WEEKLY BRIEFING 22ND - 28TH APRIL 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 The Ugandan People’s Defence Force, tracking Joseph Kony in the Central African Republic (CAR) reported the capture of Lord’s Resistance Army leader Charles Okello this week. In the IPIS’ Latest Publications CAR around 1,300 Muslims were escorted from Bangui by peacekeepers over the weekend. The event was marked by clashes between French Sangaris forces and armed actors, occasioning at least 7 deaths. This incident was shortly followed by an attack on an MSF Conflict and security hospital in Nanga Bougila, reportedly killing 15 tribal leaders and three MSF workers. The DRC attack is alleged to have been orchestrated by ex-Seleka combatants, an assertion denied by Rwanda the new president of the former coalition. The deputy heads for the pending UN peacekeeping Burundi force for the CAR (MINUSCa) have been named. CAR In Kinshasa, 500 Congolese nationals have arrived following expulsion from the Republic of Humanitarian news Congo. In the East, the Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC) militia has been called upon to DRC disarm after displacing thousands in Lubero, North Kivu. In Province Oriental, South Sudanese soldiers are accused of killing two students and 30 cattle in Dungu territory and naval forces Burundi are said to be committing abuses against the population of Basoko. MONUSCO has reported Uganda the registration of 189 human rights violations in the DRC for March alone. Tanzanian, General CAR Ramadhan Abdoul Kimweri has been named as the new commander for the MONUSCO mission. Justice and Tribunals DRC In Rwanda, Reporters without borders have expressed concerns about the oppressive climate Rwanda for free media in the country. In Burundi, the national parliament has voted on a new electoral code in a bid to quell rising political tensions ahead of the 2015 elections. International Natural resource exploitation, observers have expressed concerns about the possibility of a return to political violence in the governance and trade country as the election period advances. DRC Rwanda The US Securities and Exchange Commission has responded to the recent US Appeals Court ruling on s.1502, stating that the rule can still be partially implemented by companies without Burundi Uganda using the wording struck down by the court as being violative of free speech rights. Regulation, voluntary initiatives, and CSR Uganda Other DRC CAR IPIS Recent publications 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. Lord’s Resistance Army Un cadre de la LRA arrêté | 22 April 2014 | AllAfrica | Deutsche Welle Ouganda-LRA : 10 otages libérés, un officier capturé | 23 April 2014 | Afrik.com Les services de sécurité ougandais ont annoncé la capture de Charles Okello, l'un des chefs de la rébellion de l'Armée de résistance du Seigneur. La LRA est dirigée par Joseph Kony qui est lui recherché par la CPI. La capture de Charles Okello s'est accompagnée de la libération d'une dizaine d'otages dont sept enfants et trois femmes détenus depuis 10 mois. LRA Commander Captured in Central African Republic | 22 April 2014 | VoA News Uganda's military says troops have captured a commander of the Lord's Resistance Army [LRA] and freed 10 people who were held captive by the rebel group. A military spokesman said African troops hunting the LRA seized Charles Okello in the Central African Republic. Les FARDC et la MONUSCO poursuivent la pression sur la LRA | 25 April 2014 | AllAfrica | Le Potentiel Les Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) et la Force de la Mission de l'Onu pour la stabilisation du Congo (Monusco) continuent d'exercer la pression sur les éléments résiduels de l'Armée de résistance du seigneur (LRA). C'est ce qui justifie la poursuite de leurs opérations conjointes dénommées « Rudia II » (Retour II), « Chuma Ngumi » (Poing d'acier) et « Bienvenue à la paix », menées notamment dans les districts de Haut-Uélé et Bas-Uélé. Human rights and security Opening of the 55th Ordinary Session of the ACHPR : FIDH calls for a Human Rights Action Plan in Conflict and Crises Resolution and Prevention Processes | 25 April 2014 | AllAfrica | FIDH As the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) opens its 55th Ordinary Session in Luanda, Angola, today, FIDH calls upon the main African mechanism for the protection and promotion of human rights to take strong positions condemning conflict and crises situations that still persist on the continent, and to strengthen the place of human rights in conflict resolution and prevention processes. U.S. - Kerry's Africa Trip Should Emphasize Rights - Promote Links Between Rule of Law and Security, Development | 25 April 2014 | AllAfrica | HRW US Secretary of State John Kerry should raise concerns about endemic human rights violations when he visits Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola, Human Rights Watch said today. Kerry will visit the three countries from April 29 to May 5, 2014. DRC MONUSCO RDC: Martin Kobler promet le soutien de la Monusco à l’organisation des élections | 22 April 2014 | Radio Okapi Le chef de la Monusco, Martin Kobler, a déclaré lundi 21 avril à Kinshasa que la mission onusienne voulait aider la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Ceni) dans l’organisation de prochaines élections en RDC. Il l’a annoncé au sortir d’une rencontre avec le président de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Ceni), abbé Apollinaire Malumalu. CONFERENCE DE PRESSE DES NATIONS UNIES DU MERCREDI 23 AVRIL 2014 | 23 April 2014 | MONUSCO Au cours du mois de mars 2014, le Bureau Conjoint des Nations Unies aux Droits de l’Homme (BCNUDH) a enregistré 189 violations des droits de l’homme sur le territoire de la RDC, ce qui représente une très légère hausse par rapport au mois de février 2014 au cours duquel 183 violations des droits de l’homme avaient été enregistrées par le BCNUDH. Le nombre de victimes qui ont résulté de ces violations a, par contre, connu une baisse d’environ 68% au cours du mois de mars 2014. Les types de violations des droits de l’homme les plus rapportés ont été les atteintes au droit à l’intégrité physique, suivies par les atteintes au droit à la liberté et sécurité de la personne, les atteintes au droit à la propriété et les atteintes au droit à la vie.