Main takeaways of the new Group of Experts report
This year’s final report of the UN group of expert monitoring the Democratic Republic of the Congo has just been released As in previous years, it contains a lot of important and relevant information on current developments in the country. In terms of armed groups, FDLR and ADF are under increased scrutiny like in previous years, … Continue reading
Courts and technocrats in Congo?
Over the last few weeks, Congo’s embattled political arena has seen a gradual shift of issues outside the playgrounds of pre-electoral competition and into the – in parts more shadowy – world of legal and technocratic procedures. On May 11, the Constitutional Court of the DRC expressed its verdict over the question whether or not … Continue reading
Mujyambere’s arrest & the politics of tackling FDLR
Early last week, the chief of staff of the FDLR’s main military wing, FOCA, Brig.-Gen. Leopold Mujyambere (also known under the following aliases: Petrus, Achille, Musenyeri) was arrested when he was allegedly on his way back from Zambia into the thick forests of Northern Masisi – where many of the militia’s key leaders and troops … Continue reading
The new Security Council resolution 2277 on MONUSCO
A few hours ago, the UN Security Council has unanimously adopted – under Angolan presidency – its resolution 2277 extending MONUSCO’s mandate for another year (the 17th) and outlining the grand lines of UN politics on the Congo for the coming twelve months, a period arguably to be marked by heavy contestation at various levels. … Continue reading
Tit-for-tat violence spreads in southern Lubero
2016 has begun with little calm in North Kivu as reports over the Miriki massacre made the headlines in early January. Since November 2015, FARDC-led Sukola II operations marked an effective military campaign against FDLR in North Kivu (the South Kivu string of operations ended very quickly in mid-2015 and ever since, FDLR are reported to … Continue reading
On the emergence of Mayi Mayi Oregon
With recent massacres in Miriki (Lubero) and meandering political sparring around a potential ‘national dialogue’ in the headlines, the first weeks of 2016 followed the well-known mantra of ‘never a dull moment in Congo’. One other story, though, went almost unheard and continues developing with little attention from Congolese and Congo pundits: the first Mayi Mayi … Continue reading
Ihula & Rumangabo attacks overshadow DRC-Rwanda rapprochement on FDLR
Last week came with a remarkable diplomatic sign as Congo’s defence minister Aimé Ngoy Mukena (replaced yesterday in DRC’s most recent post-G7 cabinet reshuffle) met with his Rwandan counterpart James Kabarebe to discuss bilateral matters in Kigali. FDLR, the Rwandan militia surviving in eastern Congo for over 20 years and emanating from 1994’s genocidaire troops … Continue reading
Amani Itakuya II: Conclusion
Concluding remarks: On the emergence of essayists Jason Stearns Over the past month, Amani Itakuya has published twenty five essays about the conflict in the Eastern Congo, a majority of which were penned by Congolese. In conclusion, it is worth thinking about the space that these essays have carved out. Political and social debate … Continue reading
AIII #21: Repenser la réinsertion des anciens combattants pour construire la paix à l’Est de la RDC
Repenser la réinsertion des anciens combattants pour construire la paix à l’Est de la RDC (photo par l’auteur) Umbo Salama Plusieurs organisations ont soutenu le processus de désarmement, démobilisation et réinsertion (DDR) des anciens combattants. Avec des financements des organismes internationaux ou du gouvernement congolais, ce processus a connu trop des ratés. En Avril 2004, … Continue reading
AIII #17: Why should the Government of the DRC prioritize SSR over DDR Programs?
Why should the Government of the DRC prioritize Security Sector Reform (SSR) over Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reinsertion (DDR) Programs? Mahaut de Talhouët Many articles have been written on the linkages between SSR and DDR, and how success in one of these fields is a prerequisite for success in the other. Research has also highlighted the … Continue reading
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