WEEKLY BRIEFING 29 September – 5 October 2016 The International Peace Information Service (IPIS) is an independent research institute providing tailored information, analysis and capacity enhancement to support those actors who want to realize a vision of durable peace, sustainable development and the fulfillment of human rights. 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 Recent IPIS news & publications Conflict and Security In the Democratic Republic of Congo, riots erupted in Kinshasa DRC on September 19 and 20. Opposition supporters took to the Burundi streets to protest against the postponement of presidential Uganda elections and ruling President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step Central African Republic down. During confrontations with the authorities, dozens of Humanitarian News people died. Ten days after the violence, the national dialogue DRC resumed. However, the largest opposition parties, organised Rwanda under the “Rassemblement” umbrella, refused to participate, Burundi which raises questions about the dialogue’s credibility. Uganda Central African Republic Meanwhile, the Congolese electoral commission announced that the elections would be postponed for at least a year. Justice and Tribunals DRC Over the past week, North Kivu saw several attacks by alleged Natural resource exploitation, ADF rebels in Beni, during which six people were killed. In Ituri, governance and trade the FARDC fended off an attack by FRPI elements on two DRC villages in Walendu Bindi. Nevertheless, local sources reported Rwanda that the rebels were able to steal goods and money from the Uganda inhabitants. In Haut-Uele, several people were killed during Central African Republic clashes between FARDC soldiers and foreign poachers called Regulation, Voluntary Initiatives “Oudas” near Garamba Park in Dungu territory. On September and Business and Human Rights 31, one person was killed and another injured when armed men DRC attacked a Caritas convoy in Kasai. Meanwhile in Kasai Central, the Congolese army regained control over the area in Dimbelenge territory that was occupied by armed militiamen led by Kamwina Nsapu. Over 10 000 people reportedly fled the area due to violent clashes between the army and militia members. I n Burundi, about a dozen people were arrested over the past week, suspected of posing a security threat to the state. Among them was opposition member Gervais Niyongabo. The governor of the northern province Ngozi stated that security measures were put in place against the incursion of dozens of Rwandan soldiers crossing the border into Burundi. Three Ugandan police officers and a UPDF soldier were detained for murder over the course of last week. Police officers reportedly also arrested at least 20 supporters of opposition leader Kizza Besigiye. Former URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) official, Tony Olanya, was killed near his home on October 5 under unclear circumstances. I n t h e Central African Republic, FACA commander Marcel Mombéka was killed in PK5, Bangui, on October 4. Violence erupted in the wake of the incident and 11 people were killed. IPIS vzw - Italiëlei 98a - 2000 Antwerpen tel: + 32 3 225 00 22 - fax: + 32 3 231 01 51 - e-mail: [email protected] President Faustin Touadera asked the UN to lift the arms embargo against his country, stating that the CAR should be able to build a national army. All articles and other news items referenced in this briefing come from third party media sources. Being not the author, IPIS is not responsible for the content of the news items or articles contained or referred to in this briefing. Recent IPIS news & publications Conflict and Security Recent news on conflict and security related issues across the Great Lakes Region DRC Political tensions / National dialogue Le Rassemblement a rendu hommage aux victimes des émeutes de Kinshasa | 29 September 2016 | Radio Okapi Le Rassemblement de l’opposition a clôturé, mercredi 28 septembre, les trois jours de deuil organisés en mémoire des victimes des violences survenues les 19 et 20 septembre à Kinshasa. Ces personnes sont décédées à la suite de la marche de l’opposition qui protestait contre la non- convocation, par la CENI, de l’électorat pour la prochaine présidentielle. US Orders Families of Government Personnel to Leave Troubled DRC | 30 September 2016 | Voice of America The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for the Democratic Republic of Congo and has ordered families of government personnel stationed there to leave. The travel warning said, "The potential for civil unrest is high in parts of Kinshasa and other major cities." Kinshasa is the DRC capital. "As a result of the deteriorating situation," the warning said, "family members of U.S. government personnel have been ordered to leave the country beginning September 29. Most official U.S. government travel to the DRC has been halted." RD Congo: les participants au dialogue national vont entamer des négociations directes | 30 September 2016 | Jeune Afrique IPIS vzw - Italiëlei 98a - 2000 Antwerpen tel: + 32 3 225 00 22 - fax: + 32 3 231 01 51 - e-mail: [email protected] 2 Le dialogue national a repris vendredi après dix jours de suspension suite aux violences en marge de la manifestation de l'opposition des 19 et 20 septembre à Kinshasa. Les discussions ont donc repris, vendredi matin, à la Cité de l’Union africaine à Kinshasa, entre les différentes parties participant au dialogue national convoqué par Joseph Kabila et censé résoudre la crise politique en République démocratique du Congo. C’était cependant sans l’Église Catholique, qui a suspendu sa participation la semaine dernière, et en l’absence d’une bonne partie de l’opposition, qui continue de boycotter les discussions. Troubled DRC Talks Resume, but Boycotts Raise Credibility Questions | 30 September 2016 | Voice of America At 1 a.m. Friday, weary members of several Congolese opposition parties emerged from a meeting that lasted almost 12 hours. Political talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo have resumed after being suspended early last week, following two days of deadly protests on the streets of Kinshasa. But it is unclear whether the talks can be productive. A larger coalition of opposition parties — known as the Rassemblement, or the Assembly — still refuses to participate. The highly influential Catholic Church — known as CENCO — has also withdrawn, saying it will only return if the Rassemblement joins the talks. Le renvoi de la présidentielle fin 2018 ne résout pas la crise en RDC | 2 October 2016 | AfrikArabia L’élection présidentielle qui devait se tenir en novembre prochain ne pourra pas avoir lieu avant novembre 2018 selon le président de la Commission électorale (Ceni). Un report de deux ans qui ne satisfait pas l’opposition congolaise et bloque pour l’instant tout accord politique au dialogue national. Présidentielle en RD Congo: pas avant novembre 2018, selon la Ceni | 3 October 2016 | Jeune Afrique La Commission électorale de la République démocratique du Congo (Ceni) a préconisé samedi la convocation du corps électoral en novembre 2017, renvoyant par ailleurs à une année plus tard la tenue de la présidentielle en RDC. Soit deux ans après la fin du second mandat du président Joseph Kabila. RDC: poursuite du dialogue national, Tshisekedi en embuscade | 4 October 2016 | Afrik.com En République démocratique du Congo (RDC), le dialogue politique se poursuit en présence d’Edem Kodjo, le facilitateur désigné par l’Union Africaine, mais boudé par une partie de l’opposition menée par Etienne Tshisekedi. RDC: le Rassemblement appelle à la « vigilance » pour la tenue d’un « vrai dialogue » | 4 October 2016 | Radio Okapi Le président des sages du Rassemblement des forces sociales et politiques acquises au changement, Etienne Tshisekedi, a invité les Congolais à rester « vigilant » jusqu’à l’organisation d’un « vrai dialogue », conformément à la résolution 2277. Il a lancé cet appel mardi 4 octobre, lors de la clôture officielle des travaux du conclave de ce regroupement politique de l’opposition. DRC Opposition Takes Hard Line Against Kabila Extending Term | 4 October 2016 | La Voix de l’Amérique The Democratic Republic of Congo's main opposition coalition, Le Rassemblement, on Tuesday announced the conclusion of a two-week conclave. Among agenda items was their response to President Joseph Kabila's intention to stay in power beyond the end of his second term and a clarification of the platform’s position on talks it has so far boycotted. RDC: Joseph Kabila annonce le report des élections | 4 October 2016 | Afrik.com Joseph Kabila, président de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), a annoncé, ce mardi 4 octobre 2016, le report des élections alors que son mandat expire à la fin de cette année 2016. IPIS vzw - Italiëlei 98a - 2000 Antwerpen tel: + 32 3 225 00 22 - fax: + 32 3 231 01 51 - e-mail: [email protected] 3 South Sudanese rebels La MONUSCO et la RDC envisagent la délocalisation des miliciens sud-soudanais | 29 September 2016 | Radio Okapi La MONUSCO et les autorités congolaises étudient des possibilités de délocaliser les rebelles sud-soudanais présents sur le sol congolais vers un autre pays, a déclaré Félix Prosper Basse, porte-parole de la mission onusienne en RDC, mercredi 28 septembre. DR Congo deadline for removal of South Sudan fighters | 4 October 2016 | BBC The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been given a week to fly hundreds of South Sudanese fighters out of the country. The men are loyal to South Sudan's sacked Vice-President Riek Machar and crossed into the country with him in August following intense violence in the South Sudan's capital, Juba. The 750 men have been disarmed and cared for by the UN mission. But Congolese officials say they are now a security risk.