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

[M-A Lagrange]

Hello Stan,

I agree with you: west does not want Tshisekedi. But one thing westerners should realise is that Congolese do not want Tshisekedi neither but they want even less Kabila.
Let's face it if US has the right to choose GW Bush, Italian to choose Berlusconi... Why congolese don't have the right to choose Tshisekedi. What they want is not Tshisekedi but a change.
And let's face it Tshisekedi team is not Tshisekedi, especially since he has Kamerhe on his side now.


My point is leave Congo to the congolese. That's all. But I'm a dreamer.

[M-A Lagrange]

Improving Governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Subcommittee on African Affairs
ORAL Testimony
Anthony W. Gambino
Fellow, Eastern Congo Initiative

The Congo’s recent election clearly was fraudulent. The way in which the aftermath of these fraudulent elections is managed will affect every issue of interest to the United States in the Congo. The outcome will decide whether Congo, after badly stumbling, can regain a democratic path.

Absent a reasonable process, if President Kabila continues to function as head of the Congo, he governs without a shred of democratic legitimacy. That is not a formula for stability in the Congo or in central Africa as a whole. Such an outcome would be deeply counter to both the interests and values of the United States and would risk another humanitarian crisis and greater, prolonged conflict and instability in central Africa.

http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/h...4-35f801010203

Other testimonies are interresting too

[M-A Lagrange]

“We are deeply troubled by today’s ruling by the Congolese Supreme Court, which confirmed the results of the Congolese election commission despite widespread reports of irregularities. This was clearly not a well-run election, as reported by observers from the European Union, Carter Center, and Congolese Catholic Church. Congolese authorities must engage in a thorough and transparent review of the results that will shed light on whether irregularities were caused by a lack of organization or fraud, and the United States stands ready to provide technical assistance for such a review.
"We are increasingly concerned that the election irregularities are a setback for already weak systems of governance in Congo, and may further destabilize the DRC and lead to an escalation of violence. All sides should engage in dialogue about next steps and consider establishing a formal mediation process with the support of the international community. Wecall on President Kabila to direct his security forces to protect the Congolese people, and work with Mr. Tshisekedi to resolve their disagreements in a way that will restore credibility to the process. The U.S. stands with the Congolese people in their attempt to advance democracy and hope it can be achieved peacefully.”

http://coons.senate.gov/newsroom/rel...ection-results

[Stan]

Tshisekedi orders army to disobey Kabila

With the presidential inauguration literally taking place opposition leader Tshisekedi claims he will hold his inauguration on Friday. This will be his second go at this

International figures are keen to point out that this time around the West is screaming fowl play (while back in 2006 they backed the presidential candidate). More interesting are the local papers indicating that the Congolese just want to get it over with and move on.

[M-A Lagrange]

Tshisekedi orders army to disobey Kabila

With the presidential inauguration literally taking place opposition leader Tshisekedi claims he will hold his inauguration on Friday. This will be his second go at this

International figures are keen to point out that this time around the West is screaming fowl play (while back in 2006 they backed the presidential candidate). More interesting are the local papers indicating that the Congolese just want to get it over with and move on.

Well the problem is no more the presidential election. Now legislative results are coming and frauds appear to be even bigger than for presidential elections. Legislative elections are more problematic because it is local and population is already not accepting the frauds. Several CENI employees have been arrested.
Fraudulent presidential election followed by fraudulent legislative elections... equal recepy for a disaster in the mid run.

[KingJaja]

Well the problem is no more the presidential election. Now legislative results are coming and frauds appear to be even bigger than for presidential elections. Legislative elections are more problematic because it is local and population is already not accepting the frauds. Several CENI employees have been arrested.
Fraudulent presidential election followed by fraudulent legislative elections... equal recepy for a disaster in the mid run.

The problem is the credibility of democracy in Africa. We had the first round of democratisation in the early sixties (after independence), it gave birth to the likes of Obote and collapsed like a pack of cards. We tried military intervention, which gave rise to monsters like Idi Amin and kleptocrats like Mobutu and Abacha. Now we are back to democracy, and we are not making much progress.

We are going to try something we haven't tried before - the re-partition of artificial colonial boundaries to reflect ethnic realities. It is inevitable and may result in the shedding of a lot of blood, but it will be the major African story this century.

A few western thinkers like Thomas Barnett have accepted that this is inevitable. However most of the rest are in denial.

Mark my words.

[Yurii_K]

Dear all,
I think that DRC anyway made a huge step forward. Even if there are some (a lot of) discrepancies and irregularities during the election process there would have been such things anyway if they do right or wrong during the preparation of elections. The main goal is achieved – the election is over and there is no country which would protest it. Otherwise they (other countries) could not perform better in the same conditions themselves.
Also another goal achieved – there is no war in DRC. The commanders of regiments left were they are and there is no change of power. Though the picture could alter a little bit after the parliament election result will be announced. Let’s see.

[M-A Lagrange]

I think that DRC anyway made a huge step forward. Even if there are some (a lot of) discrepancies and irregularities during the election process there would have been such things anyway if they do right or wrong during the preparation of elections. The main goal is achieved – the election is over and there is no country which would protest it. Otherwise they (other countries) could not perform better in the same conditions themselves.
Also another goal achieved – there is no war in DRC. The commanders of regiments left were they are and there is no change of power. Though the picture could alter a little bit after the parliament election result will be announced. Let’s see.

Hopefully US are not following your advise and are sending electoral experts to review the presidential and legislative elections out come.
IMF already deceided to stop funding DRC because of those fraudulent elections. An interresting move, coming from such a conservative institution.

There is may be no full scale war in DRC yet but there are already a lot of small scale fights in the East between FDLR and Mayi-Mayi or FARDC. Time will tell but the story will not be nice and peacefull.

[Stan]

There is may be no full scale war in DRC yet but there are already a lot of small scale fights in the East between FDLR and Mayi-Mayi or FARDC. Time will tell but the story will not be nice and peacefull.

Indeed, M-A, and not humanely.

Rwandan Rebels Kill Dozens of Civilians The Rwandan rebel group, Forces dmocratiques pour la libration du Rwanda (FDLR), killed 39 people on Monday and Tuesday in the Shabunda region of South Kivu, human rights groups have told Radio Okapi.

The groups reported that 30 people were killed in Luyuyu, among them a pregnant woman whose stomach was hacked open and her baby removed.

Eight were killed in Ngolombe and the village head of Kishenya was decapitated. Then depot of the aid agency, Action Solidarit, was also vandalized and medication destroyed.

A number of sources told Radio Okapi that the FDLR has promised to "shoot at everything that moves" on its way to capturing the entire Shabunda area.

The assailants reportedly said the attacks were reprisals against people for siding with youths who have organized themselves into vigilante groups to fight the rebels.

[M-A Lagrange]

The conflict minerals that we use in our cellphone still finance the war in Eastern DRC. But US took the lead to fight against it!

In order for these initiatives to have a real impact in the Eastern Congo, the governance issues must be addressed, particularly feasibility, reliability and security problems. The lack of administrative capacity in the country, the integrity of the administration and the militarisation of production sites should take priority. From an industry perspective, international coherence is required to avoid distortion of competition. European and Asian companies should be subject to the same regulations as U.S. companies.

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/key-is...7C9808EC50F%7D

[M-A Lagrange]

Don't shoot the messenger, especially if he brings bad news.
Some in Kinshasa and elsewhere said that those who said that fraudulent elections would have bad consequences were just black crows...

First, there are rumors that the Congolese military is on the verge of splitting. Reportedly, the president’s circle is suspecting some military elements from the western parts of the Congo of having allied themselves with Kinshasa’s neighbor to the north, Congo-Brazzaville. Military units from the western region are believed to be colluding with the former Air Force Chief of Staff of the Democratic Republic of Congo, General Faustin Munene, who is accused of having masterminded a failed coup in Kinshasa more than a year ago and who has been in hiding in Congo-Brazzaville.
...
Second, there are fears of a rebellion. General Munene left Congo in October 2010 to allegedly link up with the thousands of former officers and soldiers of the “Forces Armées Zaïoises,” the army that was loyal to deposed dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. Munene is also suspected of having struck an alliance with the current Congolese army Chief-of-Staff, General Didier Etumba.
...
Third, since the beginning of the year, self-proclaimed president Etienne Tshisekedi has reportedly started promising to soon pay $150 to all military elements, no matter what the rank. The lack of salary for soldiers is a serious problem in the Congo. As recently as January 9, two army brigades in Bukavu, South Kivu protested a more than a three-month pay delay. Three soldiers and two civilians were injured. Given the destitution of many soldiers, it is not unlikely that some military elements could be motivated by the promise of pay to shift their loyalty to Tshisekedi – a scenario certainly worrisome to President Kabila as he begins his new five-year term amid ongoing tension over organized massive fraud cases.

http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/m...bversion-congo

[KingJaja]

If I am correct, the US Army is still training Congolese soldiers. What impact does this have on the current situation?

[Stan]

If I am correct, the US Army is still training Congolese soldiers. What impact does this have on the current situation?

A good question and a sad answer - Nothing. How do you train a military without a salary, without having had a meal since yesterday and, could potentially make twice the amount of money without lifting a finger ?

It really doesn't matter who trains the Zairois. I did it in 1984 and continued to try along with the Belgians, Chinese, Egyptians, French, Germans, Israelis, and to some extent the South Africans before leaving.

The next generation is a direct result of war and rape. Where could one go from there

[Stan]

Hey M-A,
Never recall anyone worried about Mobutu being reelected, or, Etienne coming to power. Seems most were just concerned with getting by the next day. The military pay and rations issue has plagued just about every African leader greedy for wealth and power.

I will wait for you to take power and I will join you in K-town as your American advisor

Why not ? Everybody else has done a great job of screwing things up til now !

Don't shoot the messenger, especially if he brings bad news.
Some in Kinshasa and elsewhere said that those who said that fraudulent elections would have bad consequences were just black crows...

[M-A Lagrange]

I will wait for you to take power and I will join you in K-town as your American advisor

Yeah, let's start the independant state of Kasai again with Kananga as capital of the world! My program... Free diamonds for everyone.

More seriously, here is the link to the last expert panel report. To be read with attention. Sometimes it contradict itself between 2 chapters...
They are little more serious than enough and come to worrying conclusions too by the way.
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1533/egroup.shtml

If I am correct, the US Army is still training Congolese soldiers. What impact does this have on the current situation?

Yes, the US army contracted a private security company to train 1 batallion and is trying to get a second one trained. But as Stan already mentioned it, it's a little hoppeless. For the reasons he gave: no money, no equipment, no effective chain of command, low motivation, high level of criminality, total impunity...
Last exercise was basically an air evacuation exercie with the Congolese Air Force (please do not laugh too loud Stan).

[KingJaja]

A good question and a sad answer - Nothing. How do you train a military without a salary, without having had a meal since yesterday and, could potentially make twice the amount of money without lifting a finger ?

It really doesn't matter who trains the Zairois. I did it in 1984 and continued to try along with the Belgians, Chinese, Egyptians, French, Germans, Israelis, and to some extent the South Africans before leaving.

The next generation is a direct result of war and rape. Where could one go from there

So what's the point of the current training exercise? Is it to keep Samantha Powers and her people happy? To be seen to be doing something? What really is the rationale?

[Stan]

So what's the point of the current training exercise? Is it to keep Samantha Powers and her people happy? To be seen to be doing something? What really is the rationale?

The difficult and short answer is: The State Department's Bureau of African Affairs (under the guise of "training and security enhancement" which normally is also in the (ahem... cough) mutual interests of the DRC). There's obviously a lot more to be gained than attempting to turn the Congolese military into a professional career path

The decision to renew assistance to the DRC never made it to Power's although she is often quoted about the human tragedy in the Congo. She would in fact be a good start, but I doubt even she could turn off the suffering of the Congolese.

The really bad news however is just who won the contract to perform this training. I have already had my fill of "lowest bidder to a govt. contract" and the folks responsible for Liberia and now DRC already shafted my programs several years ago.

We cannot train nor turn off the problems associated with the Congolese military until some very basic necessities are financed and met with some serious thought. Everything I see and read about tells me we are back in 1991 - armed and hungry soldiers is a bad cocktail.

[M-A Lagrange]

On 17 January, 4 officers, including 3 generals have been arrested in Rwanda over the accusation of traffiquing conflict minerals between DRC and Rwanda.

Rwanda: Top army officers arrested for 'indiscipline'

They are being investigated over "acts of indiscipline" concerning alleged business dealings in mineral-rich Democratic Republic of Congo.

One of those arrested is the military intelligence chief, who has also advised President Paul Kagame on security issues.

Rwanda has denied past accusations that it plundered DR Congo's minerals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16619867

Some said that it was an excuse to arrest them as they were preparing a coup against president Kagame. Unfortunately, I cannot post any quote of the Rwandese press as the new paper I am refering has been censored.

Any ways this takes place just 2 weeks after 600 kg of Caseterit were stopped at Goma border by police and provincial minister accused high ranked FARDC and civilian administration to be involved.
This also takes place just after the UN expert panel released its report.

Conincidences you say?

[M-A Lagrange]

Congolese protesters rally in U.S. capitalProtesters rallied in Washington on Saturday to raise awareness of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo following contested elections there in November.

They said they traveled from 25 states to deliver an urgent message to U.S. President Barack Obama.

"We need President Obama to help restore the leadership the Congo needs," said George Alula, president of the Movement of the Congolese Unity. He urged the international community to recognize opposition candidate Etienne Tshisekedi as the election's legitimate winner.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/21/wo...S%3A+Africa%29

Well, if only the congolese national political parties could be as good as their diaspora...

[Stan]

Looks like the Congolese government just received a cool $ 10 million and $ 4.8 million has disappeared

Ex-NBA star caught in Gold Scam

NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo fell into a gold smuggling trap that saw millions of dollars handed over to a notorious Democratic Republic of Congo warlord, according to UN investigators.

The Mutombo case involves bags containing millions of dollars in cash, sacks of gold of dubious origin and intermediaries with false identities across East Africa.

According to a report by UN sanctions committee experts, all was seized at an airfield in DR Congo. The money ended up with Bosco Ntaganda, a militia leader wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, and the gold in government vaults.