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

[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!

[M-A Lagrange]

While Rwanda through its foreign affairs is protesting, accusing western powers to treat african countries as children, hopefully, western powers do not listen:

UK and the Netherlands withhold Rwanda budget aid
The UK and the Netherlands have joined the US in withholding aid to Rwanda over its alleged backing of rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UK government said it was delaying £16m ($25m) in budget support due this month while it considered whether aid conditions had been met.

Rwanda again rejected allegations in a UN report that it was supporting the M23 movement rebels in DR Congo.

Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo told the BBC it was "one sided".

The rebels mutinied from the Congolese army in April and some 200,000 people have fled their homes as a result of fighting.

News of the further aid suspensions came as a senior UN official told the BBC that defecting Congolese rebels have confirmed that they were recruited in Rwanda.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19010495


It's a wake-up call for Rwanda... to figure out a way to sustain our development without being subjected to bullying and pressure from donors said Louise Mushikiwabo Rwandan foreign minister

Well, I believe it should be a wake up call for Rwanda... To figure out a way to sustain development without bullying and exploiting illegaly its neigbour ressources.

[M-A Lagrange]

joins the club of the naughty western children:

Germany latest to suspend Rwanda aid
Germany's development ministry said on Saturday it suspended $26m in contributions to Rwanda's budget planned from this year through 2015. Britain and the Netherlands already have suspended support and the US cut planned military aid of $200,000.

Dirk Niebel, the German development minister, said he expects "unreserved co-operation" by Rwanda with the UN experts. "The accusations must be cleared up completely, and it must be clear that Rwanda does not support any illegal militias in eastern Congo," he said in a statement.

Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda's foreign minister, expressed regret on Friday at the "hasty decisions based on flimsy evidence".

The Netherlands said it was suspending $6.1m promised to improve Rwanda's judicial sector while Britain, Rwanda's biggest donor, said it was delaying a budget support payment scheduled this month.

London's Financial Times newspaper quoted a Swedish aid official on Thursday saying Scandinavian countries on the board of the African Development Bank also forced the delay of a decision on the disbursal of $38.9m in budget aid to Rwanda from last week until September.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa...579389961.html

[M-A Lagrange]

Rwanda just published a response to the UN group of Experts report pointing Rwanda has the master mind of M23 mutiny:

Rwanda's response to UN Group of Experts interim report
Kigali: (1). On 21st June 2012, the UN Group of Experts (GoE) for DRC submitted its interim annual report to the UN Sanctions Committee. Five days later, on 25th June the GoE submitted a 48-page addendum to the interim report under intense pressure from the media and non-state actors who had been aggressively touting the baseless claim that the hastily-drafted addendum was being withheld for political reasons or as the result of illegitimate intervention on the part of Rwanda or its allies at the Security Council.

http://www.safpi.org/news/article/20...interim-report

The report from Rwanda government is accessible from that site.

Among many questions rised by Rwanda, the main one is the final aim of Rwanda support to M23.
Here is a response from Herman Cohen, the US diplomat, who cannot be accused to be against Kigali.

Hank Cohen: Rwanda fights to maintain economic control of the region
The Congolese Government wants to retake control of these units, and either disarm them, or transfer them to other regions of this vast country. The economic stakes are too high for Rwanda, and it is virtually impossible for Rwanda to acquiesce in this attempted reversal of the military balance in the eastern Congo.

The current fighting may however be the end of the line for Rwanda's illegitimate exploitation of the eastern Congo's mineral resources. The fact that the UN peacekeeping mission in the Congo (MONUSCO) is fighting on the side of the official army is an indication that the international community has had enough. Rwanda may consequently be entering a period of difficulty.

Herman J. "Hank" Cohen served as the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1989 to 1993.

http://www.safpi.org/news/article/20...control-region

[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]

[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]

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.