Congo
April 12, 2009
March 30, 2009
Recent Africa Investigations
Reports From South Africa Focus on Crime While Ignoring History
By Georgianne Nienaber for OEN NEWS
In the rural areas of Africa the people's lives and histories revolve
around their communities and connections with people, the land and
tradition. To people living in Africa, white and black alike, the land
is not exotic, wild or foreign, it is "home." And home does not always
provide safety and comfort.
read more
Sloppy Forensics Cloud Verdict in Murder of Journalist Serge Maheshe
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supported the
acquittal of two friends of Radio Okapi journalist Serge Maheshe who
were accused of taking part in his murder. However, IFJ said in a press
release that there were "irregularities" in the trial which precluded
discovery of who, exactly, was responsible for Maheshe's murder
read more |
Recent Congo Publications
1. It is with great dismay that the CNDP was informed
from the DRC’s official media about a press release signed by the Inspector
General of the Congolese National Police, General John NUMBI. This communiqué
was largely relayed by national and international media and was announcing, on
behalf of the coalition of the DRC’s armed forces (FARDC) and the Rwandan
Defense Forces (RDF), the arrest, on the Rwandan territory, of Major-General
Laurent Nkunda MIHIGO, the CNDP’s Chairman and Chief Commander of its armed
wing, the ANC.
2. The CNDP's political leadership would like to take
this opportunity to express to the national and international community, its outrage
and sadness for what appears to be an unjustified arrest from the highest
Rwandan military authorities. In fact, Major-General Laurent Nkunda MIHIGO
responded spontaneously to their invitation in order to talk about the
implementation of the IHUSI/Goma statement on the stalking of the FDLR. Thus,
he went to Gisenyi/Rwanda through a regular itinerary in the Congolese
territory, secured by both the FARDC and the ANC/CNDP; the axis
JOMBA-RUTSHURU-KIBUMBA-KABUHANGA.
3. At this stage, the CNDP's political leadership has no
information and clarification on the purpose of a such procedure a the very
time when a peace process under the supervision of the United Nations, African
Union and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Countries was
underway in Nairobi between the CNDP and the Congolese Government for the
peaceful resolution of the crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
4. The CNDP’s political leadership reminds the national
and international community that the disarmament of the FDLR/ex-FAR/
Interahamwe who created insecurity both in the DRC and Rwanda is a shared goal.
Therefore, the Movement has willingly agreed to take part in the operations
designed and conducted by the Congolese and Rwandan coalition. Its
participation was expressly authorized by the ANC/CNDP’s Chief Commander,
Major-General Laurent Nkunda MIHIGO.
5. The CNDP’s political leadership calls on Rwandan
authorities who facilitated the collaboration between the FARDC and the ANC/CNDP
in this agreement on joint operations against the FDLR / ex-FAR / Interahamwe,
to show more responsibility in ensuring neutrality and impartiality as it has
to be in every international mediation. It would be incomprehensible that one
of the parties to the agreement against the genocide actors be concurrently the
target, as it seems actually to be the case.
6. The Movement’s political leadership wants particularly
to ensure that solidarity and cohesion of its members, both in civilian bodies
as well as military units remains unwavering and that their loyalty to
Major-General Laurent Nkunda MIHIGO, Chairman of the Movement and Chief
Commander of the ANC, remains total.
For the Political Leadership
Serge KAMBASU NGEVE G.M
Executive Secretary
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH LAURENT NKUNDA (2 of 6)
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH LAURENT NKUNDA (1 of 6)
Laurent Nkunda: The Other Side of the Story
I was completely surprised upon meeting National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) General Laurent Nkunda that his first words to me were to describe me as a “nature writer” who was in Congo to protect the gorillas. The General had obviously done his homework on me, but had no clue as to my personal and moral evolution regarding humanitarian issues in DRC since 2007.
Western media has fabricated an image of Nkunda as an eccentric warlord and murderer who is to be despised and feared. Nkunda is a military leader and military men kill. Nkunda admits that war has its consequences. Every army in the history of humankind has been responsible for atrocities, and citizens of the United States need look no further than Abu Ghraib. Who is ultimately to be blamed?
An underground resistance movement arranged the interview with Nkunda. This movement is not populated with wild-eyed freedom fighters, but rather by serious professionals and government officials who believe that Nkunda offers the possibility of hope and change for a country riddled with corruption.
Aussie journalist Helen Thomas, an American medical doctor and a former member of the RPF army, joined me in entering rebel controlled territory. The most difficult and stressful part of our entry was a Ugandan border check where an inebriated Ugandan official demanded $50 each to guarantee our “safety.” After much arguing and discussion, a call came from “Chairman” Nkunda that we were his guests and should be allowed to pass the short distance to the Congolese border, where we were met by well-trained and disciplined officers of the CNDP army. This was obviously no rag- tag group of freedom fighters. CNDP “Captain Sahara” met us with a polite “bon jour” and assisted our crossing into Nkunda’s 21,000 square kilometers of territory.
Entering the rebel stronghold was far less intimidating than entering the United States Coast Guard monitoring station at Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana.
At no time while under Nkunda’s rule did we feel frightened or threatened. On the contrary, I can say that I am absolutely terrified of the regular Congolese army (FARDC), which controls Goma and points north and west. This is not an investigative report, but suffice it to say that we received many instances of personal testimony describing harassment and shootings by the FARDC. A human rights worker told how the windows of his aid vehicle were shot out by a uniformed FARDC solder riding a motorcycle on the pulverized tarmac that passes as a “road” through the spine of Virunga Park. The same aid worker said he felt safe while crossing into CNDP held territory.
Refugees related stories of being chased from their homes by “soldiers,” but could seldom identify which army. In one instance in FARDC territory north of Goma a woman said she was “chased by Mai Mai,” and in one other instance a woman said she was “told” that it was the CNDP that attacked her village, but that she “never saw them.”
Congolese president Joseph Kabila rules through intimidation and fear. His army (FARDC) is undisciplined and guilty of many more atrocities than the allegations leveled against Nkunda. Kabila is clearly exploiting the wealth of Congo as much or more than Mobutu did, yet Western interests, including the United States support him. Dan Rather recently did an excellent report “All Mine,” which is available for $.99 on iTunes.
Human Rights Watch has also condemned the suppression of free speech in DRC under Kabila. (reference)
We have heard again and again that Kabila owns homes all over the world, including a mansion in Malibu, California. Instead of persecuting Nkunda, perhaps the New York Times might want to do an investigative report on this.
In CNDP held territory, villagers were in extreme poverty by Western standards, but had gardens, pigs in the yard, flowers growing, and they happily waved and shouted as we drove along the road cut by Nkunda’s army. Villagers were engaging and offered none of the blank, sullen stares or frightened responses one gets in FARDC controlled sectors.
As far as Nkunda is concerned, human rights groups will have fits of apoplexy as I report that he was completely appropriate in demeanor. I cannot judge the man, but the medical doctor who was with us remarked that Nkunda exhibited no grandiose, narcissistic or paranoid traits. He is certainly charismatic and one must always be on guard when in the presence of charisma, but my impression of Nkunda is that he is a man who has dedicated his life toward the liberation of Congo from foreign interests, graft and corruption.
Nkunda was surprised when I told him about the distorted photos that accompany articles about him in the Western media. Weird angles, harsh shadows and imaginative prose by writers intent upon furthering writing careers, rather than journalism, have dominated the New York Times and other western print media.
Nkunda was courteous, engaging and welcoming. As the dirt floor flooded during the course of our interview, Nkunda became concerned for our gear and equipment. This was hardly the reaction one would expect from an imperious warlord. Was it a snow job? I doubt it. He seems serious about reaching out to Western interests. And I am not ashamed to say that I enjoyed our informal conversations after the interview. Why? Because I found a human connection that involved serious concern for the people of Congo.
I shared dinner with the man as an intense Virunga thunderstorm raged outside of the open-sided rondeval with a shredded tarp from UNICEF providing the only buffer from the wind. We talked politics, family life, and shared a pleasant conversation..
Eating dinner with the general (photo by G. Nienaber)
I am ashamed to know that some American journalists who provide reports that shape world opinion have been too frightened to enter Congo to see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears.
It was horrible to learn from sources in Rwanda that a noted US reporter was terrified to meet with Nkunda. Instead, he paid for information, instead of accepting an invitation for an interview as we did.
Journalists should be witnesses. We should tell the story. We can use our gift of turning thoughts into words to describe the conditions we encounter in the world. Let the politicians and think tanks determine policy. If we are able to present a clear picture, perhaps the politicians will be forced to act in the name of humanity.
What should I say when a member of the resistance comes to me and asks with tears in his eyes, “Why won’t journalists tell the truth?” I heard the phrase “we are crying,” many times from Congolese.
We were invited back to visit at any time. And Nkunda had a request. Would I try to bring a Congolese American to visit with him?
Then, there was the final question. Would the new Obama government listen to what we reported with an open mind for the Congolese? I replied that I was very small but that I would shout in a loud voice on behalf of the Congolese people. I also told him that I did not know how I would do this.
Nkunda told me, and I will never forget this, “Don’t worry about what you will do. You are “doing” now. By coming here, by speaking on behalf of the Congolese people when you write about the conditions in Goma and in the camps, by speaking openly about this, you are doing. You are doing.”
*********
TIMELINE:
January 3, 2009: Australian Journalist Helen Thomas and I meet with General Laurent Nkunda in occupied territory. We spend over six hours with him. Nothing seems unusual in terms of stress or concern on the part of his troops. Peace talks are scheduled to begin in four days in Nairobi. The CNDP Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, Rene Abandi, joins us for discussion. Abandi is scheduled to be at the peace talks.
January 5, 2009: While in Goma, rumors begin to surface that Nkunda has been removed from power of the CNDP. Sources from within the CNDP tell us this is not true. We wait.
Western mainstream media picks up a consistent drumbeat castigating Nkunda. The stories originate in Dakar, and Kinshasa. No one is reporting this from our location.
January 12, 2009: Posting from Dakar, Senegal, the New York Times said, "Disagreements over tactics and power have split the once seemingly invincible Congolese (CNDP)."
Nkunda vehemently denied the NYT article in a phone interview with us.
One thing is clear. The Congolese Regular Army (FARDC), under President Joseph Kabila, attacked the CNDP in August 2008, and quickly lost ground despite superior numbers. The attack shattered a tentative peace agreement. The NYT account supports BBC reports that Nkunda is fighting off an attempt to topple him by CNDP faction leader Jean Bosco Ntaganda.
"This is absolutely not true," Nkunda said from his location in north Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Nkunda said that Ntaganda was "unable to move more than one kilometer from his home," and was surrounded by CNDP forces. Nkunda estimated that Ntaganda had "as few as 36 soldiers" with him.
January 19: Rwanda announces a “joint operation” with DRCongo that has been agreed upon since December 2008 in which troops will attempt to disarm remnants of the Interahamwe in eastern Congo. Leaders of the FDLR are responsible for the genocide of 1994. Nkunda has said all along he is protecting his people from attacks by the FDLR.
Thomas and I are no longer in country and must rely upon emails and phone conversations with sources on ground in Congo.
One source close to the CNDP described a meeting which took place in Gisenyi, Rwanda in which the CNDP, Ntaganda, Congolese General Numbi and “others Rwandese and Congolese staff were invited.”
“In that meeting the chief of Staff of Rwanda told our high commander that there was a plan and they must be part of it and for that they must accept Ntaganda as their chief of staff. It was an order and it wasn't negotiable. And they said that General Nkunda must be removed as the chairman of CNDP and that they won't deal with him.
“Of course our high commander refused at first to sign the document which was already prepared, but the Chairman (Nkunda) told them to sign and they did so.
“The chairman is in danger because he has an army which is loyal to him and as long as he is around the plan can't be carried out as they want.”
Apparently there was a deal between DRC and Rwanda that no one in the Western media has reported.
Sources say Rwanda assured Kabila that Rwanda was capable of destroying Nkunda. They tried to accomplish this by installing Ntaganda as head of the CNDP, but the plan fell apart when the CNDP army remained loyal to Nkunda.
Sources say Ntaganda was given $250,000 and promise of amnesty from his indictment by The Hague for war crimes.
Rwanda sends 3000 soldiers into DRC.
Another source, not connected to the CNDP, described the situation.
“In all honesty, I just don't know what is happening at the moment, and I suspect it wasn't exactly planned.
“Like so many things over here, it's basically quite messy.
“I think Nkunda has taken a slight hit, because he was not able to quell Bosco's (Ntaganda’s) insubordination, but as far as I can tell, he is still very much in the driving seat of CNDP, but he's obviously going to have to make some compromises if the Rwandan and Congolese governments are behind Bosco's initiative.
“It was reported that MONUC have been blocked out of Rutshuru, but that's not actually true. For now everything is very calm, but we're bracing ourselves. A major coalition assault on the FDLR may well be in the pipeline, but I can't believe they'll actually succeed in bringing them in.
“We're quite worried about the consequences, in terms of insecurity, but at a very superficial level, I can't help hoping that something good may come of the fact that CNDP, FARDC and RPF are together, if it means the fighting will stop and the IDPs can return to their homes without getting attacked.”
January 23, 2009: From source close to Nkunda:
“I know you've heard the news that the Chairman has been arrested, that is not the truth but he came by himself to Gisenyi last night to meet the Chief of staff of Rwanda. He is at Gisenyi in a hotel but anything can happen. Although the option of arresting him will be a huge mistake because there will be a terrible fight between CNDP and RDF and FARC. “
Inside a Congolese IDP Camp
Huff Post Writers Go to Congo and Tell the Story from the Ground up
The
following interview was obtained with General Nkunda at his compound
three days before the BBC reports of his ouster. To date, Western media
reports have been very unfavorable to Nkunda and the CNDP, including
accusations of mass rapes and killings.
February 08, 2009
The Song of the Midwives
|
The Congolese people say their abundant mineral resources have been a blessed curse, which have bought nothing but war, violence and corruption to their country. Peace agreements for eastern Congo signed in 2007 and 2008 have been broken. All parties have committed acts of violence and abuse against civilians. This is the story of the people affected by the conflict and what they are doing to try to improve their lives.
The current conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has displaced more than one million people. Fighting between armed forces cause thousands to flee their villages and seek safety in refugee camps. The story of the Congo is complex but the effects of the on-going struggle are felt by thousands who live daily with the instability.
Producer, Helen Thomas journeys to the Mugunga II refugee camp, a few kilometres west of Goma, the main city centre in the east of the Congo. She's come to the camp with members of a local non-government organisation that helps women in the Congo.
The landscape of Goma has been scarred by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano seven years ago. Here at the refugee camp, cemented-lava spreads across the entire site. The refugees' huts are made of sticks and plastic and are built on a foundation of sharp stones covered only with blankets.
The fighting in the eastern Congo is affecting everyone. But girls and women are the most vulnerable here. Human rights groups say they've never found as many victims of rape in conflict situations as they've found in the Congo.
Armed forces are legally bound to stop rape and punish soldiers for such crimes but no one is held accountable here. All the armed groups, including the Congolese army itself, are accused of committing massacres, torture and rape of women and children.
The current conflict in the Congo is occurring in North and South Kivu, along the country's eastern border. It has its roots in the war of 1998 to 2003 - the largest war in modern Africa. This deadly conflict saw almost four million people lose their lives, most died from disease and starvation caused by the war. Even though the war officially ended in 2003, fighting continues and it's believed 45,000 people are dying every month.
The eastern part of the country borders Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi and this is where most of the Congo's resources can be found: copper, diamonds, gold, manganese, uranium, zinc and the world's biggest reserves of cobalt and coltan, a rare metal used in mobile phones and laptops.
Hundreds of millions of dollars leave the country from the mining of these minerals and Australian companies are among those who benefit. The irony is that despite the abundance of natural wealth found here, the Congo remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
A man who claims to be
fighting for the rights of Congolese people and for the future
development of the Congo, is General Laurent Nkunda. Until recently,
Nkunda was leader of the multi-ethnic rebel army group, Conseil
National pour la Défense du Peuple.
Helen Thomas and an
American journalist colleague were the last reporters to interview
Nkunda before he was apparently lured into Rwanda and arrested for war
crimes allegedly committed in 2004. The Congolese Government has been
trying for many years to capture Nkunda and break the strong-hold of
the CNDP in the east. Like everything in Congolese politics, there are
many versions of the story of Nkunda's so-called arrest.
Back in Goma, Helen and her colleagues are taken to a local medical centre. Health care in the Congo is severely under-funded. This medical centre receives no funding from the government and relies on patient fees to stay open. But given that most of its patients can't afford to pay for healthcare, it's severely lacking in the medical equipment needed to offer a proper healthcare service. Patients are transferred to the government hospital for emergencies but the doctor says it also is poorly funded.
The medical centre works in conjunction with their translator Omer's organisation, the Action for the Promotion of the Midwives. The doctors and midwives work together to encourage rural women to come to the medical centre to give birth. Not only are they battling the affects of war but maternal and infant mortality rates that are among the highest in the world. AIDS decimates the country.
Omer's organisation has trained 102 midwives since it began in 2001. The midwives work in the refugee camps around Goma and travel to remote villages, often walking ten, twenty, sometimes thirty kilometres, to reach the women. They work with the constant threat of rape.
What everyone in this story hopes for is simply peace.
Story Researcher and Producer
Helen Thomas
January 29, 2009
January 24, 2009
January 20, 2009
October 24, 2008
July 14, 2008
May 24, 2008
Contact
Recent Work
November 2009
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
Thoughts
- They dressed the wounds of my poor people as though they're nothing...saying "peace," but there's no peace. --Sinead O'Connor (Theology)
- "If you are humble, nothing can touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." --Mother Theresa
- I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
-Elie Wiesel
Multimedia
Client Publications
- Georgianne Nienaber: Superdelegates, Obama, Robber Drag Queens, New Orleans and the "Old White Guy," John McCain - Politics on The Huffington Post
- Glide Magazine
- Friends of the Congo
- A.W. Research Laboratories, Inc.
- Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN)
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI): working in the fields of energy, environment
- Independent News Portal COAnews: coanews.org : COANews.org
- Coleen Rowley for U.S. Congress
- OpEdNews.Com Progressive, Tough Liberal News and Opinion Home Page
- International Primate Protection League ~ IPPL ~ Working To Protect All Living Primates Since 1973
