WEEKLY BRIEFING 19TH - 25TH SEPTEMBER 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 In South Kivu, the Mai-Mai Raia Mutomboki are said to have retaken the town of Tchombi after the FARDC withdrew from the locality. Earlier last week FARDC forces had attacked the town IPIS’ Latest Publications and killed militia leader Paul Ngumbi Wangozi. In Province Orientale, multiple attacks by the FRPI on several villages south of Irumu are reported, with local leaders reporting two deaths, four rapes and several abductions. In Katanga, Mai-Mai rebels are said to have continued their Conflict and security attacks in the area of Malemba Nkulu. In a response, the local Administrator has called for DRC more security personnel in the region. Meanwhile, in Kisenga calm returned after several days Uganda of fighting between the FARDC and Mai-Mai fighters over the weekend, which reportedly left CAR several dead. In a wider reshuffle among the top ranks of the DRC’s military President Joseph Kabila has Humanitarian news appointed General Gabriel Amisi Kumba to one of the newly-created national zones of DRC defence. The selection is said to be problematic due to allegations that General Amisi sold weapons to rebel groups. Uganda CAR In the Central African Republic, four senior commanders have reportedly left the Seleka, disagreeing with the rebel group’s secessionist agenda and military plans. The commanders, Justice and Tribunals including Seleka’s deputy military chief, General Mahamat Al Khatim, reportedly stated that the DRC group’s leadership is to reluctant to engage in peaceful negotiations with the transitional Rwanda government, and claim the group plans to attack Bangui. Meanwhile, the ICC’s Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has announced the opening of a second investigation into crimes committed CAR by both sides to the conflict in the CAR. The office will continue to collect evidence of crimes committed since 2012. According to Africa Info, the CAR rebel group FDPC has taken eight Natural resource exploitation, Cameroonians hostage in an attack in the town Garoua Boulaï on Saturday. The rebels are governance and trade said to be demanding the release of their leader Abdoulaye Miskine, who has been held by DRC Cameroonian security services since September 2013. RFI reports that Anti-Balaka fighters Uganda have clashed with Cameroonian Security forces in the Ngaoui region along the border between CAR Cameroon and CAR. Regulation, voluntary initiatives, In Uganda, President Museveni has dismissed Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi. As a part of a and CSR wider reshuffle he will be replaced by Health Minister Ruhakana Rugunda. Mbabazi, a former Uganda ally of Museveni, is seen to have become a challenger of the President. Global Witness has released two contracts between the government and oil companies including agreement on shares of oil revenue. It is the first time that such detail been made available to the public. Other DRC Burundi Uganda CAR IPIS Recent publications IPIS’ Latest Publications Supply Chains and Transport Corridors in East Africa ? June 2014 ? IPIS and TransArms-Research Transport infrastructure plays a key role in boosting a country or region’s economic development. IPIS and TransArms have ascertained on several occasions that the underdevelopment or degeneration of transport infrastructure is a problematic issue across a number of African countries and regions. This report analyses the current logistics situation in Eastern Africa, and the logistic challenges faced by various actors in that region. It is based on desktop research, and interviews and data collected by the authors during several field missions to East and Central Africa. At the time of writing, however, logistic and other challenges to cost-efficient trade and overall economic development are yet to be addressed. Further research and policy actions to effectively tackle current shortcomings are much needed. A strategy relying on a piecemeal approach (e.g. on ad hoc investments in infrastructure) is likely to result in a ‘quick fix’ to ship raw materials out of the African continent rather than in an effort to boost sustainable economic development. De Belgische ontwikkelingssamenwerking en fragiele staten: een kloof tussen beleid en praktijk? ? May 2014 ? 11.11.11 i.s.m. IPIS Zo goed als de helft van de Belgische middelen voor ontwikkelingshulp gaat naar partnerlanden waar de overheid niet de capaciteit, wil en/of legitimiteit heeft om de publieke zaken efficiënt te beheren, voor veiligheid te zorgen en om de bevolking uit de armoede te halen. Omdat traditionele hulprecepten in deze ‘fragiele staten’ op hun limieten stuiten, is er de laatste decennia een internationaal beleid ontwikkeld dat een blauwdruk voorstelt voor een gedifferentieerde aanpak om deze landen te ondersteunen in het traject richting meer weerbaarheid. De Belgische ontwikkelingssamenwerking onderschrijft de internationale engagementen over fragiele staten die hieruit ontstonden, zoals de fragiele staten principes (FSP’s) en de New Deal. In 2013 werd er een Belgische strategienota voor fragiele situaties goedgekeurd. Positief is dat België zich, ondanks de moeilijke context, rond dit thema blijft engageren – zowel op internationaal beleidsniveau als binnen haar eigen ontwikkelingsbeleid. IPIS Insights: The EU draft law on conflict minerals due diligence: a critical assessment from a business & human rights standpoint ? 30 April 2014 ? IPIS On the 5th of March 2014, the European Commission proposed a responsible trading strategy for minerals from conflict zones. The proposal took place within a specific and timely context. As IPIS has long documented, the exploitation of natural resources can have adverse human rights impacts. Businesses operating in conflict-affected or fragile regions should therefore ascertain whether their direct operations or their business relationships with other parties, including through their supply chains, have fueled or funded conflict and/or human rights abuse. 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 Conflict and security Recent news on conflict, security and arms trade across the Great Lakes Region. International Peace Day International Peace Day - AUC Chairperson's Message | 21 September 2014 | All Africa September 21st is International Peace Day, a day devoted to peace and to end wars and violent conflicts. However, peace is more than just achieving a war-free world. Peace is about economic independence and security. It is about a world free of sexual violence. It is about having universal education and health care services especially to young girls and women. Peace is about social and political cohesion. It is about respecting and celebrating diversity in our continent and the world at large. Poaching funding insurgencies Ivory, Insurgency and Crime in Central Africa - the Sudans Connection | 16 September 2014 | All Africa | African Arguments At the beginning of August, the minutes of a meeting of intelligence chiefs from African states were released, revealing the extent to which poaching and the smuggling of ivory and rhino horn were being used to fund insurgent groups in South Sudan, Al Shabaab in Somalia and the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). DRC Reshuffle in military top ranks Remue-ménage à la tête de l'armée | 19 September 2014 | Jeune Afrique Des changements dans l’armée | 19 September 2014 | Radio Okapi Changements dans l’armée | 19 September 2014 | BBC Une ordonnance signée par le président de la RDC nomme Gabriel Amisi Kumba commandant au sein de l’armée congolaise, deux ans après sa suspension pour trafic d’armes présumé. L’ancien général-major Gabriel Amisi Kumba a été nommé commandant de la première zone de défense du pays, qui couvre notamment la province stratégique de Kinshasa. Aussi connu sous le nom de Tango Four, Gabriel Amisi Kumba avait été suspendu de son poste à la tête de l’armée de terre en 2012. Congo's Kabila promotes general accused of selling arms to rebels | 20 September 2014 | Reuters President Joseph Kabila has named to a top army post a general accused by U.N. experts of selling weapons to rebel groups responsible for massacring civilians in Democratic Republic of Congo’s violence-plagued east. Kabila appointed General Gabriel Amisi to the first of three newly-created national zones of defence, comprising the capital Kinshasa and western provinces.