uganda to DRC could be stoppped.
This, thanks to an anti FDLR offensive conducted under Rwanda command which is basically targetting APCLS mining sites and not the FDLR.

So yes a good news for Humanity but the road still to go is long...

[M-A Lagrange]

UN-backed Congolese army drive could displace 100,000 people, analysts warn
The Guardian, Fri 16 Mar 2012 15.12 GMT
UN peacekeeping troops are backing a Congolese army drive against jungle-based rebel groups that is expected to displace at least 100,000 people and trigger a new wave of instability and human rights abuses across war-ravaged eastern Congo, aid workers and independent analysts have warned.
The new offensive by 5,400 troops of the Democratic Republic of Congo army (FARDC), largely unreported until now, began in South Kivu province, bordering Rwanda and Burundi, on 15 February and is being extended into North Kivu, bordering Uganda, this month.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/m...d&type=article

The only problem is that FARDC do not fight against FDLR... But that's probably because I do not understand anything to the military stuff and strategy. Epecially in mining areas.

[Stan]

Hey Marc !

Is this guy really serious

"The UN is being sucked in and the new offensive risks making things worse,"

Then of course we do have attack helicopters that will protect the Congolese from their own army

Monusco says it is screening the Congolese army soldiers it will work with to try to ensure joint operations do not include any former human rights abusers.

So, out of the 5400 troops to be screened, just how many will still be in the operations once the vetting process is done ?

The kickback culture is everywhere

I think this one is a strong candidate for the SWC phrase of 2012

[M-A Lagrange]

Hey Marc !

Is this guy really serious

Yes he is,I was told. The offensive is actually going on. But from FDLR they moved to APCLS (financially more profitable). And Uganda already is welcoming 40 refugees a day...

Then of course we do have attack helicopters that will protect the Congolese from their own army

So, out of the 5400 troops to be screened, just how many will still be in the operations once the vetting process is done ?

Actually MONUSCO conducts vetting based on the report they did on War crimes and Crimes against Humanity, they have a huge data base.
Don't forget that support is only food and fuel. So I believe it will just turn into more crimes and a longer data base...

[M-A Lagrange]

The report of OHCHR on human rights abuses in DRC between 26 november and 25 december 2011 has ben released today.

A. Violations of the right to life
13. Between 26 November and 25 December 2011, the team documented 33 cases of civilians killed in Kinshasa by members of the defense and security forces, 22 of them being shot. The number of deaths could be much higher as the team faced many difficulties in documenting the allegations of violations of the right to life that were reported. Thus, the team
was unable to confirm several allegations

B. Violations of the right to physical integrity
23. Between 26 November and 25 December 2011, 83 civilians were wounded, 61 of them were shot, among which one PNC agent. Other people were victims of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments.

The human rights violations listed above have been attributed by victims and witnesses to members of the GR, PNC officers and its specialised units, in particular LENI, GMI and the criminal investigation brigade, as well as to armed men in civilian clothes who fired live ammunition at demonstrators and simple passers-by and repressed demonstrators protesting against the elections using violence and disproportionate use of force. The name Colonel Kanyama, PNC commander in the Lukunga district (Lufungula Camp) in Kinshasa and nicknamed “death spirit” by Kinshasa inhabitants, was in particular cited in testimonies as a key team leader responsible for removing and getting rid of the bodies of the victims killed.
According to concurring testimonies, these groups arrived in “a PNC vehicle from which officers fired tear gas; the vehicle was followed by a dilapidated vehicle from which marksmen in civilian clothes fired at demonstrators, and then a covered lorry with body collectors”.
Moreover, FARDC soldiers circulating throughout the city of Kinshasa on 26 November 2011 and on 9, 10 and 11 December 2011 also committed arbitrary arrests, abductions and violations of the right to life and physical integrity.

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Count...Dec2011_en.pdf

[M-A Lagrange]

US envoy lauds DRC forces after UN report on rampage

The US is “disappointed” by the conduct of that voting, Ambassador Walkley said last week. But “the presidential election is over,” he added. “That’s the reality, and we have to deal with realities.”
“Our focus is on the future,” the special envoy said, explaining that the US seeks assurance that upcoming provincial elections “will not see a repetition of mistakes made in the previous election.”
Ambassador Walkley offered a generally positive assessment of the DRC’s trajectory under Kabila’s rule.
The country has made “tremendous progress on the diplomatic front,” he said, citing “increased economic and security co-operation with its neighbours.”
The US is working to help professionalise Congo’s police, he added. Significant improvement, however, “is not going to be reached overnight,” Ambassador Walkley said.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news...n/-/index.html

I do not know what tremendous progress on the diplomatic front mean in Washington but on the ground this means:
- 1.7 million Internally Displaced People (IDP) in only 3 provinces; with a special mention for the 2 Kivu where, according to OCHA, you have more than 1 million IDP. Just yesterday, 9 900 people had to flee their homes because of fighting…
- Transparency international: 55% of collected taxes diseape in a country where corruption is done in open sky,
- World Bank Doing business report 2012: DRC ranked 178. In 2011 DRC was ranked 176.
- Global Peace Index: DRC is the third most dangerous country in the world.
And about DRC security forces progress: just see the HCHR report.

Then let’s talk about conflict minerals:
Use of ‘Conflict Minerals’ Gets More Scrutiny From U.S.

The Dodd-Frank law on conflict minerals is already having an effect in Eastern Congo, damping or halting production at many mines even before the disclosure regulations for companies are in place.
“It is causing, I would say, a sort of embargo on traders and diggers in Eastern Congo,” Serge Tshamala, an official at the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “The longer it takes the S.E.C. to come up with guidelines, the worse it is for our people.” Mr. Tshamala and other Congo government officials met with the agency’s staff members in June, urging them to speed completion of the regulations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/bu...pagewanted=all

Yeah, I really feel bad for the member of DRC government. They just announced they want to review the mining code and some crazy hippies are trying to make their life hard.
Just for the sake of saying it: last time the mining code was reviewed (10 years ago) it generated 100 millions (at least) of backshich paid directly by mining companies, hand to hand, to some officials…

It is not the longer it takes for the SEC commission to come with a guideline that is affecting the people in DRC. It is the will to not conduct an SSR and discipline FARDC which is affecting the people. It is the incapacity of the DRC government to actually govern the country that is affecting the people…

Sometimes, I feel like hearing America snoring…