RDC: UDA – Communique du Prison de Makala (18.05.2017)

Debatt: Hva hadde skjedd i Norge om en leiesoldat eller fremmedkriger hadde tatt liv?

Idag er Joshua French tilbake i Norge, på selveste 17. Mai etter 8 år i fengel i Kongolesiske fengler. I en fremmed republikk der han reiste inn uten lovlig våpen, sammen med en kollega (Tjolstov Moland) som var innvolvert i mulig drap av deres sjåfør. Dette etter å vært en del av ulisensiert selskap i Kampala, Uganda. Der våpentrening og ammunisjon ble brukt i Uganda. Alt dette har skjedd, det er definitivt at de var en del av ulisensiert sikkerhetsselkap som reiste på oppdrag inn i Kongo. Det er akkurat som dette er glemt. Til og med Politisjef eller Politidirektør Edward Kale Kayihura kjente ikke til den virksomheten eller hadde registrert selskapet som French jobbet for. Alt dette burde sees som skeptisk på de motiv og de jobber de hadde i Øst-Afrika.

Derfor er ikke jeg helt sjarmert eller synes det er helt greit at han kommer hjem. Ville vi latt det samme skjedd om mennesker kom med ulovlig våpen, med ulisensiert sikkerhetsselskap og vært involvert i drapssak. Ville vi latt disse menneskene bare forlate landet og ikke respektere det livet som har gått tapt. At den kongolesiske rettstat og suverenitet ikke virker respektert. Den flatterende holdningen fra nrodmenn. Som ser ned på beskriver rettsaken som brutalt og nedverdigende. Vi burde kanskje passe oss selv, vi har selv et rettsvesen som ikke er perfekt der vi sender mindreårige asylsøkere til konfliktsoner og krigssoner, uten å tenke konsekvenser. Der vi bryter med internasjon rett og justis.

Jeg er ikk stolt av den norske regjering idag og det de har fått til. De har satt dobbelt-moral i spill, der en nordmann kan komme hjem, som en fri person etter drap i utland. Der ja, personen har sonet i fengsel og moren har fulgt etter. Likevel, det er en familie og lite en rettstat verdig. Jeg er ikke stolt. Heller fortvilet. Alle sprer gleden, men burde vi være det? Hva om lignende hadde skjedd i Norge?

Hva om et drap hadde skjedd på Lund i Kristiansand. Der det var to utlandsk statsborger uten opphold eller våpentillatelse hadde drept en norsk taxi-sjåfør. De begge jobbet for et utlandsk sikkerhetsselskap som ikke lisensert i Norge, ei heller i Sverige hvor de opererte fra. Der de hadde hatt våpentrening i Uppsala. Der de planla oppdrag og jobbet samme med andre. Hadde vi godtatt denne holdnigen og hatt denne reaksjonen. Om vi visste at to personer med utlandsk statsborgerskap hadde drept en norsk taxi-sjåfør på Lund i Kristiansand. Ville vi latt personene forlate landet og uten benådning? Ville vi godtatt at personene fikk gått fri og uten noen tvist med landet som de kommer fra?

Dette er dobbelt-moral og hvorfor det er irriterende. At vi oppter så hyklerisk. Det er ubeskrivelig og forkastelig. At en person som har vært med på lyssky virksomhet i Uganda og Demokratisk Republikken i Kongo (DRC). Ville vi har latt en person eller flere, hvis de drev med virksomhet som leiesoldater eller fremmedkrigere, ulovlige sikkerhetsvakter- og sikkerhetsselskap i Norge. Ville vi latt disse gått fri etter drap her i Norge/Kristiansand?


Jeg tror ikke det, det ville overgått vår rettsforståelse, våre tanker rundt det tapte livet og vår forståelse hva som rett. Vi kunne ikke godta at noen tok liv her og for så å kunne forlate kongeriket etter få år sonet her. Der de da ville være fri menn i landet de er statsborger i. Hvis ikke du ser hvor krenkende dette er på kongolesiske myndigheter og deres rettvesen, så vet ikke jeg hvor blind du på den falske frihetssfølelsen som man innhar.

Da lever i fortsatt i en kolonialistiske tankegang, der vi er mer verdt or vår rettstat betyr mer den kongolesiske. Noe denne saken viser at mange gjør. Til å med Statsminister Erna Solberg, gir krass kritikk av den Kongolesisk stat og dens rettstat, nå som French returnernte til Norge. Vi burde også ha gitt kritikk til nordmann som drev lyssky virksomhet og som burde under alle omstendigheter vært under soning i Norge. Ikke fri, eller er det greit at nordmenn i utlandet dreper? For slik kan vi også tolke denne dagen, at drapsmenn fra utlandet vil vi gjerne ha tilbake igjen?

Vi vil bare ikke ha fremmedkrigere som ikke er etnisk Norske tilbake igjen, de som drar til Syria og dreper for grupperinger der. De kan sone fengselsstraffer, men om en «ekte» nordmann er med på drap i Kongo. Så er det fest- og glede. Lenge leve dobbelt-moralen og kongeriket Norge. Der vi frigjør lykkejegere og drapsmennen på det Afrikanske kontinent, men har problem med andre. Peace.

First Responsible and Conflict-Free Artisanal Gold Supply Chain Operational in Eastern Congo (17.05.2017)

The Just Gold project is the first to successfully trace conflict-free and legal artisanal gold from mine site to export applying regional and international standards.

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 17, 2017 –  Partnership Africa Canada (PACweb.org) today announced the Just Gold project has successfully implemented a system to trace legal and conflict-free artisanal gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Just Gold project began as a pilot in Ituri Province in 2015. Today’s announcement is a milestone for the project—moving it from the pilot stage—having proven a successful chain of custody from mine site to exporter.

“After almost two years of testing the Just Gold project with an aim to develop a chain of custody and due diligence system for artisanal gold in DRC, we are excited to share news of our success,” said Joanne Lebert, Partnership Africa Canada’s Executive Director.

“The Just Gold project can now move from a period of testing to implementation and ensuring we have a long-term, sustainable and viable solution for traceable, legal and conflict-free exports of artisanal gold from Congo,” said Lebert.  “We look forward to sharing our lessons learned with key actors and to deepening our collaboration with the DRC Government.”

The Just Gold project creates incentives for artisanal gold miners to channel their product to legal exporters—and eventually responsible consumers—by offering fair and transparent pricing and by providing capacity-building, such as technical assistance to miners in return for legal sales. Miners are taught better exploitation techniques and offered Juts Gold project equipment, in return for which any gold produced must be tracked and sold through legal channels.

“Proving that artisanal gold in eastern Congo can be conflict-free, legal and traceable is a major step in responsible sourcing efforts in the Great Lakes region. The government of Democratic Republic of Congo is taking major strides in complying with regional standards and demonstrating how the implementation the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains can contribute to progressive improvements in the sector, supporting artisanal gold men and women miners to enter international markets,” said Lebert.

Partnership Africa Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines Martin Kabwelulu on September 2016, outlining support for the organization’s activities to strengthen natural resource governance. Specifically, the Ministry of Mines recognized the Just Gold project as a system of traceability and encouraged its implementation. Partnership Africa Canada has provided technical support to the Ministry since 2011.

Current activities in DRC include the Just Gold project, capacity building to implement both the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR) Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance applicable to high-value minerals, as well as support to civil society for monitoring and reporting on supply chain integrity.

Partnership Africa Canada has also undertaken research and analysis of the artisanal gold supply chain to understand women’s roles in the sector. Through sensitization and outreach, the Just Gold project improves awareness of women’s rights, and their right to access, control and benefit of resources. The project also supports and fosters women’s leadership opportunities through skills-building and training.

Partnership Africa Canada’s work in DRC developed from its engagement as a technical partner to the ICGLR, providing capacity-building to implement the six tools developed by the ICGLR’s Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources.

Funding for the Just Gold project and Partnership Africa Canada’s work in the Great Lakes region is provided by Global Affairs Canada. Additional funding for the Just Gold project is provided by USAID through the Capacity Building for Responsible Minerals Trade (CBRMT) project and International Organization for Migration.

MONUSCO continues to support and protect Dr Mukwege (16.05.2017)

MONUSCO has continued to provide its support because it believes that there is a credible threat to Dr Mukwege.

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2017 – Following the statement made at its press conference on 10 May regarding the protection of Dr Mukwege, MONUSCO wishes to clarify that it does not provide 24H protection to Panzi hospital and that this task is carried out by the Police Nationale Congolaise (PNC). MONUSCO withdrew its permanent uniformed personnel from Panzi in September 2015 as the security level was assessed to be within the capacity of the combined 24H presence of Police Nationale Congolaise (PNC), the deployment of well-trained security guards, the provision of escorts to Dr Mukwege during his movements in South Kivu, and the deployment of periodic patrols in the vicinity of Panzi hospital.

MONUSCO has continued to provide its support because it believes that there is a credible threat to Dr Mukwege. Clearly, MONUSCO’s tweet on 10 May was mistaken.

Based on concerns expressed by the Panzi foundation, MONUSCO will conduct a thorough security assessment to determine the adequate level of protection in the near future. On 15 May, MONUSCO preemptively deployed uniformed personnel to Panzi hospital for a 24h protection and will increase the number of patrols in the area until the security assessment is completed.

MONUSCO takes the security of Dr Mukwege and Panzi hospital’ staff very seriously. In addition to the above measures, MONUSCO will continue securing the confidential records of Panzi hospital.

RDC: “Crimes crapuleux et Violation constante des libertes et droits fondamentaux en RDC par le president Joseph Kabila” (13.05.2017)

RDC: Communique Officiel de la Presidence de la Republique (13.05.2017)

RDC: Communique du Conade (12.05.2017)

RDC: Communique du Rassamblement (12.05.2017)

Opinion: President Kabila appoints new Cabinet, but he is 141 days on overtime! (Time to leave for Togo?)

On the 19th December 2016 the last term of President Joseph Kabila went out. The Democratic Republic of Congo we’re the opposition negotiation through Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) agreement on the 31st December 2016. Still, the President hasn’t left any sign of leaving. As the Army are fighting on different front, are trying to avoid more problems, but having civil war situation in Kasai-Oriental, where the province has rebels killing and the army doing the same.

There are not been any visible signs that he is stepping down or giving way. Neither any clear signs of up-coming elections. Like there are just figment of imagination that his term went out in December 19th 2016. That is 4 months and 20 days that he is on overtime, without any consideration of the violation of the Third Republic. The Democratic Republic of Congo deserves better and should have legitimate President. Also, if you count days he has already spent total 141 days, which he shouldn’t be the Commander-in-Chief and President.

Therefore, 141 days on overtime, the news that he has unleashed a new cabinet and new set of ministers. Proves the violation and the rights of the Republic is being misused and misguided. I don’t care to look into the men and woman appointed, because that isn’t fair to the citizens of the DRC. They deserve a legit President and a regime they have elected. Not someone using the army and the resources as their personal business.

Even if on this date that the President appointed 47 Ministers and 11 Vice-Ministers. They are surely all loyal to Kabila, as they doesn’t care about the constitution, nor the laws that the Third Republic are supposed to have.

The Constitution of 2005 says clearly:

Article 70: The President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of five years which is renewable only once. At the end of his term, the President stays in office until the President-Elect effectively assumes his functions” (Democratic Republic of Congo – The Constitution of 2005).

So he has had two terms, plus the waiting term after the assassination of his father, who also was President. Therefore, because of that, he has already had three terms in that respect, but only elected in two. Now he is on his fourth without any consent or ballots. That because cannot be elected as long as the Constitution is written like this. The thing that he didn’t do, like many other totalitarian leaders, they change the laws to fit their paradigm and continues “legally”. He is functioning as President while waiting to President-Elect assumes his functions. But with no election and no plan of doing so, there is no evidence of him leaving.

That is even more evident as he changes and appoint a new Cabinet, with lots of ministers loyal to him. It is within the law that he appoint ministers. Still, it is 141 days since he had legitimate powers and was the President. Right now, he shouldn’t be preoccupied with who leads Communications or where Lambert Mende is working. President Kabila, should be come a civilian or join Yayah Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea, even go to Togo like Mobotu!

After a weekend of confusing reports on Mobutu’s whereabouts, CNN confirmed on Monday that he was in Togo, escaping there early Sunday just ahead of rebels advancing on his home in the northern Zairian village of Gbadolite” (…) “Mobutu — who fled Kinshasa on Friday, the day before rebels entered the capital in force — was resting in a residence belonging to his old friend, Togolese dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema, government officials in the West African nation said” (Arnett, 1997).

So if he would do the 3rd Republic a favor, he would leave the Presidency and leave the Nation. It doesn’t seem to be possible at this point. President Kabila has not conceded or tried to give way. Therefore, the trust of him leaving power, seems day-by-day unlikely. President Kabila shows that he uses his power and capacity, as the army are loyal to him. This proves that the elections seems far-fetched, since he has not showed anything feasible or even tried to even get tenders for ballots.

That President Kabila will say elections are expensive, the are to many rebellions, that the M23 are in the Kivu’s, that FDLR are doing their thing, that ADF-NALU still existing, that the Kamunia Nsapu and other groups killing in different provinces. This will all be used as tactics to postpone the elections and make sure there are no official date for elections, nor ordering ballots or securing funds for the Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI). They will all be left behind, since there are no plans or wish of the President to get a successor. That means he will leave all his power behind!

This new government is just a disgrace… and not respecting the Constitution of the 3rd Republic. Neither, it is clear disrespect of the people and republic. President Kabila doesn’t own the nation and the public doesn’t owe him anything, they deserves some who legitimate rule them. Time for Kabila to follow the fleeing President and leave for Togo! Peace.

Reference:

Arnett, Peter – ‘Mobutu in Togo as Zaire rebels assume leadership’ (19.05.1997) link:http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9705/19/zaire/index.html?eref=sitesearch

Security Council Press Statement on the Situation in the DRC (05.05.2017)

 

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the challenges facing the implementation of the 31 December 2016 agreement.

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 5, 2017 – The members of the Security Council continue to closely monitor the recent developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have taken note of the appointment by President Joseph Kabila, on 7 April 2017, of a new Prime Minister, Mr. Bruno Tshibala, and of the responses of national stakeholders, including the Rassemblement, as well as the 20 April 2017 statement of the Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Congo.

The members of the Security Council expressed their concern at the challenges facing the implementation of the 31 December 2016 agreement, they noted that the signatories of the agreement were unable to reach a consensus on the special arrangements of the agreement signed on 27 April by some, but not all, of the signatories of the agreement. They called on all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to achieve a greater degree of inclusivity that would help in the resolution of the very serious problems faced by the DRC. They reiterated their call for a swift implementation of the agreement, in good faith and in all its components, in order to organize peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections, no later than December 2017, leading to a peaceful transfer of power, in accordance with the Constitution and Security Council resolution 2348 (2017). They noted President Kabila’s expression of support, in his address to the Congress on 5 April 2017, for implementing the agreement in full. They reiterated that effective, swift and timely implementation of the agreement is critical to a credible process and the peace and stability of the DRC, as well as in supporting the legitimacy of the transitional institutions, as it represents a viable road map towards the holding of peaceful and democratic elections.

To this end, the members of the Security Council called on all parties to remain committed to the agreement and the overarching objective of peaceful, credible, free, fair and inclusive elections by the end of 2017, including through the full and equal participation of women. They called in that regard for the swift and inclusive establishment of a government of national unity, the Comité National de Suivi de l’Accord, the adoption of a new electoral law and the full implementation of the confidence building measures agreed in chapter V of the 31 December 2016 agreement, some of which are yet to be implemented. They reiterated their commitment to act accordingly regarding all Congolese actors whose actions and statements impede the implementation of the agreement and the organization of the elections.

The members of the Security Council underscored the responsibility that all Congolese political stakeholders bear at this critical juncture in their country’s history, especially by overcoming their differences to reach consensus and upholding the interests and wellbeing of their people above all other considerations, and in ensuring that they are guided by the rule of law, restraint and the spirit of compromise and dialogue. They called on all concerned political actors, whether in the DRC or abroad, to desist from any actions that could exacerbate tensions. They further called upon all political parties, their supporters, and other political actors to remain calm and refrain from violence of any kind. Recalling Security Council resolution 2348 (2017), they urged the Government as well as all relevant parties to ensure an environment conducive to the conduct of this electoral process, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution, which includes free and constructive political debate, freedom of opinion and expression, including for the press, freedom of assembly, equitable access to media including State media, the security of all political actors, freedom of movement for all candidates, as well as for elections observers and witnesses, journalists, human rights defenders and actors from civil society including women.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of the violence witnessed in the Kasaï region over recent months and expressed serious concerns at alleged violations and abuses of human rights committed in the region. They reiterated their serious concern at serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by local militia in that region, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict in violation of applicable international law, as well as attacks on DRC security forces and symbols of State authority. They further reiterated their serious concerns at the recent reports of a number of mass graves and of killings of civilians by members of the security forces of the DRC, all of which might constitute war crimes under international law. They further expressed concerns over the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation, which has displaced more than 1 million people internally and forced more than 11,000 people to flee the country. They underlined the urgent need for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors.

The members of the Security Council also reiterated the importance and urgency of prompt and transparent investigations into violations of international humanitarian law and violation or abuses of human rights in the Kasais region. They further reiterated their intention to closely monitor progress of the investigations into these violations, including the disproportionate use of force, which will be conducted jointly by the Government of the DRC, MONUSCO and the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC, and in collaboration with the AU, as announced by the Government of the DRC, in order to bring to justice and hold accountable all those responsible, and they look forward to their results.

The members of the Security Council stressed the need for a swift and full investigation into the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1533 (2004) and underlined the need for full cooperation from the Government of the DRC. In this context, they further welcomed the Secretary General’s establishment of a UN Board of Inquiry to investigate the deaths of the two experts and his commitment that the United Nations will do everything possible to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the DRC.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their support to the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General, the African Union and regional organizations in helping to ensure the full implementation of the 31 December 2016 agreement, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2348 (2017).