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Rwanda's Support to the March 23 Movement (M23)
Opinion Beyond the Single Story: Rwanda’s Support to the March 23 Movement (M23) Alphonse Muleefu* Introduction Since the news broke about the mutiny of some of the Congolese Armed Forces - Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) in April 2012 and their subsequent creation of the March 23 Movement (M23), we have been consistently supplied with one story about the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A story that puts much emphasis on allegations that the government of Rwanda and later to some lesser extent that of Uganda are supporting M23 against the government of the DRC. This narrative was reinforced when the UN Group of Experts for the DRC (GoE) issued an Addendum of 48 pages on June 25, 20121 making allegations similar to those already made in Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) report of June 3, 20122, that the government of Rwanda was providing direct support in terms of recruitment, encouraging desertion of FARDC soldiers, providing weapons, ammunitions, intelligence, political advice to the M23, violating measures concerning the freezing of assets and collaborating with certain individuals. In response, the government of Rwanda issued a 131-page rebuttal on July 27, 2012, in which it denied all allegations and challenged the evidence given in support of each claim.3 On November 15, 2012, the GoE submitted its previously leaked report in which, in addition to the allegations made earlier, it claimed that the effective commander of M23 is Gen. James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, and that the senior officials of the government of Uganda had provided troop reinforcements, supplied weapons, offered technical assistance, joint planning, political advice and external relations.4 The alleged support provided by Ugandan officials was described as “subtle but crucial”, and the evidence against Rwanda was described as “overwhelming and compelling”. -
DR Congo: Volcanic Eruption in Goma Situation Report #15 08 June 2021
DR Congo: Volcanic eruption in Goma Situation Report #15 08 June 2021 This report is produced by OCHA DRC in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period of June 08, 2021 (4pm Goma time).1 As of 09 June, the Situation Report will be issued on weekly basis, and in French. The next Situation Report will be published on Monday, 14 June 2021. HIGHLIGHTS • Return of displaced people from Sake towards Goma begins • Process of identification by the authorities of temporary relocation area Displaced people in Sake board a transport provided by the government to facilitate their return to Goma. 08 June, OCHA/Nadege Nodji SITUATION OVERVIEW On 08 June, the North Kivu provincial authorities started supporting with transportation the people displaced by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano according to the schedule announced the previous day. The Vice Governor was in Sake to oversee the return of displaced people. On the ground, OCHA teams observed a large movement of returns. Some displaced people, mainly those who lost their homes in the volcanic eruption, remained in Sake, having no accommodation in Goma. Local authorities in Sake have committed to relocating these people to a collective center, and to increasing their protection. According to the North Kivu civil protection, the distribution of government assistance announced by the Prime Minister will take place in the various districts of the city of Goma among the returnees. The Division of Social Affairs (DIVAS), UNICEF, the DRC Red Cross (CRRDC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continue to work closely together in the identification, assistance, and reunification of unaccompanied children. -
Democratic Republic of Congo
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 350 Fifth Ave 34 th Floor New York, N.Y. 10118-3299 http://www.hrw.org (212) 290-4700 Vol. 14, No. 6 (G) – August 2002 I counted thirty bodies and bags between the dam and the small rapids, and twelve beyond the rapids. Most corpses were in underwear, and many were beheaded. On the bridges there were still many traces of blood despite attempts to cover them with sand, and on the small maize field to the left of the landing the odors were unbearable. Human Rights Watch interview, Kisangani, June 2002. A Congolese man from Kisangani covers his mouth as he nears the Tshopo bridge, the scene of summary executions by RCD-Goma troops following an attempted mutiny. (c) 2002 AFP WAR CRIMES IN KISANGANI: The Response of Rwandan-backed Rebels to the May 2002 Mutiny 1630 Connecticut Ave, N.W., Suite 500 2nd Floor, 2-12 Pentonville Road 15 Rue Van Campenhout Washington, DC 20009 London N1 9HF, UK 1000 Brussels, Belgium TEL (202) 612-4321 TEL: (44 20) 7713 1995 TEL (32 2) 732-2009 FAX (202) 612-4333 FAX: (44 20) 7713 1800 FAX (32 2) 732-0471 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] August 2002 Vol. 14, No 6 (A) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO WAR CRIMES IN KISANGANI: The Response of Rwandan-backed Rebels to the May 2002 Mutiny I. SUMMARY...........................................................................................................................................................2 II. RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................................................................3 -
Virunga Landscape
23. Virunga Landscape Th e Landscape in brief Coordinates: 1°1’29’’N – 1°44’21’’S – 28°56’11’’E – 30°5’2’’E. Area: 15,155 km2 Elevation: 680–5,119 m Terrestrial ecoregions: Ecoregion of the Afroalpine barrens of Ruwenzori-Virunga Ecoregion of the Afromontane forests of the Albertine Rift Ecoregion of the forest-savannah mosaic of Lake Victoria Aquatic ecoregions: Mountains of the Albertine Rift Lakes Kivu, Edward, George and Victoria Protected areas: Virunga National Park, DRC, 772,700 ha, 1925 Volcans National Park, Rwanda, 16,000 ha, 1925 Rutshuru Hunting Domain, 64,200 ha, 1946 added Bwindi-Impenetrable National Park situ- ated a short distance away from the volcanoes in southwest Uganda. Th is complex functions as a single ecosystem and many animals move across the borders, which permits restoration of the populations1. Physical environment Relief and altitude Th e Landscape is focused on the central trough of the Albertine Rift, occupied by Lake Figure 23.1. Map of Virunga Landscape (Sources: CARPE, Edward (916 m, 2,240 km²), and vast plains DFGFI, JRC, SRTM, WWF-EARPO). at an altitude of between 680 and 1,450 m. Its western edge stretches along the eastern bluff of Location and area the Mitumba Mountain Range forming the west- ern ridge of the rift. In the northeast, it includes he Virunga Landscape covers 15,155 km² the western bluff of the Ruwenzori horst (fault Tand includes two contiguous national parks, block) with its active glaciers, whose peak reaches Virunga National Park in DRC and Volcans a height of 5,119 m and whose very steep relief National Park in Rwanda, the Rutshuru Hunting comprises numerous old glacial valleys (Figure Zone and a 10 km-wide strip at the edge of the 23.2). -
Report on Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law by the Allied Democratic Forces Armed
UNITED NATIONS JOINT HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE OHCHR-MONUSCO Report on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Allied Democratic Forces armed group and by members of the defense and security forces in Beni territory, North Kivu province and Irumu and Mambasa territories, Ituri province, between 1 January 2019 and 31 January 2020 July 2020 Table of contents Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Methodology and challenges encountered ............................................................................................ 7 II. Overview of the armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) ................................................. 8 III. Context of the attacks in Beni territory ................................................................................................. 8 A. Evolution of the attacks from January 2015 to December 2018 .................................................. 8 B. Context of the attacks from 1 January 2019 and 31 January 2020 ............................................ 9 IV. Modus operandi............................................................................................................................................. 11 V. Human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law . 11 A. By ADF combattants .................................................................................................................................. -
The Tragedy of Goma Most Spectacular Manifestation of This Process Is Africa’S Lori Dengler/For the Times-Standard Great Rift Valley
concentrate heat flowing from deeper parts of the earth like a thicK BlanKet. The heat eventually causes the plate to bulge and stretch. As the plate thins, fissures form allowing vents for hydrothermal and volcanic activity. The Not My Fault: The tragedy of Goma most spectacular manifestation of this process is Africa’s Lori Dengler/For the Times-Standard Great Rift Valley. Posted June 6, 2021 https://www.times-standard.com/2021/06/06/lori- In Africa, we are witnessing the Birth of a new plate dengler-the-tragedy-of-goma/ boundary. Extensional stresses from the thinning crust aren’t uniform. The result is a number of fissures and tears On May 22nd Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic oriented roughly north south. The rifting began in the Afar RepuBlic of the Congo (DRC) erupted. Lava flowed towards region of northern Ethiopia around 30 million years ago the city of Goma, nine miles to the south. Goma, a city of and has slowly propagated to the south at a rate of a few 670,000 people, is located on the north shore of Lake Kivu inches per year and has now reached MozamBique. In the and adjacent to the Rwanda border. Not all of the details coming millennia, the rifts will continue to grow, eventually are completely clear, but the current damage tally is 32 splitting Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and much of deaths, 1000 homes destroyed, and nearly 500,000 people Mozambique into a new small continent, much liKe how displaced. Madagascar Began to Be detached from the main African continent roughly 160 million years ago. -
Usaid Solutions for Peace and Recovery Year 4
A WOMEN’S MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP CLUB IN MABANGA WITH THEIR HYGIENE DISTRIBUTION KITS (PHOTO COURTESY OF SPR GRANTEE ACUDI) USAID SOLUTIONS FOR PEACE AND RECOVERY YEAR 4 ANNUAL REPORT, FY 2020 (OCTOBER 2019 – SEPTEMBER 2020) Contract Number AID-OAA-I-13-00042/Task Order Number AID-660-TO-16-00004 30 OCTOBER 30, 2020 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Management Systems International (MSI), A Tetra Tech Company. USAID SOLUTIONS FOR PEACE AND RECOVERY YEAR 4 ANNUAL REPORT, FY 2020 (October 2019 – September 2020) Contracted under AID-OAA-I-13-00042/Task Order Number AID-660-TO-16-00004 USAID’s Solutions for Peace and Recovery DISCLAIMER The authors’ views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................... III EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................... V SECURITY BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT .................................................. 1 PROJECT SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 2 ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................... 3 OBJECTIVE 1: COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS IDENTIFY AND ACCEPT SOLUTIONS TO SPECIFIC DRIVERS OF CONFLICT .............................................................................................................. -
Mapping Conflict Motives: M23
Mapping Conflict Motives: M23 1 Front Cover image: M23 combatants marching into Goma wearing RDF uniforms Antwerp, November 2012 2 Table of Contents Introduction 4 1. Background 5 2. The rebels with grievances hypothesis: unconvincing 9 3. The ethnic agenda: division within ranks 11 4. Control over minerals: Not a priority 14 5. Power motives: geopolitics and Rwandan involvement 16 Conclusion 18 3 Introduction Since 2004, IPIS has published various reports on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Between 2007 and 2010 IPIS focussed predominantly on the motives of the most significant remaining armed groups in the DRC in the aftermath of the Congo wars of 1996 and 1998.1 Since 2010 many of these groups have demobilised and several have integrated into the Congolese army (FARDC) and the security situation in the DRC has been slowly stabilising. However, following the November 2011 elections, a chain of events led to the creation of a ‘new’ armed group that called itself “M23”. At first, after being cornered by the FARDC near the Rwandan border, it seemed that the movement would be short-lived. However, over the following two months M23 made a remarkable recovery, took Rutshuru and Goma, and started to show national ambitions. In light of these developments and the renewed risk of large-scale armed conflict in the DRC, the European Network for Central Africa (EURAC) assessed that an accurate understanding of M23’s motives among stakeholders will be crucial for dealing with the current escalation. IPIS volunteered to provide such analysis as a brief update to its ‘mapping conflict motives’ report series. -
Volcano Eruption Goma, DRC Situation Report #4 1St June2021
UNICEF DRC | Volcano Eruption (Goma) Situation Report Volcano Eruption Goma, DRC Situation Report #4 1st June2021 Situation Overview The sudden eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on the evening of 22 May 2021, led to two lava flows towards Kibumba park as well as Buhene and Kibati in the North-East of Goma, DRC. 32 people died as a direct result of the eruption (either burned by the lava or asphyxiated by fumes), including three children, while 40 have been reported missing1. As of 26 May, it is estimated that the eruption directly affected 20 villages within the groupements of Kibati, Munigi and Mutaho, with an estimated 3,629 burned houses 2 . According to the WASH cluster 3 , over 195,000 people might have Map 1: Location of the evacuated and host areas (source: UNICEF) difficulty in accessing safe water due to a disabled water reservoir directly damaged by the lava. while access to electricity was cut off in large parts of Goma city. Seven schools (five primary schools4 and two secondary schools) and 37 health centers 5 have been affected by the volcanic eruption. During the night of 27 May, the government decided to evacuate ten neighbourhoods of Goma city (Majengo, Mabanga Nord, Mabanga Sud, Bujovu, Virunga, Murara, Mapendo, Mikeno, Kayembe, Le Volcan) towards Sake, thus leading to important population movements and increased humanitarian needs, before asking the population to go to the town of Rutshuru instead on May 28. As of June 1st, according OCHA6, this evacuation has led to the displacement of around 234,000 people in DRC, with around 63,000 people displaced to Sake, around 67,000 to Minova, around 53,000 to Rutshuru, 11,000 to Lubero, 40,000 to Bukavu. -
Walikale Nicholas Garrett Artisanal Cassiterite Mining and Trade in North Kivu June 1, 2008 Implications for Poverty Reduction and Security
Walikale Nicholas Garrett Artisanal Cassiterite Mining and Trade in North Kivu June 1, 2008 Implications for Poverty Reduction and Security 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was prepared by Nicholas Garrett for the Communities and Artisanal & Small-scale Mining initiative (CASM). Nicholas Garrett is a Mining Consultant from the UK Resource Consulting Services Ltd (RSS), and specialising in conflict and post-conflict minerals management and corporate social responsibility in high-risk environments. The contribution of Estelle A. Levin and Harrison Mitchell (RSS) and of those who have reviewed the final report is acknowledged, as well as to everyone who provided support to the author to conduct extensive research on the ground in the DR Congo. Front cover photo: Artisanal cassiterite mining in Bisie, North Kivu/DRC © Nicholas Garrett Disclaimer: The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CASM or other organizations. 2 CONTENTS List of Acronyms 5 Sections Preface and Methodology 6 Synopsis 7 Background and Context 12 Legal Framework 18 Governance 23 Geography, Physical Access, Infrastructure and Transport 32 Structure of Production 37 Economics of Production 41 Economics of Trade 43 Payments to Authorities 56 Demography and Poverty 63 External Stakeholders and Development Assistance 62 Conclusion and Recommendations 76 Bibliography 87 Fact Boxes Box 1: What is Cassiterite? 13 Box 2: Key Features of Artisanal Mining (AM) in North Kivu 16 Box 3: SAESSCAM 22 Box 4: Workers’ Income in Bisie -
Contributions
Consolidated Appeal: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2012 List of commitments/contributions and pledges to projects listed to the Response Plan (Appeal launched on 14-December-2011) http://fts.unocha.org (Table ref: ReportF) Compiled by OCHA on the basis of information provided by donors and recipient organizations. Summary of Funding Outstanding Contributions USD Pledges USD Contributions sub total: 457,528,823 627,353 Contributions to ERF 1,000,000 0 sub total: Contributions to CHF 89,807,968 0 sub total: Carry-over sub total: 35,094,936 0 Appeal Total: 583,431,727 627,353 Contributions Donor Organization Project Description Cluster Funding Outstanding USD Pledges USD Allocation of unearmarked United Nations High DRC-12/MS/49584/R/120 Support to HCR activities in DRC MULTI CLUSTER 242,737 funds by UNAIDS Commissioner for Refugees 2012 Allocation of unearmarked World Food Programme DRC-12/F/49578/R/561 Targeted Food Assistance To SECURITE 15,310,304 funds by WFP Victims of Armed Conflict and Other ALIMENTAIRE Vulnerable Groups (PRRO 201670) (Multilateral funds) Allocation of unearmarked World Food Programme DRC-12/F/49582/R/561 Emergency Support to the SECURITE 1,349,606 funds by WFP Population Affected by Insecurity in ALIMENTAIRE The Haut and Bas Uele Districts in Orientale Province of DRC (EMOP 200186 and 200362) (Multilateral funds) Allocation of unearmarked World Food Programme DRC-12/F/51715/R/561 Emergency food assistance to newly SECURITE 6,344,551 funds by WFP displaced people in North Kivu and ALIMENTAIRE spillover into South -
OCHA DRC Kinshasa Goma Kisangani Kisangani Bukavu Bunia
OCHA DRC Kinshasa Goma Kisangani Bukavu Bunia Mbandaka CONTEXT More than ever before since the onset of the war, the reporting period provided ample and eloquent arguments to perceive the humanitarian crisis in the DRC as a unique drama caused in the first place by unbridled violence, defiant impunity and ongoing violation of fundamental humanitarian principles. What comes first is the cold-blooded settlement of scores between two foreign troops in DRC’s third largest town, using heavy armament and ignoring humanitarian cease-fires in a total disregard for the fate of 600,000 civilians. Such exceptional circumstances led to the non less remarkable adoption of the UNSC Resolution 1304, marked by references to Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and by the presence of Ugandan and Rwandan Foreign ministers. Parallel to blatant violations of humanitarian principles, the level of daily mortality as a direct effect of the ongoing war in eastern DRC, as surveyed recently by International Rescue Committee, gives a horrific account of the silent disaster experienced by Congolese civilians in eastern provinces. Daily violence, mutual fears combined with shrinking access to most basic health services, are breeding an environment of vulnerability that led civilians of Kivu to portray themselves as the “wrecked of the earth”. In a poorly inhabited and remote province such as Maniema, an FAO mission estimated at 68% of the population the proportion of those who had to flee from home at one point since August 1998 (110,000 are still hiding in the forest). A third, most ordinary facet of DRC’s humanitarian crisis, is that witnessed by a humanitarian team in a village on the frontline in northern Katanga, where the absence of food and non food trade across the frontline (with the exception of discreet exchanges between troops) brings both displaced and host communities on the verge of starvation.