Democratic Republic of Congo: Clandestine Abortions on the Rise in Goma
Region: CongoWritten by Passy Mubalama · Translated by Georgi McCarthy [Testimonies for this post were collected by email or face-to-face interviews in French and all links forward to French articles] Illegal abortion is a common practice in several provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in Goma, Nord-Kivu, where the number of deaths recorded as caused by these back-door procedures is increa... more
Views: 854Lubanga Verdict Prompts Debate on Reparations
Region: CongoFollowing international court’s conviction of first war crimes suspect, will proposed reparations process heal or divide communities? By Blake Evans-Pritchard, Mélanie Gouby For the former child soldiers whom Thomas Lubanga Dyilo forced to join his militia group, the Congolese commander’s conviction last month by the International Criminal Court, ICC, offered hope that ... more
Views: 915Bemba's Forces Took "No Decision Without his Consent"
Region: Congo
Accused was in daily contact with combatants deployed to Central African Republic, witness says. By Rehema Kabuo, Lucie Bindu As the war crimes trial of leading Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo resumed last week, a member of his organisation told judges at the International Criminal Court, ICC, that the defendant alone issued orders to troops that were sent into the Central African Republic ... more
Views: 854DRC Army's Loyalties Uncertain Around Election
Region: Congo
Written by By Mélanie Gouby - International Justice - Former armed groups drafted into national force continue to follow their own agendas, denting hopes of long-term stability. Recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, have highlighted the continuing power struggles between former rebel groups integrated into the Congolese army, pro... more
Views: 1145DR of Congo : Discreet Commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of Patrice Lumumba's Assassination
Region: Congo
Patrice Lumumba, photo Wikimedia January 17th 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of Patrice Lumumba's assassination, first elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire. In 1997, with Laurent Désiré Kabila coming to power, this date has become a public holiday in the country. The irony of this morbid calendar is that January 16th 2011... more
Views: 3070Flawed DRC System Prompts Rape Victims to Opt for Extrajudicial Settlements
Region: Congo
Flawed justice system prompts some rape victims to reach out-of-court agreements with assailants. When 14-year-old Judith (not her real name) was raped in Goma, her father decided not to report the matter to the authorities. Instead, the family of the victim sat down with that of the rapist and hammered out a so-called friendly settlement. “At least I received the equivalent of a dowry from the family of the ... more
Views: 153570 die as boat capsizes and 200 goes missing as another boat catches fire
Region: Congo
BY NANGAYI GUYSON IN KAMPALA UGANDA Kinshasa -At least over 70 people on boat have been reported after a riverboat capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the weekend, an official said. The Sunday , the Equateur Province spokesperson Ebale Engumba said a boat carrying more than 100 estimated passengers hit a rock early on Saturday in northwest DRC and only 15 people survived. ... more
Views: 1255DRC militia Leaders to face war crimes charges
Region: Congo
BY NANGAYI GUYSON IN KAMPALA UGANDA E.AFRICA New York -Rebel Leaders in Democratic Republic of Congo that carried out mass rape on civilians are mostly to face war crimes charges, a UN conflict envoy said on Tuesday. Margot Wallstrom, special representative on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict, made a direct warning to the heads of militia and armed groups in the African nation where more wi... more
Views: 1941DRC: Two arrested over peacekeeper killings
Region: Congo
BY NANGAYI GUYSON IN KAMPALA UGANDA E, AFRICA Soldiers have arrested at least two suspects in the killings of three Indian United Nations peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a military spokesperson said. It is reported that, the arrests came the morning after the three Indian peacekeepers died during a raid of the UN base in Kirumba. Major Vianney Kazarama said two men... more
Views: 1054Fighting Global Malnutrition Locally
Region: CongoCross posted from Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet blog. Every year, 5 million children worldwide die from malnutrition-related causes, including immune-system deficiency, increased risk of infection, decreased bone density, and starvation. But a variety of local efforts are hoping to turn things around. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country struggling with internal conflict, food shor... more
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