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Democratic Republic of Congo
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2006
Getting Congo’s Wealth to Its People (December 22, 2006)
The Boston Globe reports that despite Congo’s rich natural resources, the revenue is not reaching the country’s people, and they continue to suffer from disease and malnutrition. A number of unfavorable mining deals between the Congolese government and international corporations mean that most of the money is channeled away from the country. The article estimates that the Congo has signed away millions or possibly billions of dollars' worth of copper and cobalt for 35 years for very little in return.JM Guehenno: I Would Like to See MONUC Stay for Another Three Years in the DRC (December 8, 2006)
In an interview, the head of the UN Peacekeeping Operation department, Jean-Marie Guehenno, calls for further international involvement to help the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) move towards building sustainable democratic institutions. Instead of adopting a ‘paternalistic’ approach, the international community should bring its technical ability to the benefit of DRC development, he says. Guehenno recommends that the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC stay in the country for another three years to support the new institutions and infrastructures reconstruction. (Monuc.org)Kabila’s Biggest Challenge (November 28, 2006)
This East African piece claims that the newly elected Democratic Republic of Congo president, Joseph Kabila, will face serious challenges in leading the country. The divide revealed by the poll between the western DRC, in favor of Bemba, and the east, in support of the president, threatens the formation of a national unity government. The article also questions the role of the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUC) in stabilizing the country after the election. Citing Haiti and East Timor as examples, the author warns against a quick withdrawal of UN troops in the mineral rich country.Kabila Confirmed as Congo Leader (November 27, 2006)
Ending the presidential election impasse, the Supreme Court of the Democratic Republic of Congo proclaimed Joseph Kabila as the country’s new head of state. The Court rejected fraud allegations of the election opponent Jean-Pierre Bemba who filed a legal challenge to the election’s results. The decision sheds hopes for a return to calm in the Central African country after violent protests from Bemba’s supporters required the intervention of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). (BBC)Kabila Wins Congo Poll, Rival Rejects Result (November 15, 2006)
Following the second round of presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), international attention focuses not only on the results of the election, but also on whether both the Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba camps will accept the outcome. While the current President Kabila appears to have won, his opponent seems reluctant to acknowledge defeat, claiming election fraud. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, as well as Kabila, called for calm until final results are released. (Reuters)Hundreds of Thousands Raped in Congo Wars (November 13, 2006)
Rape has become so widespread in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs compared it to “a cancer in the Congolese society.” Government soldiers as well as rebel militias use systematic sexual abuse “as a weapon of destruction” to punish communities for their political loyalties, an expert says. Sexual violence, which affected at least a hundred thousand women in DRC, shocks because of its scale and brutality. (Guardian)UN and European Security Forces Vigilant Ahead of Presidential Run-Off (October 24, 2006)
Despite the violence between clans of the two presidential candidates following the first election round, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUC, remains optimistic that the second election will occur in a calm atmosphere. The UN called on presidential rivals Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba to urge their supporters to remain calm. Both politicians signed undertakings to maintain peace during the elections. Yet, UN troops prepare themselves to face any situation that could arise for the second election round. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Bullets in the Congo: New Research (October 16, 2006)
Oxfam International, Amnesty International and the International Action Network on Small Arms published a common report on small arms. The organizations’ findings reveal that arms originated from Greece, China, Russia and the USA made their way to rebel groups in the region of Ituri in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the UN arms embargo. The campaigners believe that the violation of the embargo results not from direct sale to rebels but through neighboring countries. As the UN opens a discussion on arms trade this October 2006, the three NGOs urge the UN negotiators to establish global standards for arms sales.War, Murder, Rape... All for Your Cell Phone (September 15, 2006)
While the democratic elections give hope for the future in DRC, peace in the country will depend on the government taking greater control over the mines. Minerals such as coltan, cassiterite, tin oxide and cobalt, abundant in DRC, have a tremendous value as they are needed to make cell phones, laptop computers and other portable electronics. Poorly paid soldiers have strong incentive to gain control over resource-rich areas. Soldiers have been founded using intimidation, pillage, arbitrary arrests or torture to tax or steal what mining workers extract. (AlterNet)Will Congo Explode? (August 29, 2006)
As the Democratic Republic of the Congo prepares for the run-off presidential election, political and ethnic tensions look set to “hit an all time high.” This East African article warns of “major ramifications for the stability of countries in East and Central Africa” should the election spark a return to militia based violence. Efforts at demobilizing the militias and integrating them into the national army have not succeeded, and hawkish allies of President Joseph Kabila threaten not to give up power even if Kabila accepts defeat in the second ballot.Uganda: Govt Warns It Will Invade DR Congo If Talks With LRA Fail (August 22, 2006)
The Ugandan government promises to repeat its 1998 invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army fail to sign a peace deal by September 12, 2006. LRA leader Joseph Kony has taken advantage of the porous border with the DRC throughout the twenty year war in northern Uganda to seek refuge and regroup. While agreeing to confront the LRA, the government of the DRC remains opposed to Ugandan troops reentering the country. The 1998 invasion sparked a six country war and left militias in control of areas throughout the eastern provinces. (East African)DR Congo Run-Off Could Be Best Result (August 21, 2006)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo must face a second round of voting as no one candidate received more than 50 percent in the country’s landmark presidential election. While violence preceded the announcement that President Joseph Kabila had received 45 percent, thus requiring a run-off vote with rival Jean-Pierre Bemba, observers expressed hope that the second ballot will vent some of the tensions surrounding the elections. An outright win by President Kabila may have sparked off serious violence in the capital Kinshasa where Jean-Pierre Bemba enjoys much support. (BBC)Who Will Be DR Congo's Next President? (August 13, 2006)
This New Times article profiles the front runners in the race to become the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Even with half of the votes counted, the electoral commission remains wary of projecting results, as most of the leading candidates enjoy strong links with militias or well armed supporters who may produce a violent response to unfavorable results.Millions Go to the Polls in Congo (July 31, 2006)
Millions of Congolese citizens voted in the first free elections since the Democratic Republic of the Congo won independence 46 years ago. Despite violence in the run up to the vote and opposition in rebel controlled areas, the polls passed off without serious incident. This Washington Post article states that the announcement of the election results will prove “the greatest test of Congo's fragile order.” There exists fierce opposition to President Joseph Kabila, seen by outside observers as the front runner, with many opponents contending the vote was rigged in his favor.DR Congo Militias Lay Down Arms (July 27, 2006)
In an important development, the three main rebel groups in the eastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have agreed to lay down their arms and allow safe passage for voters during the country’s historic election. Militia violence in the northeast had threatened to undermine the vote. The deal, struck with the government, will see the militias integrated into the national army and should allow tens of thousands to participate in the first free polls in the DRC in over 40 years. (BBC)DRC's Potential: Lighting the Continent from Cape to Cairo (June 29, 2006)
In this interview with Pambazuka, political scientist Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja discusses the strategic importance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Africa. He argues that the DRC has enough lakes, rivers, rainfall and natural resources to be the “breadbasket of Africa.” However, he argues that the failure of the transitional government to fulfill the requirements for free and fair elections prevents the DRC playing any “emancipatory role with respect to Africa’s development.”Call for DR Congo Election Delay (July 6, 2006)
With only weeks to go until election day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than half of the presidential candidates have called for a postponement of the vote. While the UN hopes the poll will be the first democratic election in the DRC in 45 years, some candidates believe that poor organization, and the contentious printing of an extra 5 million ballot papers, undermine the credibility of the vote. Corruption threatens the elections too – authorities have expelled journalists for refusing to pay huge fees for press accreditation, thus depriving many citizens of the ability to inform themselves of campaign issues. (BBC)In Congo, a Cosmetic EU Operation (June 12, 2006)
This article questions the reasons behind the deployment of additional EU troops in support of MONUC before the elections in the DRC. The authors argue that the mission has more to do with bolstering the credibility of the European Security and Defense Policy than improving the situation on the ground in the DRC, and deplore that it took more than four months for the EU to respond to the UN request. Deploying only 2000 peacekeepers to the capital Kinshasa, rather than to the eastern provinces where anarchy threatens to undermine the poll, offers further evidence of the cosmetic nature of the long promised operation. (International Herald Tribune)"We Cannot Have Elections Like This" (May 29, 2006)
As the Democratic Republic of Congo prepares for its first nation-wide elections in 40 years, the birth of a new militia in the country’s troubled north-eastern region is undermining prospects for a successful poll. The Congolese Revolutionary Movement (MRC) is recruiting hundreds of veterans of the previous conflicts in the Congo, uniting nearly a dozen loose rebel groups that failed to observe a July 2005 deadline to lay down their arms. The DRC army, backed by UN peacekeepers, has made slow progress in winning back territory from the MRC, and doubts have been raised as to the potential for a successful election in the north east. (Inter Press Service)DRC: Interview with Ross Mountain, Deputy Special Representative (May 22, 2006)
Ross Mountain, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the Democratic Republic of Congo, describes the “humanitarian catastrophe” that has befallen the Central African country. He explains how disease, malnutrition and dirty water have contributed to the high death toll due to the conflict’s destruction of crucial services. He emphasizes the need for security sector reform, pointing to the fact that the vast majority of human rights abuses have been at the hands of men in the uniform of the national army. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Spectre of Civil War Haunts Congo (May 11, 2006)
This Der Spiegel article highlights the volatile situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo that could destroy any chance of progress following the elections due at the end of July. Despite the popularity of President Joseph Kabila, the article claims the leaders of the pro-Rwandan RCD party, linked in the minds of local people with the area’s bloody past, are not willing to give up power. The author warns against the resumption of civil war in the eastern provinces as aid workers predict the RCD will attempt to take advantage of the government’s military weakness and destabilize the election.Rwanda: Congo No Longer Supports Rebels (May 8, 2006)
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has declared Kigali no longer sees the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo as supporters of the Hutu militias responsible for the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Kagame’s announcement marks a positive development ahead of the first democratic elections in the DRC since independence in 1960. Tensions in the eastern provinces of the DRC threaten to destabilize the election with local leaders loyal to Rwanda unwilling to give up power should they lose the election. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)The Gamble of Elections in the Congo (April 14, 2006)
The elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - postponed for the third time and now tentatively scheduled for July 2006 - are supported by the UN's largest and most expensive electoral assistance operation. But according to International Crisis Group analyst Jason Stearns, the UN and the Congolese government have not taken the necessary precautions to ensure that the elections don’t pit different parties against each other and degenerate into an “all-out war.” Congolese politicians should make efforts to reconcile the opposing ethnic factions and the UN must end impunity to the main protagonist of the latest surge in violence, rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. (East African)Another Modern Tragedy (March 16, 2006)
Although necessary for peace, the June 2006 presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo could create more instability, warns the European Voice. In the “dangerously unstable” eastern province of North Kivu, Rwandan-backed rebels claim that President Joseph Kabila is rousing hatred against their communities. Fearing to lose the elections, Laurent Nkunda – a ruthless rebel commander under UN sanctions for human rights abuses – has encouraged violence against rival ethnic groups in an attempt to derail the polls. To avert “another modern tragedy,” the Congolese government, with the UN behind it, must put an end to Nkunda’s impunity and stop the war from breaking out again in North Kivu.Europe’s Heart of Darkness (March 8, 2006)
The UN has asked the EU to provide European troops to reinforce the peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ahead of the June 2006 elections. But Germany, which reluctantly accepted to take the lead of any eventual EU mission, seems unable to find enough European countries willing to contribute troops: Poland pledged 30 troops and Austria promised to send 10. According to Der Spiegel, many officials in Berlin, Paris and Brussels hope they can avoid getting involved in “the chaos that consumes Congo.”Behind the Numbers: Untold Suffering in the Congo (March 1, 2006)
The war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed more lives than any armed conflict since World War II. Yet rich countries seem unwilling to commit to solving the conflict “because of powerful economic and geopolitical interests.” Mining multinationals are willing to do whatever it takes to profit from Congo’s diamond, gold, uranium, petroleum, and coltan resources – including smuggling gold through local rebel militias and committing gross human rights abuses. This ZNet article offers detailed information about the multinational’s plunder of DRC’s natural resources including the names of eminent individuals involved.UN Calls for £400m to End Congo's “Forgotten Crisis” (February 13, 2006)
At a donor’s conference in Brussels, the UN and the EU called on the international community to provide US$681 million for an “action plan” to ensure security and provide humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC.) The UN also asked the EU to provide troops to reinforce MONUC, the UN peacekeeping force of 16,000 men based in eastern Congo. The DRC received only 62 per cent of the promised pledges in 2005 because some countries such as the US, Japan, Germany, France and Italy failed to donate their “fair share.” (Independent)Mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Nationwide Survey (January 7, 2006)
This landmark report from the Lancet medical journal dubs the 10-year war that has plagued the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) “the world’s deadliest humanitarian crisis.” With 38 000 people dying every month - the mortality equivalent of the Southeast Asian tsunami – the report accuses the rich donor countries of “miserably failing the people of Congo.” While most deaths are due to preventable and easily treatable diseases, mortality rates are highest in DRC’s eastern provinces, where the fighting and lawlessness cut off or reduce access to health services.The Call for Tough Arms Controls: Voices from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (January 2006)
This report from the Control Arms Campaign highlights the devastating human cost of the arms trade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report also condemns the world’s continuing failure to control the arms trade in the DRC. The countries that supply guns to the DRC must agree on clear principles on the exportation of small arms to prevent weapons from getting into the wrong hands. As a humanitarian officer puts it, “there are so many weapons here that each person makes his own law.”
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2005
Elections in the Congo Not an End in Themselves (December 19, 2005)
Holding elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is no panacea, warns this analyst from the International Crisis Group. To build a functioning democracy, the new government will need to address the role of natural resources in fuelling the nine-year war. By ensuring that copper and gold extraction benefits the Congolese people - not just international mining companies and local elites - the government could prevent recurring violence. (East African)
This Partnership Africa Canada report shows how illicit diamond trafficking remains the biggest obstacle on the bumpy road to peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Armed militias smuggled an estimated $200-300 million worth of diamonds out of the country in 2005. Given the importance of the diamond industry in the DRC - it sustains 800,000 people and their families - the Kinshasa government and the UN peacekeeping mission must take action to ensure that benefits reach those who live and work in diamond mining areas.
At a time when the Democratic Republic of Congo is asking the international community for debt relief, Global Witness reveals that the head of the state oil company was selling hundreds of millions of dollars in cut-price oil to private companies he himself owns. According to Global Witness, France, as the country's biggest bilateral creditor, should take the lead in promoting transparency to ensure Congo's oil wealth benefits its people.
This report reveals the concealed role of minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as eastern DRC rebel groups fight for the control of cassiterite. Global Witness urges the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on cassiterite and coltan imports from Rwanda, as well as to include monitoring of natural resources exploitation and flows in the mandate of MONUC.
This Amnesty International report discusses arms sales to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from several countries and from arms dealers such as Victor Bout, emphasizing the destruction these weapons cause within the country. Noting special concern with Rwandan, Ugandan and Congolese government military aid to militias, the report offers concrete recommendations to the UN Security Council, all states, and especially neighboring governments to make the arms embargo more effective.
The New York Times magazine continues its long series of articles favoring US military intervention. Here, after a selective survey of reasons for the Congo government's virtual collapse, the author concludes that UN peacekeeping cannot reestablish order, so only “benevolent imperialism” can do the job.
Global Witness criticizes the UN Security Council for insufficiently addressing the nexus between the illegal exploitation of natural resources and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia. In particular, this letter argues that the Council should expand UN peacekeepers' mandate in the DRC to allow for monitoring and protection of natural resources and should deploy more troops to resource-rich areas of Liberia. Global Witness recommends that the Council “mainstream into the mandate of all peacekeeping missions a monitoring and reporting component related to natural resource exploitation.”
This Human Rights Watch report “documents human rights abuses linked to efforts to control” key mining areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Ugandan soldiers have “coerced gold miners to extract the gold for their benefit,” multinational gold corporations exploring in the area have provided logistical and financial support to violent Congolese armed groups. According to the report, “the international community has failed to effectively tackle” this problem. Although the UN appointed a panel of experts to investigate the role of illegal exploitation of natural resources in the conflict, the Security Council failed to establish a mechanism to follow up the panel's recommendations.Congo and Uganda: A Rush of Gold (December 2005)
According to a political affairs officer of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, peacekeepers “don't have the means” to prevent Ugandan-backed rebels from illegally exporting gold from the northeastern region of Ituri to Europe. In addition, some ministers of the Kinshasa government are directly involved in gold trafficking and have no interest in establishing peace in the region. As a result, the unbothered rebels continue to violate the UN-established arms embargo by purchasing arms with the profits generated by the gold mining industry. (Le Monde diplomatique)UN Warns Uganda on Congo Invasion (October 7, 2005)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned that his country's military will invade the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) if the Congolese government or the UN fails to disarm Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army who have taken refuge there. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned against using force in solving the dispute, arguing that it breaks the principles of the UN Charter. (Daily Monitor -Kampala)MONUC Assists DR Congo Army in Disarming LRA (October 5, 2005)
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has decided to assist the DRC government in disarming 380 Ugandan rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who fled illegally to Congo in September following Ugandan military operations. The LRA rebels use the Congolese territories as bases, safe havens or as supply routes for illegal arms trafficking.Annan Renews Appeal for Troops in Congo's Katanga (September 26, 2005)
Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council for 2,580 additional peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to address the threats posed by armed groups that have taken over the gold-rich Katanga region. This is Annan's second plea for the central African country but the US, which pays for over 25 percent of the operation, has made clear its opposition to adding peacekeepers to a mission costing $1 billion a year. (Reuters)UN Congo Force Modeling Shift in Peacekeeping (September 16, 2005)
This article highlights a shift toward more robust and comprehensive UN peacekeeping. In addition to maintaining peace and security, peacekeepers “are increasingly charged with assisting in political processes, reforming justice systems, training law-enforcement and security forces, and disarming former combatants.” The changes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) confirm this shift: since the UN broadened the mandate of the peacekeeping troops, a semblance of order prevails in the country. (Forward)UN Stretched Thin in Congo (September 12, 2005)
The UN's peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) is facing harsh criticism about its effectiveness and sustainability. The governments of Uganda and Rwanda accuse the UN and Congolese troops of failing to control the rebel groups that occasionally launch attacks across their borders. Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert, commander of UN troops in northeastern Congo, claims that his soldiers are doing the best they can with limited resources and a sometimes ambiguous mandate that curbs their ability to attack the rebels. (Los Angeles Times)“Rwanda's Genocide Still Echoes in Congo” (August 24, 2005)
As rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) continue to launch raids against civilians in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations faces a critical decision: “Should it continue to step up the pressure […] or should it back down?” In this Globe and Mail article, an International Crisis Group analyst urges the UN to offer better incentives for rebel disarmament or be prepared to take military action alongside the Congolese army.Cash Crunch Could Force UN Congo Mission Cutbacks (August 12, 2005)
The UN peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo faces a “cash crunch” that could force a reduction in military operations or election preparations, says Reuters. France has introduced a Security Council draft resolution proposing the redistribution of $103 million to get around the budget constraints. But the resolution also calls for adding UN troops, which requires approval from the US Congress because the US pays for nearly a quarter of UN peacekeeping operations. Waiting for US approval pushes back a Council vote until at least September 6, which diplomats say “is going to be too late.”Annan Backs Congo's Decision to Disarm Rebels (August 10, 2005)
The Democratic Republic of Congo government will begin to disarm Rwandan rebels by force, a move hailed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as one step towards peace in the Great Lakes region. Business Day says the effort will “help reduce tension between Congo and its neighbour, Rwanda.” Nevertheless, Annan warns that the arms embargo and travel bans must be enforced with more pressure from the international community in order for peace to succeed in the Great Lakes region.UN Steps Up Pace in Eastern Congo after Massacre (July 14, 2005)
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has faced criticism for not protecting civilians, and a July 2005 massacre of nearly 50 villagers in the country's North Kivu province prompted an active response at the UN. William Swing, the UN special envoy for Congo, urged peacekeepers to build up the local army and repatriate foreign fighters—mainly Rwandan Hutu rebels who spilled over the border after the 1994 genocide—in order to re-establish stability in the region. (Reuters)UN To Probe Congo Weapons Flows (June 8, 2005)
Despite a Security Council arms embargo, the “illegal exploitation of minerals such as gold and diamonds still funds arms flows to militias” in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). UN sanctions experts, who have been granted increased investigative powers, will head to the DRC to inspect land and airspace for “suspected violators of the embargo” and to monitor bank accounts. However, the DRC's “enormously long and extremely porous borders,” as well as illegal arms trade with neighboring countries make UN arms sanctions difficult to enforce. (BBC)
A Tougher UN Starts Taming Congo (May 10, 2005)
A number of major military successes against renegade militias have increased the credibility of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and raised hopes that the mission could pave the way for peace. Many people welcome the large Pakistani contingent's more aggressive approach to disarming rebels and restoring order in a country where rape, looting and killing with impunity have become daily practice. More and more fighters have disarmed as a result of MONUC's forceful stance, but Hutu rebel groups continue to challenge the mission. (Christian Science Monitor)
UN Council Plans to Extend Congo Arms Ban on Rebels (April 18, 2005)
France has drafted a Security Council resolution extending the arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Council first imposed an arms ban on armed groups in eastern DRC in mid 2003. The draft suggests imposing an arms embargo on all rebel groups in the DRC and punishing violators with a travel ban and a freeze of assets. The resolution further calls on neighboring states to maintain a registry of all flights going to the DRC in order to curb the export of minerals that finance the rebels' military operations. (AlertNet)The Congo's Transition Is Failing: Crisis in the Kivus (March 30, 2005)
International Crisis Group warns that renewed military tension in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kivu provinces endangers nationwide elections scheduled for June 2005 and risks derailing the fragile peace process. Rwanda's 8,000 to 10,000 rebels stationed on the border of eastern DRC not only pose a danger to Congolese civilians, they also provide Kigali with a dangerous justification for meddling. For peace to prevail in the DRC leaders in Kinshasa need to resolve the power sharing issues, and the UN Mission needs to strengthen its capacity to support the Congolese army against Rwandan as well as Congolese rebels.Africa's Forgotten War (March 21, 2005)
Nancy Soderbergh of the International Crisis Group argues that an improved security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is essential to safeguard the fragile peace deal between rebels and the government. She urges the UN and the international community to build a functioning Congolese army to protect civilians and control borders, and stresses that the DRC remains at risk of renewed civil war as long as local leaders refuse to commit to peace. (Boston Globe)Humanitarian Crises: Congo Worst (March 16, 2005)
During a visit to Geneva, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland told a news conference that the death toll of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amounted to "one tsunami every six months." Egeland emphasized that the world paid too little attention to the violence in eastern DRC. A UN report detailing some militia's gruesome tactics of torture and murder, as well as widespread violence against women reinforced his concern. (Reuters)Thousands of Fighters Disarm in East Congo (March 8, 2005)
Approximately four thousand rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) eastern Ituri region have handed over their weapons, more than doubling the amount of disarmed militia. Head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Ituri Dominique McAdams views the weapons handover as a significant step forward, and stressed the principles of the disarmament program, which gives fighters the choice to return to civilian life or to join the army. (AlertNet)Gold Keeps War in the DRC on the Boil (March 7, 2005)
Rising prices in valuable mineral resources have renewed tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In November 2004 Rwanda threatened to invade the DRC, arguing Kinshasa harbors Hutu militias who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Armed Rwandan-backed groups control Congolese mines and profit from the increasing value of coltan, casting doubt on Rwanda's intentions as its troops gather on the DRC's borders. Experts fear clashes between Congolese government forces and renegade factions could destroy the fragile peace process in the country. (Mail and Guardian)UN Paradox in Darfur and Congo (March 4, 2005)
This Christian Science Monitor piece compares the UN's bold response to the murder of nine peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo with its cautious approach to the crisis in Darfur. The author highlights the Security Council's support of aggressive military action "as necessary for peace in Congo," but notes that similar action is out of the question in Sudan. Controversially, the author argues in favor of "military boldness," if only because "Africa deserves consistency in knowing the world won't stand by when mass slaughter goes unchecked."UN Troops Tortured and Mutilated (March 2, 2005)
In the worst assault on UN peacekeepers since the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, attackers have murdered nine UN peacekeepers. The Congolese government has named Lendu militia group Front Nationaliste Integrationiste as the culprit, guilty of first torturing and then killing the UN troops. (Times-London)UN Congo Envoy May Leave Amid Peacekeeper Scandal (February 28, 2005)
UN Representative in the DRC William Lacy Swing will likely submit his resignation following allegations of sexual exploitation of women and girls by peacekeepers in the country. UN officials said it would be appropriate to replace the top UN envoy in the DRC, although Swing was not personally involved in the scandal. Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette is visiting peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast to draw attention to the UN's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. (Reuters)Congo Looting Keeps East Awash in Guns (February 28, 2005)
Congolese in Northeast Ituri say the region will not stabilize as long as private entrepreneurs and military figures run the province. A lack of border controls and airspace control facilitates gun trade into the region, which has contributed to the killing of at least 50,000 people in clashes between Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. As foreign traders exploit Congo's natural resources, they fuel ethnic strife in the DRC by providing local militias with weapons in return for protection of mining businesses. (Reuters)UK Ignored UN Report on Looting in Congo, Say MPs (February 21, 2005)
A 2002 UN Panel of Experts report charged 85 Western companies with looting up to $5 billion worth of minerals in the DRC and asked individual states to conduct their own investigations into the pillaging of gold, diamonds, timber and coltan. Despite the gravity of the charges, the British government has made "little progress in examining and resolving the allegations" and British companies involved in the scandal have yet to face any punishments. (East African)Prosecute Ex-Militia Leaders, Kinshasa Urged (February 16, 2005)
Juan Mendez, the UN's Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide, has urged the Congolese government to cease the appointment of militia leaders "suspected of penetrating massacres and other war crimes" to high-ranking positions in the national army. Congolese NGOs have submitted a report of the militia's abominations to the ICC, calling on the international community to bring war criminals to justice. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Numbers of Civilians Displaced By Fighting in DR of Congo Skyrockets (February 15, 2005)
Following widespread killings, rape and looting, an additional 35,000 people have fled their homes in the DRC's northern Ituri region. UNICEF Director Carol Bellamy warned that the violence could disrupt the move towards peace and elections in June 2005. Despite a 14,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in the DRC to monitor ceasefire agreements, armed militias continue to terrorize locals outside UN-guarded sites, making it very difficult to help those most in need. (UN News)UN Bans Peacekeepers from Sex with Congolese (February 10, 2005)
In a letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan outlined new "non fraternization" rules for UN peacekeepers and called for 100 extra police officers and French-speaking investigators to ensure that no further acts of sexual abuse occur in Congo. The measures include a curfew for UN forces as well as "specialized training and recreation facilities to alleviate the concentrated stress present in field missions." (AlertNet)Rwanda's Tormentors Emerge From the Forest to Haunt Congo (February 10, 2005)
More than 10 years after the genocide in Rwanda, up to 15,000 Interahamwe still seek refuge in Eastern Congo, terrorizing local inhabitants and waiting for the right moment to drive out the Tutsi-led government in their native Rwanda. Congo maintains a heavy military presence on the border in fear of a Rwandan attack to hunt down the Hutu militia. A semi-successful UN effort to disarm the Interahamwe has not kept critics from arguing that Rwanda supports the presence of the militia in mineral-rich Congo in order to further advance its commercial interests. (Washington Post)The Forgotten War (February 5, 2005)
For over a decade, Congo has been the scene of violent conflict and is burdened by 3.5 million refugees from Rwanda, as well as Interahamwe members who were driven across the border by the Rwandan army following the genocide in 1994. Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame,who has repeatedly attacked Congo, derives his wealth from mineral resources stolen from the Congolese. To consolidate his power in Congo, Kagame is trying prevent free elections by fueling tension between local militias. (Spiegel)DRC: Less State Is Not Best State (January 13, 2005)
Pambazuka interviews Prof. Ernest Wamba dia Wamba on the implications of hostilities for the transitional Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and a possible delay of elections planned for June 2005. Wamba dia Wamba criticizes the South African leadership's attempts to resolve the crisis in DRC and charges "there was no concern for knowledge of the political history of the country." He further advocates a federal DRC and not "a party state trying to equate society with a party."UN Says Congo Death Toll among World's Worst; Urges Congo and Rwanda to Work to Restore Peace (January 7, 2005)
UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief Jan Egeland warned that approximately 1,000 people a day are dying in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a result of ongoing conflict. The security situation in the eastern DRC, where Rwandan troops have massed on the border, remains "extremely volatile" and the transitional government is not addressing human rights violations. (Associated Press)DR of Congo Moves Steadily Towards Elections in 2005 but Challenges Are Formidable (January 6, 2005)
In a report to the Security Council on the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that the DRC's neighboring countries "are not promoting the conditions needed to bring peace to the country's troubled eastern region." Ongoing human rights violations and the presence of Rwandan troops in the country's eastern region darken prospects of free and fair elections in 2005. (UN News)
Picture Credit: Associated Press
Back to the top
2004
Global Witness traces the history of natural resource exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting the ways in which such exploitation promoted and intensified armed conflict. The report recommends that the Security Council grant the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) the authority to “monitor and report on natural resource exploitation” in the country.
“Can the peace hold in Africa? It depends on whether African states and their supporters continue to be innovative in their search for political solutions,” writes UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno. Showcasing Angola, the DRC and Sudan, Guehenno makes the point that when permanent members of the Security Council get involved in a particular crisis, the Council can come up with new approaches to support homegrown peace processes. (International Herald Tribune)Death Toll Approaches 4M, Says IRC (December 16, 2004)
In spite of a December 2002 peace agreement, over 31,000 people per month die as a result of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to an International Rescue Committee mortality study. The DRC conflict is "worse than any other conflict since the end of World War II," with a total death toll of 3.8 million between August 1998 and April 2004. The international community, however, has failed to provide sufficient resources to alleviate the conflict, and the unstable situation in east DRC portends more fatalities. (Pambazuka)Failure in Congo (December 13, 2004)
This Washington Post editorial harshly criticizes the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) for "failing miserably" to provide security in eastern DRC and to disarm militias that continue to spark conflict. As the DRC faces aggression from Rwanda, the author asks the Security Council not only to impose sanctions on Kigali should Rwanda refuse to withdraw troops, but also to "take an honest look at the wreck of its mission in this strategic African country."Rwanda's Secret War (December 10, 2004)
This WW3Report article traces Rwanda's long history of involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), revealing the complicated links between regional governments, proxy forces, rebels, natural resource exploitation, and Western interference. Rwanda uses the UN's and the DRC's failure to implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of rebel forces as well as continued impunity for rebel and army leaders involved in the 1994 genocide, as reason to interfere militarily in the DRC. The article points to popular anger towards MONUC for its inability to provide security and for alleged troop misconduct.Rwanda Denies Invading Congo, but UN Sees Massing of Troops (December 3, 2004)
UN officials have gathered growing evidence that Rwandan troops have crossed the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising fears of renewed conflict. The Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the issue, and Secretary General Kofi Annan called on Rwanda to "refrain from military intervention" while urging the DRC to redouble efforts to disarm and repatriate militias. 8,000 to 10,000 Hutu militiamen are present in eastern DRC, and Rwanda has scorned UN "voluntary disarmament" efforts, vowing to take matters into its own hands. (Los Angeles Times)Congo Suffers From 'No-Hope' Dilemma (November 29, 2004)
Low-level fighting continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the transitional government is little more than a corrupt affiliation of warlords whose power does not extend far beyond Kinshasa, says the Globe and Mail. Insiders say national elections, scheduled for June 2005, are "a joke" and could cause large scale violence. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has recommended expanding the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC but troop increases are unlikely as Western diplomats view the DRC as a "no-hope" situation into which they are unwilling to pour money.Rwanda Army Masses on Congo Border (November 28, 2004)
Rwanda has deployed thousands of troops along its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), claiming that Hutu militias are mobilizing to attack. Others, however, say Rwanda only seeks to protect its economic interests in the DRC. Kigali exploits valuable minerals such as cassiterite and tantalite through close cooperation with rebel proxy force, RCD-Goma. (Observer)Rwanda Slams UN Plan in DR Congo (November 22, 2004)
Rwandan President Paul Kagame dismissed UN calls for Rwandan rebels operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to disarm voluntarily, saying, "If you want peace, you have to make war." Kagame's hardline stance worries observers, who note that Rwanda and the DRC have resorted to war over cross-border rebel groups in the past. In spite of UN peacekeepers patrolling the border, the situation remains dangerous. (BBC)End Arms Flows as Ethnic Tensions Rise (November 19, 2004)
Human Rights Watch reports that local government officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are delivering guns to civilians in spite of a UN arms embargo. Ethnic tensions between the Banyamulenge and other Congolese ethnic groups run high and the flow of firearms threatens to reignite violence.Government, UN Troops Deploy to Sensitise Foreign Fighters in Walungu (November 8, 2004)
Congolese and UN troops deployed to South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo in an attempt to disarm and repatriate foreign troops situated there. The most notable foreign group is the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, accused of participating in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Although the government has ordered the Congolese army to act with force if necessary, the UN says MONUC's mandate is limited to voluntary disarmament and repatriation. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Expert Poll - Is Congo Sliding Into War? (October 18, 2004)
The NGO community expresses serious concerns that war could break out again in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Security remains extremely fragile, particularly in the east, and Congolese civilians continue to suffer attacks. Even though the parties reached a peace deal, they pay the national government little more than "lip service," preferring to keep their armed groups and showing a significant lack of investment in "national unity." (AlertNet)UN Council to Send More Peacekeepers to Congo (September 29, 2004)
US, British and French experts have drafted a resolution increasing the number of peacekeeping troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo by 5,900. The resolution extends the UN mission's mandate (set to expire October 1) by another six months at which point the Council will again attempt to adjust troop numbers. Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for an additional 13,100 soldiers for the region. (Reuters)Rwanda Tries to Stop Killings in Darfur (September 27, 2004)
Rwanda is sending 155 soldiers to Sudan to help stop the violence, which Washington has labeled genocide. Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande strongly criticizes the UN response to the crisis as well as UN peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly the "voluntary" disarmament being implemented there. (Independent)Annan Pushes UN for $1bn Expansion of Congo Force (September 8, 2004)
Due to regional instability and fears of renewed violence, Secretary General Kofi Annan is presenting a proposal to the Security Council to double the number of troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because member states already strained in other conflicts such as Iraq and Burundi are reluctant to provide troops, the proposal is unlikely to succeed. (Independent)Prevent the Return to Full-scale War in the Congo (August 20, 2004)
In a letter to the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, France, South Africa, the UK and the US, and to Security Council members, President of International Crisis Group Gareth Evans warns of the dangerous possibility of renewed warfare in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ICG calls for boosting the UN peacekeeping mission by giving MONUC more troops and a stronger mandate, and for renewing efforts to monitor the arms embargo and the exploitation of natural resources.The Other African Crisis (August 13, 2004)
In its report to the Security Council, the Panel of Experts on the DRC denounces Rwanda's interference and tacitly condemns the UN itself for not doing enough to enhance the UN arms embargo. Secretary General Kofi Annan has asked the Security Council to strengthen MONUC by increasing the number of troops and giving it a more robust mandate. (Washington Post)Are Their Guns Paid For With British Aid? (August 11, 2004)
The UK provides $30 million a year in aid to Rwanda through the Department of Foreign and International Development. Local sources say Rwanda uses some of this money to fund and support rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, the US and the Netherlands have withdrawn or reduced aid due to "concerns over the misuse of funds." Rwanda is accused of violating a UN weapons embargo and UN teams say they have found Rwandan soldiers inside the DRC in spite of Rwanda's promise to withdraw all troops. (Independent)Rush for Natural Resources Still Fuels War in Congo (August 9, 2004)
Exploitation of valuable minerals such as cassiterite is fueling conflict in the DRC. In Walikale, a town in Eastern Congo, Rwanda-backed RCD rebels and the Rwandan Army have developed an efficient system transporting resources out of the area and funneling troops and arms in. (Reuters)UN Eyes Big Changes in Congo Peacekeeping Mission (July 27, 2004)
In response to recent violence in eastern Congo, the Security Council will overhaul and expand its peacekeeping operations in the DRC. Possible changes include increasing the number of peacekeepers and creating a rapid reaction force for immediate responses to “flare-ups” in the region. (Reuters)UN Peacekeeping: Congo on the Brink of Full-Scale War (July 26, 2004)
In July, the Security Council will vote on renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Congo. The author argues that the renewal should not simply be “a rubber-stamp approval of the status quo.” Rather, the Security Council should strengthen the Mission by increasing peacekeeper presence in the DRC and providing the peacekeepers with equipment necessary to carry out their Chapter VII peacekeeping mandate. (International Herald Tribune)No Proof of Targeted Killings in East Congo - UN (July 20, 2004)
Rebel forces loyal to General Laurent Nkunda accused the Congolese government of slaughtering over 70 Kinyarwanda-speaking civilians in Eastern Congo. A UN investigative team dismissed these charges of targeted civilian massacres after finding no evidence of such killings. (Alertnet)UN Report Denounces Rwanda (July 17, 2004)
A United Nations report accused the Rwandan military of backing armed Congolese rebels in their fight against the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such support violates a UN ban on military and financial support for armed groups in DRC and threatens to undermine an already fragile peace accord. (Washington Post)Pulling Back from the Brink in the Congo (July 7, 2004)
The International Crisis Group criticizes the UN Mission for the Congo (MONUC) for failing to “develop a strategy that could radically change the environment of political competition” in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Group argues that peace-building in North and South Kivu is vital for lasting stabilization of the country and region. The Kivus are particularly prone to instability because of the high population density and influence of conflicts in neighboring states.Life in Congo: Another Coup, Another Crisis (June 20, 2004)
Was the attempted coup in the DRC a "real effort” to overthrow President Joseph Kabila, or simply a “political game” played by allies seeking to consolidate the President’s power? (New York Times)Eastern Congo Becoming Civilian Disaster Zone (June 14, 2004)
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland warns that Eastern Congo is becoming one of the world’s largest disasters, as thousands of refugees flee to neighboring countries. He adds that humanitarian access in DRC is “worse than Darfur in western Sudan,” and that abuse of civilians is spreading across the Bukavu region. (AlertNet)UN Troops, Protestors Clash in Congo (June 4, 2004)
UN peacekeepers killed at least two people when they fired on “rampaging protesters” in Kinshasa. The protestors accused the UN of allowing rebel forces to occupy Bukavu. The UN attributed the violence to “unreasonable expectations among Congolese about the U.N. peacekeepers' ability to control the situation.” (Washington Post)DR Congo's Shameful Sex Secret (June 3, 2004)
BBC reports that UN peacekeepers routinely rape women in Bunia’s largest refugee camp. Although the UN announced in May that it would launch a full-scale investigation into allegations of sexual abuse, “the gap between the intention to investigate and the reality of that investigation in Bunia remains large.”Ceasefire Agreement Signed and Broken in Bukavu (June 2, 2004)
Rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have broken a ceasefire agreement signed under the auspices of the United Nations. The forces claim to defend the mostly-Tutsi Banyamulenge ethnic group. Many government troops and civilians have fled and sought shelter within the UN Mission’s headquarters. (Integrated Regional Information Network)UN Mission Threatens Action on Hutu Rebels (May 26, 2004)
The eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kiyu remain volatile. UN peacekeepers stationed in the region have previously refrained from using force. However, UN Under Secretary General Jean-Marie Guehenno has warned that MONUC could soon take military action to disarm Rwandan Hutu rebels because of increased hostilities.(Integrated Regional Information Network)UN Peacekeeping Chief Urges Reconciliation between DR Congo and Rwanda (May 22, 2004)
Speaking on the renewed conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, UN Under Secretary General Jean-Marie Guehenno maintained that the two countries must take responsibility for their mutual reconciliation, insisting that the international community can only act in support of such a process. (Agence France Presse)Aid Agencies Fear New Congo War, Humanitarian Crisis (May 20, 2004)
UN has warned that intensifying divisions within the Congolese government and renewed conflicts between government troops and Rwandan Hutu rebels will bring the country back into war and destabilize the region. (AlertNet)DR Congo Holds 'Last Chance' Peace Talks With Ituri Warlords (May 11, 2004)
Congolese Vice President Azarias Ruberwa urged the Ituri warlords, in what he called "a last chance meeting for peace," to confirm their commitment to the country's transition to peace and democracy. (Agence France Presse)The UN in Congo: The Failure of a Peacekeeping Mission (May 10, 2004)
The UN Mission in Congo has failed to bring lasting peace, which civilians have long hoped for. By refusing to condemn Rwanda and Uganda for exploiting Congo's natural resources, the UN is giving warlords a carte blanche to continue their atrocities and to endanger the overall peace process. (International Herald Tribune)UN Security Council Elects Officials of Sanctions Committee (April 13, 2004)
The Security Council established a sanctions committee to monitor the arms embargo and the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the DRC. Chaired by Ambassador Baali of Algeria, the committee will report regularly to the Council and recommend ways of strengthening the effectiveness of the weapons ban. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)When Will the Congo Find Peace? (March 25, 2004)
This article has called on the international community to focus more on the ongoing conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to take into account the interests and desires of the Congolese people when seeking a genuine resolution to the conflict. (Africana)UN Peacekeepers Not Turning the Other Cheek in Congo (February 15, 2004)
Following a stronger Security Council mandate "to use all necessary means" to accomplish peacekeeping operations, UN peacekeepers are now prepared to use force in addition to traditional peacekeeping measures. Observing the latest conflict in Congo, an independent US think-tank notes that UN peacekeepers in Congo have now been "transformed into peace enforcers." (Associated Press)DRC Plunder: UK Accused of Failing to Act on Firms Named in UN Report (January 5, 2004)
A number of British MPs and NGOs complain about London's reluctance to pursue the four UK companies named in a UN panel of experts’ report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources. Despite Security Council statements urging states to act on the panel's findings, London says it is not able to do anything, as the UN report was "too general in content and relates only to some of the named companies." (East African)
Back to the top
2003
This resolution authorizes deployment of an Interim Emergency Multinational Force to the Congolese town of Bunia. Ethnic violence between the Hema and Lendu militias revived after Ugandan troops withdrew from the area.Child Soldiers in Eastern DRC (December 12, 2003)
This analysis from the UN Integrated Regional Information Network comments on initiatives to extricate child soldiers from DRC rebel forces. NGOs and UN agencies work together to demobilize minors and send them to school.Congo Tries to Unite Enemies (November 25, 2003)
Several rebel factions in DR Congo struggled for national control, but a peacetime power-sharing arrangement calls for these factions to create a united Congolese army. According to a foreign diplomat, "everybody wants a slice of the new cake before it all goes." (Christian Science Monitor)UN DR Congo Report Revealed (November 20, 2003)
According to the BBC, a UN panel of experts report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in DR Congo revealed that Uganda planned to centralize funding to its militia in Congo's resource-rich northeast. The news raised concern in the UK, which is Uganda's biggest aid donor.Report of the Secretary-General on the Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (November 17, 2003)
Despite a formal ceasefire and a transitional government comprised of previously warring factions, peacekeeping force MONUC still struggles to protect civilians from violence. This report details MONUC activity, especially in the volatile northeast.'No More Problem' - Museveni Insists Relations with DR Congo are Good (November 12, 2003)
In this interview with allAfrica, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni speaks about his country's involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Museveni has sharp words for a UN Panel of Experts report on the role of Ugandan troops plundering natural resources in DRC.UN Protest Over Suspected Arms Smuggling in DR Congo (November 5, 2003)
An airplane crash in eastern DR Congo raised the suspicions of UN peacekeeping force MONUC. The airplane allegedly had a cargo of weapons for insurgent groups. Yet the Congolese transitional government has prevented MONUC personnel from examining the crash site. (Agence France Presse)Global Businesses Profit from Congo War, Groups Charge (October 28, 2003)
International NGOs urge the Security Council to press the US and other western countries to investigate the involvement of transnational corporations in profiteering from the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They charge TNCs of fueling and perpetuating the conflict by purchasing the natural resources from warring parties. (OneWorld)UN Cuts Details of Western Profiteers from Congo Report (October 27, 2003)
A Panel of Experts report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in DRC may not include full information about the links between government and business if the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has its way. The DPKO worries that publicizing this information could jeopardize the peace process. (Independent)Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo (October 23, 2003)
Individuals and corporations named in the previous report expressed "strong reactions" to accusations of culpability in fuelling conflict in DRC. This report turns its focus away from accountability, instead advising the international community on peace-building measures.Kabila Seeks More UN Help for DR Congo Peace Process (September 24, 2003)
Joseph Kabila, the President of DR Congo, praised the international community for pacifying the volatile Ituri district. He also added a reminder that southern, mineral-rich provinces face continuing instability. (Agence France Presse)A Chance for Peace in Congo (September 10, 2003)
This Washington Post editorial urges the international community to punish warlords in Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC. It also urges support of UN peacekeeping missions and aid agencies working to foster stability in a region blighted by 10 years of conflict.UN Finally Asserting Itself in Congo (September 9, 2003)
DR Congo endured five years of civil war before the UN came to its aid. African commentators express frustration at the divide between the lofty ideals of the UN and its delayed, minimal response to the country's crisis. (Yellow Times)French Troops Hand Over to UN in Congolese Town (September 1, 2003)
France handed over its duties of protecting Bunia to UN forces. The new MONUC contains more troops and has a stronger mandate. Some of the local population worries about the transition, questioning the ability of the UN to keep the peace as effectively as the French did. (Reuters)Prospects for Sustained Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (August 20, 2003)
Continual violence has troubled DR Congo since Belgian colonization. A Congolese professor argues that strong state institutions and popular involvement in the peace process offer the best chances for lasting peace. (ZNet)UN Troops Going to DR Congo Will Have Greater Fire Power (August 19, 2003)
MONUC 2, a continuation of the peacekeeping mission in Congo, will have additional troops and military hardware such as attack helicopters. The current mandate, which only permits peacekeepers to fire in self-defense, will also receive an overhaul. (Agence France Presse)“Congo's International Civil War” (August 5, 2003)
Congo’s abundant natural resources and its comparative wealth attracted destabilizing forces from Rwanda and Uganda, its poorer neighbors. The root of interstate conflict in Central Africa lies in the discrepancy in economic dynamics. (Power and Interest News Report)UN Strengthens DR Congo Force (July 28, 2003)
The Security Council agreed to strengthen the mandate of MONUC and increase the number of peacekeepers to 10,800. The new mandate will allow peacekeepers to protect civilians and aid workers from imminent danger. (BBC)What the US Can Do for Congo - and Itself (July 24, 2003)
A Congo expert argues that the US should not ignore the continuing crisis in Congo. US involvement in the Sudan peace process provides a model for positive US engagement in Africa. (Christian Science Monitor)DR Congo Cabinet Fails to Meet (July 19, 2003)
Two newly-appointed ministers of the transitional government in Congo declined to attend its inaugural meeting because they refused to swear allegiance to Congolese President Joseph Kabila. The BBC reports that this action indicates renewed political power-jockeying.The Failure of an African Political Leadership (July 18, 2003)
In a ZNet interview, the leader of Rally for Congolese Democracy comments on the transitional government, the Security Council-authorized interim force, the role of blood diamonds in fuelling conflict and other issues.DR Congo Swears In Transitional Government Ministers (July 15, 2003)
Crowds in Kinshasa jeered the arrival of Jean-Pierre Bemba and Roger Lumbala, both of whom will participate in the transitional government of Congo. Bemba and Lumbala headed the principal rebel groups that plunged the country into civil war in 1998. (Agence France Press)More UN Congo Peacekeepers Get US OK (July 9, 2003)
The US administration finally endorsed the recommendation by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to increase current peacekeeping forces in Congo by 2,100 troops. (Associated Press)Ituri “Covered in Blood”: Ethnically Targeted Violence in Northeastern DR Congo (July, 2003)
This Human Rights Watch report exposes the web of involvement between external and internal actors who complicate and perpetuate violence in Congo. According to an Africa Division expert, “agreements between governments don't do much good when the government armies are just passing their guns on to local militias.”Doing It Right in Congo (June 25, 2003)
Congo’s four-year civil war killed over three million people. Deaths continue despite the presence of UN peacekeepers. The New York Times argues that MONUC will not succeed without more troops and a stronger mandate.A Blood-Soaked Final Chapter (June 22, 2003)
Retired Canadian General Maurice Baril works with UN peacekeepers in persuading Congolese militia factions to form a unified army. According to Baril, creating a state army is a slow but necessary part of establishing peace in Congo and Central Africa. (Toronto Star)What's Behind the Killing in Central Africa? (June 13, 2003)
The Socialist Worker argues that Congo’s continuing violence has its roots in a legacy of colonial brutality and foreign-supported dictators. It provides a history of foreign involvement in Congo to prove that new turmoil does not derive from indigenous ethnic hatreds.Congo Crisis: Military Intervention in Ituri (June 13, 2003)
This report by International Crisis Group calls for more substantial MONUC forces operating under a stronger mandate and wider scope to prevent genocide. It also highlights the role of Congo’s neighbors, such as Rwanda and Uganda, in inflaming the conflict.Politics of Deception in Congo (June 12, 2003)
The Yellow Times accuses the UN of “gesture politics” for limiting its peacekeeping aid to one small part of a country riddled with violence. The mandate of the mission does not extend to disarming the militias, although locals agree that this policy could prevent future violence.UN 'Mission' Probing DRC (June 12, 2003)
The Security Council Mission to Central Africa heard plans for a transitional government in DRC. French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, leader of the Mission, confirmed a future meeting with the Ituri interim administration, calling it “the only legitimate body [in the province].” (News24)Won't Disarm Congo Armies, UN Force Declares (June 10, 2003)
Against the wishes of humanitarian aid agencies, a French-led peacekeeping force will not disarm Congo’s militias. The commander of the force emphasized Rwanda and Uganda’s role in destabilizing Congo and their responsibility in restoring the peace. (New York Times)As Congo Collapses, France Steps In (June 9, 2003)
Aid workers in Congo worry that supplemental MONUC forces will not be effective without a strong mandate to protect and defend civilians from militia violence. Father Jan Mol, a priest in the country, proposes a total disarmament of Ituri province to end the violence. (Christian Science Monitor)Letter to Security Council Members on their Mission to Central Africa (June 6, 2003)
Human Rights Watch urges the Security Council mission to Central Africa to ensure the protection of civilians in the DRC and Burundi. Nominal peace agreements exist in both countries, but continuing conflict often terrorizes civilians.World Can Put Quick End to Carnage in the Congo (June 2, 2003)
Gwynne Dyer proposes that the UN sends at least 40,000 troops to Congo. Dyer argues that a large force with a strong mandate and a two-year commitment can restore stability and concentrate on Congo's problems of famine and internal displacement. (Toronto Star)Whole Congo Force Needs Tough Mandate -UN Official (June 1, 2003)
Peacekeepers in Congo have been unable to prevent numerous civilian deaths. The deputy head of MONUC explains that peacekeepers cannot succeed in a purely defensive capacity. He calls for a strong mandate that allows peacekeepers to initiate combat for civilian protection. (Reuters)The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (June, 2003)
This Watchlist report offers urgent and ongoing recommendations for action to the Security Council, MONUC and other parties to alleviate the suffering of children in the conflict-riddled DRC.UN Approves Force Deployment in Congo (May 30, 2003)
After two weeks of negotiations, the Security Council agreed to send an international force to Congo. French troops will comprise half of the force of 1,400 despite initial opposition by the President of Rwanda to French participation. (Associated Press)There Will Be No Excuses For Not Knowing (May 25, 2003)
Ethnic rivalry, cross-border interference and the burden of colonial history all contribute to ongoing violence in Congo. The Observer asks the UN to contribute more troops and resources to MONUC to prevent these factors from culminating in genocide.UN's Focus Diminishes Efforts on Africa's Troubles (May 25, 2003)
Colum Lynch criticizes the Security Council for devoting excessive time to global terrorism while neglecting a looming humanitarian crisis in Africa. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees challenges the Security Council to commit itself to democracy in Africa. (Washington Post)British Troops May Go to Congo after UN Uncovers Massacre (May 22, 2003)
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed his interest in sending British troops to supplement UN peacekeeping forces in Congo. Blair, who once called Africa's troubles "a scar on the conscience of the world", stressed the importance of a well-organized and well-supported force. (Independent)UN Ignoring Crisis in Western Africa (May 21, 2003)
The UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator remarks that recent fighting in Bunia shows "shades of Rwanda in 1994". Thalif Deen worries that in the aftermath of the war in Iraq, the international community forgets about worsening conditions in Congo. (Inter Press Service)Protection, Water and Food are Priorities in Bunia (May 13, 2003)
Oxfam and other humanitarian aid agencies call attention to crucial shortages in the wake of recent violence in northeast Congo. The agencies repeated the plea for an increase of MONUC forces to prevent current shortages from reaching crisis levels. (AllAfrica)Congo's War, the UN's Shame (May 2, 2003)
Critical of the UN Peacekeeping mission in the DRC, the Wall Street Journal labels MONUC a "paper tiger." The mission will remain ineffective and understaffed without strong support from the Security Council. Such support is not forthcoming as long as key members perceive no significant strategic gains in improving Congo's situation.DRC: Time to Stop the Carnage and Economic Exploitation (April 29, 2003)
The exploitation of Natural Resources is the 'biggest single factor' in perpetuating violence in the DRC, says Amnesty International. The organization urges the international community to take "immediate action" to stop the violation of human rights. (Amnesty International)Chaos in Congo Suits Many Parties Just Fine (April 20, 2003)
The Democratic Republic of Congo is Balkanized and often occupied by foreign armies. According to Adam Hochschild, warlords, foreign governments and multinational corporations have no interest in strengthening the central government of this resource-rich country. (New York Times)No End to the Slaughter As Hutus Refuse to Quit Congo (April 13, 2003)
While the Hutus remain in Congo, so will Rwanda, says Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. It is all bad news for the war-ravaged people of eastern Congo, caught between two vicious foreign enemies and unprotected by the UN mission. (Observer)Conflict in Congo Has Killed 4.7m, Charity Says (April 8, 2003)
Congo's war represents the tragedy of modern times, and the world has consistently found reasons to overlook it, says the director of the International Rescue Committee. Rwanda's parliament authorized a re-invasion of Congo with at least 5,000 troops, and UN disarmament efforts have failed. (Guardian)UN Finds Graves of 1,000 Villagers in Congo Massacre (April 7, 2003)
The DRC suffered the worst atrocity in four and a half years of civil war, says a spokesman for the UN mission. Given that Congolese rebels have split into more than a dozen factions, with the participation of Ugandan and Rwandan forces, no one is clear who carried out the attacks. (Associated Press)DRC Set to Agree on Democracy (March 31, 2003)
"The DRC is finally on its way to democracy," says a delegate at the negotiations in Pretoria for a final agreement to end five years of conflict. However from six rebel groups negotiating the agreement, only one movement has signed the deal. (News24)Rights Groups Ask for UN Inquiry into Congo Conflict (March 31, 2003)
Events in other parts of the world are distracting attention from the tragedies in the DRC. "The International community just focuses on Iraq, while millions of people are dying in the Democratic Republic of Congo," says an Amnesty official. (Voa News)UN Urges Uganda, Rwanda to Talk (March 26, 2003)
The UN asks Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame to resolve their differences peacefully. The area will not find peace until a central government authority in the DRC is installed, says the UN's envoy to Congo. (New Vision)Let Peace Prevail (March 24, 2003)
Since the UN is now engrossed in the US war on Iraq, the global body is not doing much to end the fighting in the DRC. However, a flare-up in the region would have far-reaching consequences for the security of Africa, making the maintenance of peace imperative. (Daily Nation)Rwanda Threatens to Send Troops to Congo (March 15, 2003)
Rwanda will send troops back to Congo if the Ugandan army doesn't withdraw from this country. The UN has not observed movement by Ugandan government forces “but that doesn't mean they are not there,'' says a spokeswoman for the UN mission monitoring the 1999 cease-fire in Congo. (Associated Press)Factions Accept Peacekeeping Force (March 11, 2003)
Rebel groups and the DRC government have agreed to establish a neutral, international force of between 600 to 1000 soldiers for the proposed transitional government in the country. Donor nations have already agreed to fund the force, says a UN envoy. (South African Press Association)"No Evidence of Illegal Acts", Says a Belgian Pillage Study (February 22, 2003)
A Belgian commission concluded that no illegal acts were committed by the companies accused by the UN for the exploitation of natural resources in the DRC. The conclusion is aimed to protect "Belgian political and economic interests in the region," say opposition senators. (Allafrica)Rapes, Killings Continue in Congo Despite Pact-UN (February 21, 2003)
Absolute impunity still affects millions of people in the DRC, say UN officials. The donors become tired of supporting humanitarian programs. The situation of the country "may have fallen into the category of forgotten crises." (Reuters)Rwanda Denies DRC Plundering (February 18, 2003)
Rwandan Commerce Minister Dr Alexandre Lyambabaje accuses the UN of lacking evidence in its accusations for the exploitation of natural resources in the DRC. The UN is not playing its role, he says. (BBC)China to Aid UN Peace Mission in Congo (January 31, 2003)
Despite its permanent seat on the UN Security Council, China did not take part in peacekeeping missions until 1989. Recently, Beijing announced plans to send more than 200 engineers and medics on a UN peacekeeping mission to Congo. (Associated Press).Talk of 'Emergencies' Misses the Point (January 31, 2003)
Despite the fact the world focuses mainly on the Iraq crisis, Africa remains in "a horrible mess." If countries are unable to deal with the root causes and find solutions to African conflicts, they should at least recognize the problem, says the International Herald Tribune.The Kivus: The Forgotten Crucible of the Congo Conflict (January 24, 2003)
Instability in the Kivu region threatens peace plans for the DRC, and the planned contingent of 3,000 new UN peacekeepers will not be enough to make a difference. This International Crisis Group report contains "important new information" on the area in conflict.Peace Process Threatened by Uganda and Rwanda Militias, Warns DRC Negotiator (January 21, 2003)
Violence backed by Rwanda and Uganda may disrupt the peace process in the DRC. The Congolese government asks the UN to increase the peacekeeping force in the country. (Allafrica)Thousands of Congolese Flee to Burundi (January 8, 2003)
As a result of the fighting in the DRC, at least 8,500 Congolese refugees have arrived in Burundi, the UN reports. The hostility comes just three weeks after the DRC government signed of a peace deal with major rebel groups to end the four-year war in December 2002. (Irin News)DRC: Thirty Sentenced to Death After Unfair Trial (January 7, 2003)
Thirty defendants received death sentences after an unfair trial for their alleged role in the assassination of President Laurent-Desiré Kabila. The sentences violate a personal commitment made by President Kabila to the UN Commission for Human Rights in March 2001 to hold a moratorium on the death penalty. (Amnesty International)
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2002
The UN report on the DRC denounces the existence of criminal groups linked to the armies of Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe and elite networks of political, military and businesspeople that illegally exploit coltan and diamonds, causing a dire humanitarian situation.
This report makes apparent “the irony ( ... ) that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is ranked as one of the world’s top ten diamond producers but remains one of the least developed countries.” (Partnership Africa Canada)
On April 19, 2002, the DRC President Kabila and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo leader Jean-Pierre Bemba signed an agreement that marked the end of the inter-Congolese dialogue. The accord rallied international support for the “Kabila-Bemba” and isolated the Rwandan backed Rally for Congolese Democracy.(International Crisis Group)
International competition for scarce resources in general, and for coltan in particular, is a key factor in the lack of state stability and the continuation of war in the DRC.(SAIS Review)The War Was Following Me (December, 2002)
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports several testimonies of the unthinkable hardships and extraordinary courage of the Congolese people as they rebuild their lives over and over again due to the long civil war.(Read part 2)Congo Peace Deal Signed (December 17, 2002)
DRC government, rebels and opposition parties signed a peace agreement to end four years of civil war. The deal will set up a transitional government until the DRC holds its first ever democratic election. (Guardian)DR Congo Deal: Reaction in Quotes (December 17, 2002)
DRC peace deal to end a four-year receives a cautious welcome throughout Africa, but will be difficult to implement. (BBC)DRC Army Stages Mass Maneuvers, Fears Rebel Trouble (December 16, 2002)
DRC rebel groups are unhappy with the government agreement reached in Pretoria while concern for new arm conflicts arise. (Tehran Times)Diamonds Are a Tyrant's Best Friend (December 8, 2002)
Business Report looks at a little-known diamond company that the UN report on DRC accuses of "trading with the wrong kind of people" and "the wrong kind of diamonds."UN Team in DR Congo Welcomes Decision to Boost the Force (December 5, 2002)
After the people of DRC and humanitarian agencies called for an increase in the UN military presence in the region, the UN Security Council decided unanimously to send 3,000 additional peacekeepers. (Agence France Presse)Monuc to Verify Withdrawal of Rwandan Troops (December 5, 2002)
Despite Rwanda's commitment to withdraw its troops from the country, almost 3,000 Rwandan soldiers remain in DRC. The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) will look into the alleged presence of militaries in the region. (Allafrica)Congolese Struggle to Recover From Years of War (November 25, 2002)
Hunger and a lack of running water and electricity are critical problems for many in DRC. However, a UN administrator says "we're not here for development, we're here to observe the peace." (Tehran Times)How a Perfect English Gent in a Rural Idyll Profits From a Bloody African War (November 24, 2002)
An Observer investigation has uncovered evidence that a British citizen, already accused of selling armaments by a UN report, has made a fortune from the bloody civil war in DRC that has claimed millions of lives.DRC Negotiators Resolve Most Points of Peace Agreement: UN Mediator (November 21, 2002)
The peace process in the DRC requires a complex mediation with a UN special envoy. With eight groups involved, this large, many-sided conflict has left some 2.5 million dead.Congo Government Troops Kill 100 Civilians (November 21, 2002)
Witnesses and human rights groups denounce government troops in the DRC for killing at least 100 civilians. The UN peacekeeping operation is aware of the situation but could not confirm reports of casualty figures. (Reuters)Congo Suspends Accused Officials (November 12, 2002)
Congolese President Joseph Kabila has suspended all officials accused in the UN report on natural resources. The UN report says those responsible for the plundering have made postwar arrangements to keep trading Congo's natural wealth. (Associated Press)UN Must Prevent “Ethnic Cleansing” in Ituri (October 31, 2002)
Human Rights Watch urges the UN to increase the size of the MONUC force in the DRC. According to HRW, hundreds of civilians have been killed and about two million have been displaced because of their political loyalties and ethnic affiliations.A Chance for Congo (October 29, 2002)
According to a UN report, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe have not really left Congo. As the three neighbors "will not relinquish voluntarily," the Pretoria talks represent a chance for the DRC to create an interim government with two major rebel groups. (Washington Post)UN Security Council is Told Peace in Democratic Republic of Congo Needs Solution of Economic Issue (October 25, 2002)
A UN Panel's final report on the DRC recommends organizing a conference on peace, security, democracy and sustainable development that would discuss compensation for the Congolese people and prosecution of those responsible for plundering diamonds. (Presswire)DRC Loses $8m Pa on Diamonds (October 23, 2002)
The Congolese Deputy Minister for Mining and Oil estimates that his country, the world’s leading diamond producer, has lost $800m a year because neighboring countries illegally extract diamonds. (News24)Rwanda Rejects UN Report on DR Congo Looting as Full of Lies (October 23, 2002)
The Rwandan government has rejected the UN report on the looting of the DRC “in its entirety,” arguing that the report attempts "to cover up the failures of the international community to prevent and stop the 1994 genocide." (Agence France Presse)Multinationals in Scramble for Congo's Wealth (October 22, 2002)
According to a UN report, dozens of multinational corporations, including Barclays Bank, De Beers and Anglo American, have violated ethical guidelines in dealing with criminal networks and facilitated the plunder of the Democratic Republic of Congo's wealth. (Guardian)Sanctions Urged for Congo Plunderers (October 17, 2002)
Despite the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC and UN sanctions, "elite networks" including 85 multinationals in South Africa, Europe and the US continue to plunder Congolese resources. In its report, a panel of experts urges the Security Council to extend the sanctions. (BBC)UN Must Take Urgent Steps to Prevent Genocide (October 17, 2002)
Amnesty International urges the Security Council to take urgent action to stop mass killings of civilians based on ethnic identity in the DRC. The organization recommends that the Council increase the number of MONUC observers. (Press Release)The UN Has Tough Job to Do in the DRC (October 10, 2002)
The end of armed foreign intervention in the DRC may not lead to an end to domestic conflicts. Although the West presses for peace to protect its interests in the country’s natural resources, various rebel groups may see that as an opportunity to reorganize. (New Vision)Hails Rwanda Pullout, Calls for UN Verification (September 19, 2002)
Congolese Foreign Minister, Leonard She Okitundu, remains skeptical about the expected Rwandan troop withdrawal in his country and asks for a UN verification. (Vanguard)War Crimes in Kisangani (August 20, 2002)
In a new report, Human Rights Watch identifies top commanders of the Rwandan-backed RCD rebel movement implicated in the massacres in Kisangani, and calls for their prosecution for war crimes. The report also questions whether the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) “failed to carry out its mandate to protect civilians.”Congo War: Is the End in Sight? (August 8, 2002)
Foreign Policy in Focus questions the viability of the peace agreement signed between the DRC and Rwanda due to “interlocking conflicts on the local, national, regional, and global levels.”Congo Peace Pact Needs More Than Goodwill (July 31, 2002)
“A pact between Congo and Rwanda strikes at the heart of Africa's biggest war but analysts query whether international backing will be enough to make the deal hold and end a bloody free-for-all over Congo's riches.” (Reuters)A Glimmer of Hope (July 30, 2002)
As the third peace deal in Africa this year after Angola and Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo signed a pact with its most powerful enemy, Rwanda. But will these peace negotiations hold while widespread poverty and conflict over natural resources still invade the continent? (Economist)Kabila And Kagame Sign Ambitious Congo Peace Deal (July 30, 2002)
Calling it a “bright day for the African continent,” the Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed an ambitious peace agreement which aims to unlock the impasse in Central Africa. (AllAfrica)World Court Rejects Congo Request to Intervene Against Rwanda (July 10, 2002)
The ICJ has rejected the request presented by Congo that Rwanda withdraw its forces from Congolese territory, on the claim that the Court has “no legal basis to intervene.” However, Rwanda’s demand to “strike the dispute from its docket” has also been rejected. (Associated Press)No Meaningful Sign Of Rwanda Peace Commitment, Says Congo Civil Society Leader (June 28, 2002)
In an interview with allAfrica, Mr. Nkunzimwami of the Civil Society of South Kivu, denies Rwanda’s claims that the DRC government supports the Interahamwe Hutu militias. He suggests that conflicts in Burundi and Brazzaville exacerbate the DRC conflict.International Spotlight Falls on Actions of Rwandan Troops in DR Congo (June 12, 2002)
One World Africa has reported that the International Court of Justice “is scheduled to consider accusations by the government of Democratic Republic of the Congo that its neighbor Rwanda has committed "large-scale human slaughter" since the outbreak of conflict in the mineral-rich Central African country in 1998.”Hard Currency: The Criminalized Diamond Economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its Neighbors (June, 2002)
This report makes apparent “the irony ( ... ) that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is ranked as one of the world’s top ten diamond producers but remains one of the least developed countries.” (Partnership Africa Canada)Stolen Goods: Coltan and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Spring 2002)
International competition for scarce resources in general, and for coltan in particular, is a key factor in the lack of state stability and the continuation of war in the DRC.(SAIS Review)Congo: Kisangani Residents Again Under Fire (May 24, 2002)
Soldiers of the Rwandan-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy rounded up and executed suspected backers of a short-lived mutiny in Kisangani, Congo. The UN peacekeepers failed to intervene but were called upon to investigate the massacre. (Human Rights Watch)Rwanda to Study UN's "Radical Proposal" On Solving DRCongo Crisis (May 6, 2002)
Patrick Mazimpaka, the Rwandan presidential advisor on the DR Congo, considers a UN proposal that would urge countries affected by armed groups operating in Congo, mainly Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, to work with the Congolese forces in disarmament efforts. (BBC Monitoring)UN Security Council Proposes Regional Conference (May 2, 2002)
The Security Council continues to urge for the demilitarization of Kinsangani. "This means withdrawal of not only Ugandan and Rwandan forces but also RCD and MLC forces," insists Jean-David Levitte, the French Ambassador to the UN. (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)Focus on the Results of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue (April 26, 2002)
A comprehensive report on the outcome of the inter-Congolese dialogue. More than 70 percent of the delegates signed an agreement reached between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the rebel Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC). (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)UN Urges DRC Government to Renew Talks (April 25, 2002)
Namaga Ngongi, the UN envoy to the DRC, calls on the Kinshasa government and other signatories to a recent power-sharing agreement to “renew talks with Rwandan-backed rebels who have rejected the pact.” (Agence France Presse)Rebel RCD Dismisses Agreement Between Government And MLC (April 20, 2002)
The rebel group, the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), dismisses “as a joke” the power-sharing agreement signed between the Kinshasa government and the rebel Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC). (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)Storm Clouds Over Sun City: The Urgent Need to Recast the Congolese Peace Process (May 14, 2002)
On April 19, 2002, the DRC President Kabila and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo leader Jean-Pierre Bemba signed an agreement that marked the end of the inter-Congolese dialogue. The accord rallied international support for the “Kabila-Bemba” and isolated the Rwandan backed Rally for Congolese Democracy.Rescue Bid for DR Congo Talks (April 18, 2002)
The Rwandan-backed rebel group, Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), rejects an agreement between the Kinshasa government and the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (LMC), a rebel group backed by Uganda. Under the agreement, Jean-Pierre Bemba would become prime minister in a government of national unity with President Joseph Kabila remaining head of state. (BBC News)DR Congo Peace Talks Extended (April 11, 2002)
Peace talks between the DRC government and rebel factions are deadlocked on the issue of whether the Congolese President, Joseph Kabila, should stay in office. (BBC News)Congo Government Ready To Share Power With Rebels (April 2, 2002)
The DRC government will share power with rebels fighting in the civil war on the condition that rebel-held territories return to Kinshasa control. (Reuters)UN Demands That Congo Rebels Withdraw From Seized City (March 20, 2002)
The Security Council strongly urges Rwandan-backed rebel forces to withdraw from Moliro, a major port town on Lake Tanganyika. The French Ambassador, Jean-David Levitte, recently informed the Security Council that Rwanda has 10,000 troops in the Congo. (New York Times)Security Council Demands End to Fighting in Congo ( March 15, 2002)
Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guéhenno pressed the UN Security Council for a Congolese national and regional reconciliation because “there will not be a stable peace…as there is no trust between the key players in the region.” (Associated Press)Is It Time Up for UN in Africa? (March 7, 2002)
In light of the deteriorating situation in the DRC, the African New Vision severely criticizes the ineffectiveness of the UN Security Council when it comes to African conflicts.Fighting Resumed in Eastern Congo Kinshasa (March 5, 2002)
Despite the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City, South Africa, fighting has resumed in the eastern part of Congo Kinshasa, threatening to undermine the peace process. (Afrol News)Council Urges "Constructive Spirit" in Peace Talks (February 20, 2002)
Security Council President, Ambassador Adolfo Aguilar Zinser of Mexico, encourages all parties in the DRC conflict to participate constructively in upcoming peace talks in South Africa. (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks)DR Congo Rebels Boycott Peace Talks (February 19, 2002)
Jean-Pierre Bemba, leader of the Congolese Liberation Front, will not participate in peace talks that will include the government, rebel groups and the political opposition. Bemba claims that many of the political parties invited to the talks are “fronts for the government of President Joseph Kabila.” (BBC News)Ethnic Clashes Threaten Congo Peace Talks (February 8, 2002)
UN special representative Amos Ngongi reports that rival rebel leaders in the DRC are exploiting tribal differences and undermining the country’s fragile peace process. (Reuters)DR Congo Wants UN To Probe Foreign Troops on its Soil (January 29, 2002)
The DRC asks the UN to launch an inquiry into the occupation of some of the country’s regions by foreign armies. The DRC wants a UN commission to investigate whether Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi have legitimate reasons to occupy the country. (Agence France Presse)Supporting the War Economy in the DRC: European Companies and the Coltan Trade (January 2002)
A report by International Peace Information Service investigates the involvement of European companies in the coltan trade and named in the report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources of the DRC.NGOs Call for Embargo on Coltan from DRC War Zones (January 14, 2002)
Non-governmental organizations criticize the UN decision to postpone the embargo on coltan from the DRC, arguing that coltan revenues help finance guerilla warefare. (Agence France Presse)Bujumbura to Withdraw Troops from Congo (January 9, 2002)
The government of Burundi made a formal commitment to withdraw its troops from the DRC, in exchange for a pledge from Kinshasa to end support for Burundian rebels. The removal of foreign troops from the DRC is an integral aspect of the ongoing peace process. (UN Integrated Regional Information Network)
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2001
Despite DRC President Joseph Kabila’s willingness to cooperate with the international community, many hurdles litter the road to peace in the Great Lakes region. The biggest remaining obstacles are the armed rebel insurgents and the DRC’s neighboring countries, both of which profit considerably from plundering the Congo’s natural resources. (Guardian)
The report investigates the illegal exploitation of diamonds, cobalt, coltan, gold and other lucrative resources in the DRC. It recommends to the Security Council a temporary embargo on natural resources imported and exported from Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
This article explains the regional background behind the tangled situation in the DRC, including the different neighboring countries involved in the conflict. A good introduction. (BBC)
Disarmament in the Congo (December 14, 2001)
The International Crisis Group asserts that without considerable improvement in international support,
