Amani Festival | 14-16 February | Goma/DRC
Comme vous avez dû l’apprendre, le Festival AMANI, qui a été postposé après les évènements d’août à GOMA, aura lieu les 14, 15, 16 février 2014. Nous voulons lors de cet évènement de fête, de musique et de dance, rassembler des gens de tous les horizons, et principalement, les habitants de la région des Grands … Continue reading
Finally good news? What militia surrenders mean for eastern Congo
A few days ago, I have argued in this piece that M23’s demise has not entrenched automatism in appeasing conflicts across the Kivus. While it can be filed as a first success in lowering armed conflict in the region, key protagonists must maintain their vigilance and – with a more political and diplomatic focus – continue … Continue reading
Amani Itakuya. Introducing an essay series on peacebuilding in the Congo
After some earlier announcements, the planned essay series on peacebuilding will start in a few days (i.e. Thursday or Friday this week). For some time, this site will feature a new, different short pieces approaching the topic from a unique perspective. Amani Itakuya means “peace will come” in Congo-Swahili (aka Kiingwana; coastal Kiswahili would say … Continue reading
Notes on the panoply of armed movements in the Congo
Given the multitude of armed groups operating in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) eastern provinces, it is not always very easy to identify their objectives, leaders, and backers. Among numerous publications, the Rift Valley Institute’s Usalama Project provides some of the best analyses for the major groups, individuals, their history, motivations, and political reasonings. … Continue reading
The drama of post-colonial governance in contemporary African politics
Today’s global discourses feature a large variety of thoughts relating to current governance in many places in the world. In an age of globalisation and concurrent modes of governance, statehood, administration, and society organisation have emerged. The African continent, despite its massive variety of political culture and governance modes, prominently shows up as a place … Continue reading
Kony 2012 revisited: A short bibliography on opinions worth taking into account
Without any longer comment, a couple of pieces (in random order) I may not all endorse at a 100% but I deem absolutely worth and important to read when it comes to the phenomenon of the Kony2012 campaign by Invisible Children finding its continuation in yesterday released “Move“ video: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/?single_page=true by Teju Cole http://www.warscapes.com/reportage/not-click-away-joseph-kony-real-world by … Continue reading
Some thoughts on the M23 addendum to the UN Group of Experts midterm report
A couple of days ago, the much anticipated addendum of this year’s UN Group of Experts (GoE) midterm report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released. While the previously published report concentrated on various pertinent developments linked to the security situation in conflict prone eastern DRC as GoE reports usually do, this … Continue reading
Haiti, two years after the Earthquake. Challenges and prospects.
Exactly two years ago, on January 12th 2010 at 4:53 pm local time, the most devastating earthquake in modern history ravaged the small Caribbean nation of Haiti. With a magnitude of 7.1 (Richter scale) it destroyed wide parts of the country’s capital Port-au-Prince and neighbouring towns, but other cities like Jacmel or Lêogane too. With … Continue reading
Staatszerfall. Überlegungen zu einem schwer greifbaren Konzept (I/III)
Staatszerfall bedeutet das Verschwinden der legitimen Autorität des Staatsapparates und die Aufhebung des Weberschen Monopols der legitimen Ausübung von Gewalt. Es äußert sich im Nichtvorhandensein politischer (öffentlicher) Güter aufgrund mangelnden Willens oder Unfähigkeit des Staates diese zur Verfügung zu stellen. Die politischen Güter verhalten sich laut Rotberg untereinander hierarchisch, an der Spitze steht dabei Sicherheit … Continue reading
Should he become president of Haiti?
Wyclef Jean is running for presidency in Haiti this autumn. Without any doubt, he is one of the most excellent artists that hip hop music has ever known, but should he engage on that platform as well? After his official announcement reactions have been mixed… Among the most outspoken critics we noticed Sean Penn who … Continue reading
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