What we should worry about, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres:
Chechnya
Northern Uganda
Northeastern India
Congo
Colombia
Southern Sudan
Ivory Coast
Somalia
Haiti
HIV/AIDS
Those are the ten most under-reported stories of last year.
Read full story at Contango: Our responsibility.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Thursday, January 12, 2006
DR Congo backs new constitution
The Democratic Republic of Congo has approved a new constitution which paves the way for historic presidential and parliamentary elections in March.
According to official results from the 18 December referendum, released on Wednesday, 84.31% voted in favour of the constitution to 15.69% against.
The new charter allows greater autonomy for some of the huge country's mineral-rich regions.
DR Congo's people voted for the constitution in December.
Full report BBC 12 January 2006.
According to official results from the 18 December referendum, released on Wednesday, 84.31% voted in favour of the constitution to 15.69% against.
The new charter allows greater autonomy for some of the huge country's mineral-rich regions.
DR Congo's people voted for the constitution in December.
Full report BBC 12 January 2006.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
The Lancet 2006: Mortality in the DR of Congo: a nationwide survey
British medical journal, The Lancet recently published a report on mortality in DR Congo. Louis at Telegraphe Congolais says the report is not available online but he has managed to blog an excerpt.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Digimotion Digital Album Blogged
See my latest entry at Sudan Watch: Digimotion Digital Album - Powerful stuff, check it out.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Thousands die from DR Congo war
BBC news today says, according to the Lance medical journal, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is killing 38,000 people each month.
Humanitarian crisis continues in the Congo: Death toll 4 million - 1,200 people dying every day
Report from Reuters today says the Congo conflict is the deadliest humanitarian crisis of the last 60 years but the world is still not doing enough to save lives, according to a survey published in the Lancet medical journal. Excerpts:
Its authors pleaded urgently for more aid and tougher security in the wake of a war estimated to have killed nearly four million people, mainly through hunger and disease.
The U.N.'s 17,000-strong Congo peacekeeping force -- its biggest in the world -- is trying to establish order across Africa's third largest country in the wake of the war which began in 1998 and officially ended in 2003.
Bands of gunmen still intimidate civilians in large areas, particularly in the east whose mineral riches are believed to have fuelled a conflict that at one point drew in six foreign armies and was dubbed Africa's first world war.
The survey showed that the death toll in the Congo conflict so far was higher than the numbers killed in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo and Darfur.
Full report by Paul Majendie London (Reuters) 6 Jan 2006.
Its authors pleaded urgently for more aid and tougher security in the wake of a war estimated to have killed nearly four million people, mainly through hunger and disease.
The U.N.'s 17,000-strong Congo peacekeeping force -- its biggest in the world -- is trying to establish order across Africa's third largest country in the wake of the war which began in 1998 and officially ended in 2003.
Bands of gunmen still intimidate civilians in large areas, particularly in the east whose mineral riches are believed to have fuelled a conflict that at one point drew in six foreign armies and was dubbed Africa's first world war.
The survey showed that the death toll in the Congo conflict so far was higher than the numbers killed in Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo and Darfur.
Full report by Paul Majendie London (Reuters) 6 Jan 2006.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
UN captures DR Congo rebel town
An operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, involving helicopter gunships and 1,900 UN and Congolese troops, has taken a key town from a rebel militia.
The town of Nioka has been captured, UN military spokesman Major Hans-Jakob Reichen, told the BBC.
The town, 80km (50 miles) north of Bunia, had been a rebel stronghold.
The joint operation, which began on Thursday, was against a militia led by Peter Karim. He has now fled northwards, the UN says.
Two of his bodyguards have been captured and the UN and Congolese troops hope to take him as well.
The militia he leads has been accused of atrocities against civilians in the region, which borders Uganda and Sudan.
Full report (BBC) 24 Dec 2005.
The town of Nioka has been captured, UN military spokesman Major Hans-Jakob Reichen, told the BBC.
The town, 80km (50 miles) north of Bunia, had been a rebel stronghold.
The joint operation, which began on Thursday, was against a militia led by Peter Karim. He has now fled northwards, the UN says.
Two of his bodyguards have been captured and the UN and Congolese troops hope to take him as well.
The militia he leads has been accused of atrocities against civilians in the region, which borders Uganda and Sudan.
Full report (BBC) 24 Dec 2005.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Angelina Jolie and John Prendergast's Congo Journal
Note Congo Journal by Angelina Jolie, John Prendergast and read Ripples of Genocide: Journey Through Eastern Congo.
[via Ali's Salon with thanks]
[via Ali's Salon with thanks]
'Cursed' gold - on the trail from militia-controlled gold mines to Uganda
See On the trail of DR Congo's 'cursed' gold, a report by BBC correspondent Will Ross in Mongbwalu dated 3 June 2005.
Note he is following the gold trail to Uganda which begins in Mongbwalu, in DR Congo's Ituri district.
Note he is following the gold trail to Uganda which begins in Mongbwalu, in DR Congo's Ituri district.
DR Congo 'backs new constitution'?
DR Congo's infrastructure has been wrecked by war and misrule but on 20 Dec 2005 BBC report also says DR Congo 'backs new constitution'.
According to the report, voters in the DRC have overwhelmingly backed a new post-war constitution in a referendum, early results indicate - and the president of DRC's electoral commission said the 'yes' campaign had won 78% of votes, compared to 21% for the 'no' campaign, on a 34% count.
However, according to a 16 Dec 2005 BBC report - DR Congo set for 'mystery' vote - voters in DR Congo were set to vote on a new constitution last Sunday but many complained they did not know what it contained.
Photo: These women queued for a copy of the draft constitution.
Photo: This man is one of the lucky few who has got a copy of the constitution.
Read BBC's Q&A: DR Congo vote.
Photo (AFP/BBC) Huge crowds turned out to welcome President Joseph Kabila when he made his first official visit to Bukavu.
Vist Ali's Salon of News and Thought for DRC news and list of Presidential Candidates.
According to the report, voters in the DRC have overwhelmingly backed a new post-war constitution in a referendum, early results indicate - and the president of DRC's electoral commission said the 'yes' campaign had won 78% of votes, compared to 21% for the 'no' campaign, on a 34% count.
However, according to a 16 Dec 2005 BBC report - DR Congo set for 'mystery' vote - voters in DR Congo were set to vote on a new constitution last Sunday but many complained they did not know what it contained.
Photo: These women queued for a copy of the draft constitution.
Photo: This man is one of the lucky few who has got a copy of the constitution.
Read BBC's Q&A: DR Congo vote.
Photo (AFP/BBC) Huge crowds turned out to welcome President Joseph Kabila when he made his first official visit to Bukavu.
Vist Ali's Salon of News and Thought for DRC news and list of Presidential Candidates.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Photos from the Rutshuru mission
Good news, Louis of Telegraphe Congolaise is safe, well and blogging. See Too much gun talk, keep on scrolling and be sure to click on each of the photos for great magnification and read On the march.
Asylum questions for DR Congo
What happens to asylum seekers who are sent home? As part of a BBC World Service investigation, Jenny Cuffe has followed the footsteps of failed asylum seekers sent back from Europe to the Democratic Republic of Congo. What she found raised questions over how European governments are treating those they deport. Full story 1 Dec 2005 (BBC). Note, the report says:
Although Africa's bloodiest conflict has cost an estimated four million lives since 1998, many EU countries judge it safe to send failed asylum seekers back. They say that there is a transitional government which plans elections next year.
Malnutrition is widespread in Congolese prisons. United Nations has described the regime in DR Congo's prisons as one of rape and torture. If prisoners do not have relatives to bring them food, they may eventually die of starvation, it reports.
Human rights lawyer Celestin Nikiana has started to list the prisoners in Makala. He has found two of the prisoners to be former asylum seekers who have been there for more than five years without charge: Alain Londole, who was returned by Belgium, and Willy Ayi-Ansha, sent back by Italy. Mr Nikiana believes there is at least one other asylum seeker, returned from Belgium, being kept in the prison's political wing.
The UN has also criticised unofficial jails run by DR Congo's national intelligence service. These are said to be places where prisoners are subjected to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and even torture". Human rights campaigners say they have information that one former asylum seeker is being kept in one of these secret centres.
Although campaigners have warned some people deported from Europe may be put at risk, they have not yet been able to produce convincing evidence.
Although Africa's bloodiest conflict has cost an estimated four million lives since 1998, many EU countries judge it safe to send failed asylum seekers back. They say that there is a transitional government which plans elections next year.
Malnutrition is widespread in Congolese prisons. United Nations has described the regime in DR Congo's prisons as one of rape and torture. If prisoners do not have relatives to bring them food, they may eventually die of starvation, it reports.
Human rights lawyer Celestin Nikiana has started to list the prisoners in Makala. He has found two of the prisoners to be former asylum seekers who have been there for more than five years without charge: Alain Londole, who was returned by Belgium, and Willy Ayi-Ansha, sent back by Italy. Mr Nikiana believes there is at least one other asylum seeker, returned from Belgium, being kept in the prison's political wing.
The UN has also criticised unofficial jails run by DR Congo's national intelligence service. These are said to be places where prisoners are subjected to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and even torture". Human rights campaigners say they have information that one former asylum seeker is being kept in one of these secret centres.
Although campaigners have warned some people deported from Europe may be put at risk, they have not yet been able to produce convincing evidence.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
DR Congo troops to Uganda border
"We have transported 300 Congolese soldiers to Aba in our helicopters and another 200 are on the way there by road," United Nations military spokesman Thierry Provendier said, Reuters reports.
The force will number 1,000 men by the end of this week, he said.
Full report (BBC) October 4, 2005.
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Uganda UN Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
The force will number 1,000 men by the end of this week, he said.
Full report (BBC) October 4, 2005.
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Uganda UN Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
UN airlifts Congo troops to deal with Uganda's LRA rebels
The U.N. has airlifted several hundred Congo government soldiers to a remote corner of the country to deal with heavily armed Ugandan LRA rebels who have entered and refuse to disarm, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday.
The helicopters flew the troops to Aba, an isolated town near the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeastern border with Uganda and Sudan, U.N. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thierry Provendier said in Kinshasa.
Full report Kinshasa, Oct 4 (Reuters)
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Uganda UN Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
The helicopters flew the troops to Aba, an isolated town near the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeastern border with Uganda and Sudan, U.N. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thierry Provendier said in Kinshasa.
Full report Kinshasa, Oct 4 (Reuters)
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Uganda UN Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
UN mission in DR Congo has said it intends to use all means necessary to drive out the LRA
LRA rebels are suspected of ambushing a civilian pick up truck in north east Uganda, shooting the driver and two passengers, and killing a fourth with an axe, repots the BBC October 4, 2005.
Note, the report states "DR Congo has warned Uganda not to try to disarm an LRA force in its territory" - and ends by saying "the UN mission in DR Congo has said it intends to use all means necessary to drive out the LRA group."
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Africa Khartoum Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
Note, the report states "DR Congo has warned Uganda not to try to disarm an LRA force in its territory" - and ends by saying "the UN mission in DR Congo has said it intends to use all means necessary to drive out the LRA group."
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Africa Khartoum Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
Monday, October 03, 2005
Ugandan troops amass at border of DR Congo
From Michael at Uganda-CAN October 3, 2005:
Thousands of Ugandan troops have begun gathering at the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the West Nile region of Uganda, purportedly in preparation to engage Lord's Resistance Army forces across the border, reports AllAfrica. A contingent of approximately 400 LRA forces crossed into Congo over a week ago, and requests from UN and Congolese officials for the LRA to disarm have been ignored.
Although Uganda's Minister of Defense last week claimed that Uganda would under no circumstances enter the DRC, President Museveni has this week stated that if UN and Congolese troops do not take immediate and aggressive action, Uganda's military would be sent across the border. Uganda played a central role in destabilizing eastern Congo during the civil war that ended in 2004, and many fear that if Ugandan forces cross the border again, more chaos could ensue. Several small armed insurgencies still plague the region today.
Uganda-CAN urges the Government of Uganda and UN to delay attacks on the group until robust efforts have been made to open negotiations with the rebels.
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Africa Khartoum Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
Thousands of Ugandan troops have begun gathering at the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the West Nile region of Uganda, purportedly in preparation to engage Lord's Resistance Army forces across the border, reports AllAfrica. A contingent of approximately 400 LRA forces crossed into Congo over a week ago, and requests from UN and Congolese officials for the LRA to disarm have been ignored.
Although Uganda's Minister of Defense last week claimed that Uganda would under no circumstances enter the DRC, President Museveni has this week stated that if UN and Congolese troops do not take immediate and aggressive action, Uganda's military would be sent across the border. Uganda played a central role in destabilizing eastern Congo during the civil war that ended in 2004, and many fear that if Ugandan forces cross the border again, more chaos could ensue. Several small armed insurgencies still plague the region today.
Uganda-CAN urges the Government of Uganda and UN to delay attacks on the group until robust efforts have been made to open negotiations with the rebels.
Tags: Congo DR Congo Sudan Africa Khartoum Uganda DRC LRA terrorists
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Submissions Welcomed For Spotlight On Darfur 2
If you wish to contribute a blog entry for Spotlight on Darfur 2, please contact Eddie Beaver at Live From The FDNF in time for 16 October 2005 deadline.
Jim Moore, co-founder of Sudan: Passion of the Present, recently posted a note from Eddie on this initiative with an important PINR report from Michael Weinstein.
Note, Catez Stevens in New Zealand initiated and hosted Spotlight on Darfur 1 round up of posts authored by 14 different bloggers from around the world. Jim Moore, in praise of this, writes:
"In my view this work is so fine as to be almost historic. It combines the literary quality of a small, carefully edited book, with the global accessibility of works on the web."
Last May, Catez also produced The Darfur Collection.
Image courtesy Tim Sweetman's post Let Us Weep.
Tags: Darfur Sudan Africa allthings2all aid bloggers Live 8 Live From The FDNF Darfur Collection Spotlight on Darfur
Jim Moore, co-founder of Sudan: Passion of the Present, recently posted a note from Eddie on this initiative with an important PINR report from Michael Weinstein.
Note, Catez Stevens in New Zealand initiated and hosted Spotlight on Darfur 1 round up of posts authored by 14 different bloggers from around the world. Jim Moore, in praise of this, writes:
"In my view this work is so fine as to be almost historic. It combines the literary quality of a small, carefully edited book, with the global accessibility of works on the web."
Last May, Catez also produced The Darfur Collection.
Image courtesy Tim Sweetman's post Let Us Weep.
Tags: Darfur Sudan Africa allthings2all aid bloggers Live 8 Live From The FDNF Darfur Collection Spotlight on Darfur
UN investigates DR Congo graves
A UN spokewoman told the BBC the remains were believed to be those of Congolese and Rwandan Hutus killed by Rwandan soldiers in 1996.
At the time the Rwandan Army was venturing into the DR Congo trying to find those responsible for mass genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
The graves were exhumed by Congolese troops.
Tags: Africa genocide Hutus Rwandan DR Congo Rwanda Congolese
At the time the Rwandan Army was venturing into the DR Congo trying to find those responsible for mass genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
The graves were exhumed by Congolese troops.
Tags: Africa genocide Hutus Rwandan DR Congo Rwanda Congolese
DR Congo militia deadline expires
A deadline set by the Democratic Republic of Congo for all foreign militias to leave the country passes.
Full story at BBC News Africa 30 Sep 2005.
Photo: Militia have been most active in the east of DR Congo (BBC)
A peace deal ended DR Congo's civil war in 2002, but the government exerts little control in the east.
Uganda has meanwhile threatened to use force against Lord's Resistance Army rebels sheltering in DR Congo.
Photo: UN patrols are a reminder that life is still far from normal in eastern DR Congo.
17,000 United Nations peacekeepers in DR Congo are not enough, said Ibrahim Gambari, UN under secretary general for political affairs.
"To disarm them all will require an enormous peacekeeping force, which the UN doesn't have, and which member states are not willing to fund," he said.
Uganda and Rwanda sparked DR Congo's civil war by invading and supporting local militias, after accusing DR Congo of backing rebel groups.
Under the 2002 peace deal, all militias were supposed to be disarmed.
Tags: Africa Uganda LRA Sudan DR Congo UN Rwanda
Full story at BBC News Africa 30 Sep 2005.
Photo: Militia have been most active in the east of DR Congo (BBC)
A peace deal ended DR Congo's civil war in 2002, but the government exerts little control in the east.
Uganda has meanwhile threatened to use force against Lord's Resistance Army rebels sheltering in DR Congo.
Photo: UN patrols are a reminder that life is still far from normal in eastern DR Congo.
17,000 United Nations peacekeepers in DR Congo are not enough, said Ibrahim Gambari, UN under secretary general for political affairs.
"To disarm them all will require an enormous peacekeeping force, which the UN doesn't have, and which member states are not willing to fund," he said.
Uganda and Rwanda sparked DR Congo's civil war by invading and supporting local militias, after accusing DR Congo of backing rebel groups.
Under the 2002 peace deal, all militias were supposed to be disarmed.
Tags: Africa Uganda LRA Sudan DR Congo UN Rwanda
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Diamond miners laboring in an illegal mine of the DR Congo
"Before you buy that next piece of gold and diamond jewelry for your loved ones or for yourself, remember these images of the laborers and slaves who suffered to extract, cut, and polish that beautiful jewel from the jungle," writes Bill at Jewels in the Jungle:
Tags: Africa fair trade diamond miners DR Congo gold human rights
"Help save lives by supporting the rule of law and justice, transparency in the diamond and gold mining industries and trade, fair wages, and humane working conditions for the people shown in these photo essays."
Tags: Africa fair trade diamond miners DR Congo gold human rights
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