Weekly Briefing 14Th - 20Th May 2014
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WEEKLY BRIEFING 14TH - 20TH MAY 2014 IPIS is an independent research institute which focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa. Our studies concern three core themes: arms trade, exploitation of natural resources and corporate social responsibility. This briefing provides a round-up of the week's news and analysis on security, natural resource and CSR issues arising in the Great Lakes region of Africa Content NEWS IN BRIEF News in brief Renewed hostilities between anti-balaka and Seleka factions displaced 23,000 people, mainly Christian, between Kaga Bandoro and Dekao in the interior of the CAR this week, with further IPIS’ Latest Publications violence reported in villages close to Btangfo in the country’s northwest. The Seleka is said to have reorganised its chain of command in order to secure greater control over its fighters – a move condemned by the government, which accuses the group of having seized state property Conflict and security in the north of the country. Tributes to Camille Lepage have been paid through the global DRC media this week. The photojournalist is believed to have been caught in an ambush, though an Rwanda investigation is to be conducted into her death by French authorities. Burundi Uganda CAR In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an investigation has been opened into the circumstances Humanitarian news surrounding the death of Paul Sadala alias Morgan, with the preliminary phase of the DRC investigation reportedly indicating that the militiaman died of injuries received during torture. CAR Five hundred weapons have been recovered from civilians in Ituri (Province Orientale) over the last two months as part of a civilian disarmament campaign in the region. The FRPI have Justice and Tribunals occasioned the displacement of 5,000 people from three villages in Walendu Bindi following DRC attacks involving rape and arson. In North Kivu, two WWF staff members have been receiving death threats over the recent weeks. Hostilities between FDLR and the NDC Cheka rebels Rwanda have caused displacement in the vicinity of Butembo this week, whilst in South Kivu, rebel IPIS Recent publications leader Willian Amuri Amisi alias Yakutumba has been wounded in clashes with FARDC in Fizi. The Bakata Katanga have displaced 16,000 from Manono territory in Katanga, though improvement in the security situation in Pweto is reported to have enabled MONUSCO to withdraw its Egyptian contingent from the territory. In Kasai-Orientale FARDC elements from the neighbouring province of Equateur are said to be committing abuses in Sankuru district. In Rwanda, Human Rights Watch has reported a wave of enforced disappearances over the last there months, with alleged links to Rwandan security forces. Meanwhile, former Rwandan prime minister, Faustin Twagiramungu, is said to be under police protection in Belgium, due to threats to his life. In Burundi, the Security Council has been told, a tense political climate prevails in the run up to the country’s election, with the possibility of political violence, though little chance of genocide. This week saw the arrest of Burundian civil society leader and human rights activist, Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa. Due to resource constraints the briefing is restricted to coverage of security, humanitarian and justice issues this week, with a break in coverage for the week 21-27 May 2014. The usual IPIS weekly briefing will return on Wednesday 4 June 2014. IPIS’ Latest Publications Business & Human Rights in Uganda: What's on the Agenda? | 12 March 2014 | IPIS A few days after attending the annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva, IPIS Business & Human Rights Analysts Anna Bulzomi and Gabriella Wass boarded a plane to Kampala, Uganda, to run a two-day training with ActionAid Uganda for businesses and NGOs on “What does business & human rights mean, and how can we bring about a healthy relationship between the two?” This document summarises some thoughts and observations from our 19 participating organisations, as well as providing snapshots of the current relationship between business and human rights in Uganda. IPIS Insights: Pentagon Accidentally Arms Al Qaeda Affiliate | 20 February 2014 | IPIS A confidential report to the UN Security Council last week revealed that some of the weapons and ammunition to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces appears to have been diverted to the Al Qaeda affiliate known as Al Shabaab. Mapping Conflict Motives: the Sudan - South Sudan border (2012-2013) | 5 February 2014 | IPIS In “Mapping Conflict Motives: the Sudan-South Sudan border”, IPIS analyses the conflict dynamics in the wider border area spanning Sudan and South Sudan. The analysis specifically looks into the motivations and interests of the parties involved in the interstate, intrastate and local conflicts in this area. Together with the report, a series of maps of the area of focus is available at www.ipisresearch.be/mapping/webmapping/bordersudans. Boundary spanning: moving towards strategic stakeholder engagement | 3 February 2014 | IPIS By Anna Bulzomi To address complex human rights impacts, companies need to move away from responding to crises and work with communities towards creating shared value. IPIS Insights: The 2nd Annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, Geneva 2013 | January 2014 | IPIS From the 2 - 4 December 2013, IPIS attended the United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights. The Forum was established by the Human Rights Council and is under the guidance of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. IPIS’ researchers Gabriella Wass and Anna Bulzomi offer some insights into topics at the Forum that struck them as particularly interesting. Practice What You Preach: Theory and Practice of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan in Chad | 9 January 2014 | IPIS The past decade has seen a staggering increase in Chinese investment flows in Africa, leaping from USD 392 million in 2005 to USD 2520 million in 2012. Chinese Government officials often describe the burgeoning Sino-African ties as ‘win-win partnerships’, emphasizing how their ‘non-interference’ policy truly allows African countries to choose their own development path. Against this background, doubts may arise with regard to the environmental and social standards applied by Chinese companies conducting business overseas, especially in post-conflict states with poor human rights records and inadequate governance structures. The case discussed in this paper concerns the operations of the Chadian branch of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Conflict and security Recent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region. Addis Ababa Framework Agreement monitoring Goma: préparatifs avancés de la réunion du comité de suivi de l’Accord-cadre d’Addis-Abeba | 20 May 2014 | Radio Okapi Le décor est déjà planté pour accueillir à Goma la septième réunion du Comité d’appui technique (Cat) de suivi de l’Accord-cadre d’Addis-Abeba, prévue du 21 au 23 mai. L’ouverture officielle sera présidée ce mercredi par l’Envoyée spéciale du Secrétaire général des Nations unies pour la région des Grands Lacs, Mary Robinson. Cette dernière est arrivée à Goma ce mardi. Le même jour, les membres du comité présents à Goma ont visité les environs de cette ville pour s’enquérir de la situation sécuritaire et humanitaire de la région. Conflict minerals in the Great Lakes Tell Your Tech Company: “I Want Conflict-Free Products Made with Minerals from Congo” | May 2014 | Enough Project Check out the Enough Project's Company Rankings to learn more about what companies are doing to address the issue of conflict minerals in their supply chains. As a consumer, you have the power to get electronics and other companies to make fully conflict-free products and to source clean minerals from Congo. Responsible sourcing of minerals from conflict zones: is the EU doing enough? | 15 May 2014 | Enough Project This guest post was written by Anna Bulzomi, a human rights lawyer currently working with IPIS Research where she handles issues of business & human rights and natural resources. Anna is also a Governance Committee member of the Public-Private Alliance on Responsible Minerals Trade. CIRGL - Le Comité d'audit veut renforcer le système de vérification « avant son lancement complet » | 16 May 2014 | allAfrica | Le Potentiel La CIRGL compte renforcer la traçabilité des minerais dans les Grands Lacs La Conférence internationale sur la région des Grands Lacs (CIRGL) veut se doter d’auditeurs externes qui ne sont pas membres de cette organisation régionale. Ces auditeurs devront examiner la chaîne d’exportation des minerais dans la région pour s’assurer qu’ils ne sont pas liés à l’activité des groupes armés ou entachés de fraude. Despite repeated industry efforts, Court upholds important conflict minerals law | 16 May 2014 | Global Witness Global Witness applauds the swift decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denying the emergency motion by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Business Roundtable to stay the conflict minerals rule. Despite industry groups’ best efforts to delay implementation, this decision reinforces the originally mandated June 2, 2014 reporting deadline, consistent with the new guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that modifies the reporting requirements in accordance with the Court of Appeals’ April 14th ruling. Lord’s Resistance Army Elephant poaching on rise in Lord's Resistance Army stronghold | 14 May 2014 | Reuters A sharp rise in elephant poaching in a remote park in Democratic Republic of Congo has conservation groups asking if the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is hunting the protected animals in its stronghold there. Joseph Kony has named son as his deputy, says Ugandan army | 18 May 2014 | The Guardian Uganda's notorious rebel chief Joseph Kony has named his son as deputy leader of his Lord's Resistance Army, a guerrilla force infamous for its extreme violence, the country's army has said.