Gazing in the Congo (DRC): the dark heart of Africa (new title)

[AdamG]

What do we do when those we entrust with our greatest hopes betray that trust? If the betrayers are United Nations peacekeepers, the answer seem to be nothing at all. There is distressing new evidence, most of it reported here for the first time, that foreign soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo can sexually and violently violate young girls with impunity so long as they wear that iconic blue beret or blue helmet.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...51/?cmpid=rss1

[M-A Lagrange]

U.S. rules denting Congo rebels' mineral profits: study

(Reuters) - A U.S. law and an electronics industry code governing the use of conflict minerals have slashed profits among armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo by 65 percent in the past two years, a report by a nonprofit rights group found on Tuesday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8761J220120807

I leave you connect the dots...

[M-A Lagrange]

Rwanda: Special Forces Return HomeRWANDAN Special Forces returned home over the weekend after their joint operations with the Congolese army FARDC came to an end.
The Joint operations were against the Forces Democratic pour la Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR), a terrorist militia comprised of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The 357 Rwanda soldiers were operating in concert with 357 other Congolese counterparts - FARDC, under a Joint DRC-Rwanda Special Forces Battalion based in the Rutshuru territory of DRC's North Kivu province. Rutshuru is located about 70 kilometres north of North Kivu's Provincial Capital, Goma.
Showing no signs of fatigue despite marching for over 100 kilometres since Friday evening, the 357 soldiers [two companies] arrived home through the Kabuhanga border post, in Mutovu cell, Bugeshi sector of Rubavu district, at exactly 15:53pm.
Addressing the troops, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Charles Kayonga, saluted their service, telling them that they had accomplished their mission to the satisfaction of the Commander-in-Chief, the RDF leadership and the nation.
He told the returning troops that it was necessary that they return home because of the current changes in the conflict engulfing eastern DRC, especially with the FARDC whom they were jointly operating with now fighting the M23, with the latter overrunning the area of operations of the Joint Special Forces Battalion in Rutchuru.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201209031017.html

Here are some pictures of that ceremony:
http://www.soleildugraben.com/actual...-mensonge.html

This is important cause those special operation troops were present in Rutshuru territory (DRC) during the fighting between FARDC and M23. As soon as they were gone, M23 took over their positions. (here is an article in French: http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012...ises-kiseguro/).

Also, if you look at the first picture, there is a US soldier present during the ceremony.

[carl]

Originally Posted by M-A Lagrange

[Also, if you look at the first picture, there is a US soldier present during the ceremony.

I laughed when I saw that picture because the American camouflage uniform was the only one that didn't even come close to blending in with the foliage.

Is an arrangement developing between the US and Rwanda similar to the one between the US and Uganda, where we sort of use them as proxy troops?

[M-A Lagrange]

While some accross the seas are trying to find excuses to the M23 rebels backed by Rwanda in DRC, HRW details what it is to live under M23 rules:

DR Congo: M23 Rebels Committing War Crimes
(Goma) – M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are responsible for widespread war crimes, including summary executions, rapes, and forced recruitment. Thirty-three of those executed were young men and boys who tried to escape the rebels’ ranks.

Since June, M23 fighters have deliberately killed at least 15 civilians in areas under their control, some because they were perceived to be against the rebels, Human Rights Watch said. The fighters also raped at least 46 women and girls. The youngest rape victim was eight years old. M23 fighters shot dead a 25-year-old woman who was three months pregnant because she resisted being raped. Two other women died from the wounds inflicted on them when they were raped by M23 fighters.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/09/11/d...ing-war-crimes

Let's not be complesent and once again watch away from Central Africa atrocities.

[M-A Lagrange]

There was an hearing on Rwanda involvement in DRC insurgency at House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
Chaired by Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)

Witnesses
■Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda
United Methodist Church of North Katanga
Democratic Republic of the Congo

■Mr. Mark Schneider
Senior Vice President
International Crisis Group

■Mr. Jason Stearns
Director
Usalama Project Rift Valley Institute

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearings/view/?1476

[davidbfpo]

More commentary on the 'dark heart of Africa', primarily due to local actors and the failure of the UN mission. There are some hopeful signs.

Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/andrew-...d-crisis-cycle

[M-A Lagrange]

Thanks David for posting this. it balances my previous post which is quite in defavour of Rwanda. But also, if you take the time to read Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda testimony extremely harsh on DRC.

I would like to highlight the core issue in this endless conflict: blood minerals.

Congo calls for embargo on Rwandan minerals
"To put an end to this situation, one of the solutions would be to impose an embargo on all minerals coming from Rwanda, until the establishment of a lasting peace in the provinces of North and South Kivu," Martin Kabwelulu said in the letter.
"It is in this context that your institution ... is invited to instruct all American companies ... to no longer buy minerals extracted and/or coming from Rwanda," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8KIM6920120918

I could say it but Mr Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda says it better than me:
Is it strange for Rwanda to have “economic interests” in DR Congo?
http://newsofrwanda.com/breaking/135...ests-dr-congo/

I agree with Mr Kagame: Rwanda has all rights to have economical interrest in DRC but the real questions is how his country managed to increase its mineral taxes revenues from 89 $millions to 190 $millions between 2010 and 2011? This when suddently at least one of the main mines in DRC, controled by Rwandan citizen and war criminal Bosco Ntaganda (According to ICC and UN experts panel), "officially" stop to produce minerals...

US and Europ based companies which are boycotting (rightly) DRC minerals should also boycott Rwanda mineral until all this mess has been cleared. This would be fair.

[M-A Lagrange]

Eastern Congo: Why Stabilisation Failed

Since Bosco Ntaganda’s mutiny in April 2012 and the creation of the 23 March rebel movement (M23), violence has returned to the Kivus. This crisis shows that today’s problems are the same as yesterday’s because the 2008 framework for resolution of the conflict has yet to be put in place. Instead of implementing the 23 March 2009 agreement between the government and the CNDP (National Council for the Defence of the People), the Congolese authorities pretended to integrate the CNDP into political institutions, while the rebel group pretended to integrate into the Congolese army. In the absence of army reform, military pressure on armed groups only had a temporary effect and post-conflict reconstruction was not accompanied by essential governance reforms and political dialogue. To move away from crisis management and truly resolve the two-decades-old conflict, donors should put pressure on both Kigali and Kinshasa.
Kinshasa/Nairobi/Brussels, 4 October 2012

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/region...on-failed.aspx

The briefing should be available in english next week. It tries to explore the roots of the actual conflict in Eastern DRC. The briefing does not focus on Rwanda involvement, others did it extremely well, but rather lookes at where M23 comes from.

[J Wolfsberger]

Originally Posted by M-A Lagrange

US and Europ based companies which are boycotting (rightly) DRC minerals should also boycott Rwanda mineral until all this mess has been cleared. This would be fair.

US law already does. The problem is that minerals, and more specifically the elements obtained from them, are fungible. The US (and EU) may refuse to purchase tungsten (wolfram) from Central Africa, but someone else will, and the US (and EU) will be purchasing the metal from other sources.

The only solution is to choke them off at the source. Which, of course, requires strong military intervention.

[M-A Lagrange]

US law already does. The problem is that minerals, and more specifically the elements obtained from them, are fungible. The US (and EU) may refuse to purchase tungsten (wolfram) from Central Africa, but someone else will, and the US (and EU) will be purchasing the metal from other sources.

The only solution is to choke them off at the source. Which, of course, requires strong military intervention.

Yes, with the Dodd-Frank act, US law already does it. But Rwanda mineral exports are said to be transparent which is not the case. As long as you will have this grey shadow over mineral exports from Rwanda and DRC, then you will never know if what you purchase comes from conflict free area. And as long as DRC will not act to set a tracking mechanism then you will have the temptation to destabilise Kivu to secure conflict free labelled minerals.

Also, you can buy coltan and Cassiterit from Brasil or other part of the world. So it should be in the interrest of DRC to act. But... Easier to say than to have it done.

Finally, military solution is just the visible part of the iceberg. The last ICG report points out the fact that there is no real political will to implement conflict resolution mechanisms from all parties (DRC, Rwanda, ICRGL and international community): this is what needs to change.

[M-A Lagrange]

The english version of ICG report on M23 has been released:
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/F...ion-failed.pdf

And the overview:
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/region...on-failed.aspx

Comments welcomed

[M-A Lagrange]

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY
WITH RESPECT TO THE SITUATION IN OR IN RELATION
TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
On October 27, 2006, by Executive Order 13413, the President declared a national emergency with respect to the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706), ordered related measures blocking the property of certain persons contributing to the conflict in that country. The President took this action to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been marked by widespread violence and atrocities that continue to threaten regional stability.

Because this situation continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on October 27, 2006, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond October 27, 2012. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13413.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

BARACK OBAMA

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...r-relation-dem

With the US elections coming, Uganda and Rwanda are taking advantage of the paralysed US diplomacy to increase their presence in Eastern DRC.
Elections of Rwanda as a non permanent member of the UNSC was already a big camouffle for the United Nations and the possibilities of peace in the sub region.
Bringing peace in Great Lakes region could be easy, as in 2009 merely a phone call away. Next US presedent, who ever he is, should not be stopped by some black mail from Uganda and Rwanda over their participations to Somalia and Darfur peace keeping operations. It has to be clear that the price to enter UNSC and to be a regarded peace keeper is peace in Eastern DRC not a right to loot Eastern DRC.

[davidbfpo]

The military and political tensions in the contested eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo are reinforced by diplomatic failures. A turn towards negotiation and compromise is vital if the area's long-term problems are to be addressed, says Andrew Wallis.

Link:http://www.opendemocracy.net/andrew-...hind-headlines

The author ends with:

If there is to be any chance of implementing the vital long term solutions the people of Kivu and the DRC deserve, then at some point the blame-game has to stop and the process of negotiation and mutual accommodation must begin.

Abbreviations aside the best word for the situation is messy. At least the local African nations have sat at a table, although funding a new intervention force seems highly unlikely unless the UN exit.

[AdamG]

KINSHASA, Congo U.N. attack helicopters targeted M23 rebels in eastern Congo on Saturday after fighting resumed following a monthslong lull in violence, a local official said.

Two army officers and 151 rebels were killed in a battle beginning Thursday that the U.N. called the worst clash between the M23 group and the military since July. Attack helicopters for the U.N. mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, had been on standby.

"MONUSCO helicopters this morning bombarded the M23 positions in the city of Kibumba," said North Kivu governor Julien Paluku. He said the Congolese army had earlier retreated from Kibumba, which is 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Goma, after thousands of Rwandans, who he says were backing the rebels, attacked early Saturday.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-...in-east-congo/

Rebels advancing in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are warning UN peacekeepers that "we will respond" if they fail to stop backing the regular army by strafing rebel positions. UN attack helicopters launched sorties against M23 rebels on Saturday but failed to prevent them from taking another town, as the Security Council demanded an end to foreign support for rebels closing in on the provincial capital of Goma.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/20...tacking-in-drc


Associated Press, Published: November 10

GOMA, Congo — The Congolese army has attacked M23 rebel positions, ending a two-month ceasefire, charged the rebel spokesman. Ten civilians were killed when government forces fired on the rebel base in Kitagoma, in eastern Congo, near the border with Uganda, said M23 political branch spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa Saturday. He said the attack was on Friday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...486_story.html

[M-A Lagrange]

DR Congo’s Goma: Avoiding a New Regional War
Brussels/Nairobi | 20 Nov 2012
The east Congolese city of Goma and its key airport have reportedly fallen after heavy fighting to the M23 rebel group. Regional and international actors must now prevent this turning into a new regional war.

The past week has shown history repeating itself in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the same tragic consequences for civilians in the region (see Crisis Group briefing from 4 October for background).

On 15 November 2012, the M23 rebel movement, with – according to the DRC – the backing of Rwanda’s armed forces, broke the 25 July de facto ceasefire observed with the Congolese army (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo, FARDC) and launched an offensive against Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

Unable, despite numerous attempts, to extend its control over the resource-rich Masisi territory, constrained by Uganda’s closure of its Bunangana border with the DRC and frustrated by the decision of the UN Security Council to place its main leader, Sultani Makenga, on the UN sanctions list, the M23 had finally decided to make real its threat to attack the city. On 18 November, following three days of fighting, the movement broke the FARDC’s resistance and tried to force the government of President Joseph Kabila to negotiate.

On 19 November, after several fruitless attempts at talks and an ultimatum from the M23 to the government, fighting broke out inside Goma, a city under the defence of the FARDC and UN peacekeepers (MONUSCO). The M23’s ultimatum had demanded the FARDC’s withdrawal from, and the demilitarisation of, Goma and its airport; the reopening of the Bunangana border post; and an inclusive negotiation process to bring in the unarmed Congolese political opposition, civil society and the diaspora. By making this demand, the M23 aimed to reduce the crisis to a domestic affair, thereby preventing Kinshasa from internationalising it in order to negotiate a solution at the regional level through the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) with those neighbouring countries that allegedly support the M23 rebellion.

While negotiations were on the verge of starting in Goma, President Kabila ultimately refused to recognise the M23 as a legitimate interlocutor, and clashes broke out inside the city. The rebels entered Goma on 20 November, forcing the Congolese army to retreat to Sake.

The new offensive is a tragic repeat of the threat by Laurent Nkunda’s Conseil National de Défense du Peuple (CNDP) to take Goma in 2008. Once again, the civilian population is paying a heavy price. As in 2008, the same causes could produce the same fearful effects:

•the fall of Goma could lead to serious human rights abuses against civilian populations;
•the settling of accounts or even targeted extrajudicial executions against authorities and civil society activists who have taken a stance against the M23 since the beginning of the crisis in March could raise the death toll and fuel more violence;
•Kinshasa’s capitulation to the M23 could send shock waves throughout the Kivus and relaunch open warfare between the DRC and Rwanda; and
•the UN and the ICGLR, both responsible for conflict management in the region, are being discredited.
As immediate steps, regional and international actors must secure:

•an end to fighting inside Goma;
•M23’s commitment to respect MONUSCO’s mandate to fully protect civilians; and
•M23’s concrete assurances, visible on the ground, to respect civilians and property in areas under their control, and prevent further human rights abuses.
To avoid a regional implosion, the following steps are also necessary:

•explicit condemnation by the UN Security Council, African Union (AU) and ICGLR of external involvement in the fighting;
•immediate efforts by MONUSCO’s leadership to seek to negotiate and secure a formal ceasefire, as well as accelerate the deployment of the Joint Verification Mechanism and the Neutral Force agreed by the ICGLR;
•sanctions by the European Union (EU), UN Security Council, and especially France, the UK and the U.S., as well as the AU, not only against the rebellion’s leaders, but also against their external supporters;
•an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the actions of the M23 and new armed groups, and the request by the court that MONUSCO transfer its files concerning M23 leaders; and
•the immediate establishment of a joint fact-finding mission in the region by the AU, EU, Belgian, South African and U.S. special envoys for the Great Lakes to determine the best course for arriving at the long-term resolution of this crisis.
The immediate priority is to stop the current fighting and protect civilians.

Long-term solutions will require that the UN Security Council, AU and ICGLR ensure that peace agreements and that stabilisation plans no longer remain empty promises. To achieve this, coordinated and unequivocal pressure on the Congolese government and the M23 rebel movement, as well as the latter’s external supporters, is required from international donors and regional actors.

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/public...ional-war.aspx

[carl]

If M23 holds Goma airport, has the UN moved all their helos to Bukavu?

[AdamG]

NPR picks up the ball
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...-in-four-years

The MONUSCO North Kivu Brigade(?) HQ'd in Goma supposedly musters 4k troops, with the Ukrainian 18th Independent Helicopter unit manning those Hinds. No word on what they did when M23 rolled into town, other than "not resisting" although Goma's airfield got mortared from over in Rwanda yesterday. It would have made sense to displace the three aviation units to Bukavu.

Hmmm... make popcorn, this is gonna get interesting.

[Stan]

Originally Posted by carl

If M23 holds Goma airport, has the UN moved all their helos to Bukavu?

Hey Carl,
If I were a betting man and had the fuel to do so, I would beat feet to Entebbe where my UN logistics base resides. Otherwise, I’d fly my butt for 15 minutes to Kigali.

Bukavu seems a crap shoot with a dilapidated airfield and true Congolese hospitality on the tarmac

How goes it ?

Regards, Stan

[AdamG]

Originally Posted by Stan

Otherwise, I’d fly my butt for 15 minutes to Kigali.

Considering that Rwanda is supporting M23, wouldn't that be sort of... weird?