Vol 54 No 18 | CONGO-KINSHASA Holes in Kabila’s big tent 6th September 2013 The President’s aim of creating a national consensus is stirring up political discontent and the arrest of dissenters doesn’t help Establishing national unity under a modified constitution is President Joseph Kabila Kabange’s main concern just now, because that would give him the best chance of winning the elections...
Vol 54 No 18 | RWANDACONGO-KINSHASA Kivu on the brink 6th September 2013 The M23 rebels have suffered heavy losses, so Kigali may have to choose between abandoning them or risking deeper involvement Tension between Rwanda and Congo-Kinshasa has escalated almost to open war after two weeks of renewed fighting in eastern Congo. The national army, the Forces armées de la...
Vol 54 No 18 | CONGO-KINSHASA Yet another front 6th September 2013 Ever since a major attack in mid-July at Kamango, in the Beni area of North Kivu, observers have wondered why the Allied Democratic Front-National Army for the Liberation...
Vol 54 No 16 | RWANDACONGO-KINSHASA M23 takes a hit 1st August 2013 The army turns the tables on the rebels and Rwanda may find it problematic to continue its support for M23 Two weeks of sometimes brutal fighting between the Mouvement du 23 mars and the national army have ramped up the pressure on Kinshasa and Kigali to negotiate a...
Vol 54 No 13 | CONGO-KINSHASA The real power politics 21st June 2013 The latest plan to harness the Congo River is gigantic, internationally important, expensive and politically driven A meeting of officials and investors in Kinshasa, hosted on 17-18 June by Energy Minister Bruno Kapandji Kalala on financing the Inga III Dam signals the government’s new...
Vol 54 No 13 | CONGO-KINSHASA Dam good connections 21st June 2013 South Africa’s financial and political commitment to the Inga III Dam and the international support has galvanised and given new life to this pet project of successive Congolese...
Vol 54 No 11 | CONGO-KINSHASA Gertler’s assets multiply 24th May 2013 A police investigation, growing international criticism and tougher conditions from the IMF put the mining business under greater scrutiny Pressure is mounting on international mining companies in Congo-Kinshasa to reveal more about their dealings with offshore companies linked to Dan Gertler International. This follows the start of...
Vol 54 No 9 | CONGO-KINSHASA Kivu talks impasse 26th April 2013 Military movements in eastern Congo-Kinshasa are increasing while the peace talks in Kampala between the government and the rebel Mouvement du 23 mars have stalled. On 22...
Vol 54 No 7 | CONGO-KINSHASA Rebels everywhere 29th March 2013 The government may feel happier about events in the Kivus and Kinshasa but that leaves Katanga to worry about President Joseph Kabila has something to be thankful for. The most troublesome faction of the rebel Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) is now housed in camps in Rwanda...
Vol 54 No 7 | CONGO-KINSHASA Don’t be a negative force 29th March 2013 As Jean-Bosco Ntaganda begins his likely lengthy stay in the Hague, attention at home has turned to his former allies in what is left of the Rwandan-backed Mouvement...