Bens in Congo

In a long awaited move, the Congo army (FARDC) has launched several major strikes against former Rwandan Hutu rebels (FDLR). The army has claimed that the FDLR rebels have been pushed out of Virunga National Park as well as all known strongholds closer to the Burundi border. It appears that the rebels suffered loses but most likely vanished into the jungle to avoid direct confrontation, so a major question remains where did they go.

The hope is that this action will also reduce poaching in the park, famous for gorillas and also designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) includes former soldiers and Hutu militiamen responsible for Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and have been at the centre of nearly two decades of violence in eastern Congo which spilled over from the Rwandan genocide. Some reports indicate that the bulk of FDLR rebels have now concentrated in North Kivu after moving up from South Kivu.

A spokesman for Congo’s United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, was not immediately aware of the combat operation near Burundi, which is an interesting situation. The FARDC is carrying out the operation alone after rejecting support from MONUSCO. This follows a row over two FARDC generals whom the United Nations suspects of human rights abuses. FARDC co-operation with the UN mission, or lack thereof, is an ongoing situation which undoubtedly hampers efforts to find and destroy remaining rebels groups.

After extensive violence over concerns that President Joseph Kaliba will defer calling an election, a presidential election date has been set for November 27, 2016. This is considered a huge victory for protesters if not for democracy in Congo.

Kabila is constitutionally barred from running again, but he has so far refused to comment on his future, leaving some people still apprehensive if he will in fact step down.

In late October 2014, the suspension of the Burkina Faso presidential elections sparked such a reaction and popular uprising that the government of President Blaise Compaoré was deposed in only four days. That sent shock waves through every African presidential palace. Kabila is well aware of those events, so I’m optimistic that Congo will see a transition to new leadership.

The Vice News 9 minute video report on the fall of Compaoré is excellent journalism. https://news.vice.com/video/revolution-in-burkina-faso-the-fall-of-compaor

Police fired tear gas on Monday at demonstrators trying to protest against a parliamentary debate on a proposed census in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s which, if approved, could delay next year’s elections. Under the constitution, President Joseph Kabila will not be able to stand in the 2016 ballot, and critics say the government plan to insist on a census ahead of any vote might enable him to prolong his hold on office.

The government says it can complete the work within a year and argues that the survey is needed to ensure fair and transparent elections, but it begs the question why the census wasn’t completed earlier within Kabila’s mandate.

Joseph Kabila 2006 Election Billboard “Youth to power the country’s reconstruction”

Democracy is more than government based on the majority of votes cast. That’s mob rule. A respect for the rule of law, protection of human rights for all citizens, especially minorities, and an undisputed obligation of relinquishing control when needed are all parts of democracy. This is why Hamas and Gaza are not democratic. An unwillingness to cede control has been an issue throughout Africa’s history. Kabila has been a far better president than his predecessors (admittedly a very low bar) but Congo’s best hope is that he graciously accepts the end of his presidential term.

Update – January 23, 2015
Bowing to pressure after four days of intense rioting in Kinshasa, plans for a census have been scrapped. This doesn’t rule out Kabila extending his presidency, but celebrations are under way on the assumption that he will complete his term in 2016.

Tens of thousands of civilians are likely to be forced to flee their homes during a planned offensive by Congolese and United Nations forces against Rwandan Hutu rebels entrenched in eastern Congo, a U.N. agency has warned. The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that attacks on the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) would affect hundreds of thousands of people. The warning came after the U.N. Security Council approved the offensive against the FDLR, some of whose members were involved in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, which failed to meet a January 2 deadline to disarm and surrender.

The Security Council reacted on January 8 to the lack of disarming by authorizing a joint operation by the UN’s 20,000-strong force MONUSCO and Congolese government troops. The UN council’s 15 member nations said unanimously that the FDLR rebels must leave eastern Congo “immediately.” The group, which includes former Hutu soldiers and militiamen blamed for the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, targeted civilians when the UN staged its last major offensive in eastern Congo in 2009.

Given a UN agency is highlighting the risk to civilians of a decision made by the foremost UN body, I wonder what back room discussions are happening.

In recent weeks, the Congo army has been engaged in active combat along the Burundi border against former Hutu rebels. Burundi is immediately south of Rwanda. I have not heard any reports further north concerning the Islamic ADF rebels or recent violence near Beni. The quiet seems strange.

At Panzi Hospital, the government has made some conciliatory noises but the taxation issue remains unresolved.

Dr. Denis Mukwege leads the world renown Panzi Hospital in Bukavu which focuses on treating rape victims and re-constructive surgeries. He has survived many dangerous moments and assassination attempts amid calls for him to earn the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Mukwege has been honoured with a long list prestigious awards, most recently the Sakharov prize, the top European human rights award. Our connection to Dr. Mukwege goes back to some collaborative efforts with Healing Streams in developing training material for dealing with trauma caused by rape. Michael has been honoured by having a private dinner with Dr. Mukwege and his family during one of his visits to Canada.

Dr Denis Mukwege of the Panzi Hospital

But Dr. Mukwege has commented that DRC President Joseph Kabila should be limited to the two terms in office as prescribed in the constitution. Clearly an inhibition to healthy democracies throughout Africa has been strong men who do not gracefully leave office and assist in a smooth transition of power. It appears that his comments did not go over well and the Panzi has subsequently been accused of tax fraud. Giving it’s history as a registered hospital and being the only such hospital in the DRC now deemed to be a for profit organization, it is hard to understand the claims as not having political motivation. The hospital’s bank accounts have been frozen and staff are now unpaid, causing them to go on strike and demonstrate at the local tax office.

Dorcas Mbambu has provided another excellent update on the sewing project at the Muti wa Nzuki School for Orphans in Butembo. This project is providing valuable skills training for orphaned students under the care of experienced seamstresses. (Google Translate calls them Fashion Designers which has a nice ring to it!)  An Indiegogo campaign and other generous donations in the spring of 2014 provided the funding for this project which is having excellent returns.

We received the following photos from locals indicating this occurred 6 km from the Mavivi (Beni) Airport (eastern Congo) on November 21, 2014. Described as an ongoing local genocide by some, the attacks are attributed to the ADF, an Islamic Ugandan group seeking shelter in Congo. We have been asked to not forget to pray for the innocent Congolese.

Slaughter near Beni, including babies on the backs of mothers

Children slaughtered

More Photos:
Christmas Day Massacre in Beni
Attack on Oicha July 2016
11 Killed in Beni Oct 2016

Blazing Cat Fur and Pamela Geller linked

Thank-you to the generous donors who helped to provide in excess of USD $1,000 towards repair of the Kalondo health clinic which had been damaged in a severe storm (ourangan in French) as well as for replenishment of supplies and support for a Butembo school. Money in Congo can go a long way and make a big difference!

Repairing the roof at the Kalondo Health Clinic near Butembo DRC

It becomes a community effort when your only access to local health services is destroyed

Update from James Kataliko December 7, 2014:

New bicycle for the Kolondo Health Centre, used by nurses and committee members

50 to 80 people were killed in vicious machete attacks 10 km from Beni yesterday. The rationale for such a gruesome slaughter of innocent civilians has not yet been articulated in media reports. The attacks were made just east of the Beni airport and towards the Ugandan border, likely well within thick forests. A strong force of both Congolese and UN soldiers are located in Beni, but they are proving to be completely ineffective in preventing over 200 deaths at the hands of the ADF.

BBC

Thomson Reuters

Indian UN Base in Beni

This 11 second video shows the density of the forest near Beni from our 2006 trip. We called it the Broccoli Forest.

We’ve received word from James Kataliko that an ourangan or violent storm has destroyed the recently built health clinic in Kalondo near Butembo. We have forwarded some funds to help them with reconstruction. An earlier blog post provided a picture of the clinic.

Kalondo Health Clinic Patient with IV

Saasita and a Kalondo Nurse with their Supplies

As a reminder, you can usually expand a picture by clicking on it.