Painting by Cheri Samba

Lokuta eyaka na ascenseur, kasi vérité eyei na escalier mpe ekomi. Lies come up in the elevator; the truth takes the stairs but gets here eventually. - Koffi Olomide

Ésthetique eboma vélo. Aesthetics will kill a bicycle. - Felix Wazekwa

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

An update on the desertions

A previous version of this posting erroneously identified Lt. Col. Zairois as "Zaire." The former is an ex-CNDP commander from Masisi, the latter is an ex-PARECO commander from Rutshuru. It is Zairois who re-defected from the army.

A quick update on the desertions that began around March 31:
  • Bosco Ntaganda is increasingly isolated in his ranch in Bunyole, Masisi (just north of Mushaki). There were two regiments loyal to Bosco in Masisi, that of Col. Innocent Zimurinda, and that of Col. Mugisha Muhimuzi, in addition to the sector command of Col. Baudouin Ngaruye. Zimurinda has been "blocked" in Goma since the beginning, and over 900 of his troops have reportedly left their positions to join loyalist troops in Nyanzale (Rutshuru territory). Bosco's protection company has also defected, under Lt Col Ndizeye, who has also gone to Nyanzale. This is in addition to the defection some time ago of Bosco's own protection officer Lt Col Kennedy. Estimates of Bosco's remaining troops in Masisi range between 400 and 600.
  • In South Kivu, the rebellion died a quick, if not complete death, with most of the mutineers now in government custody. Col. Bernard Byamungu (ex-CNDP) surrendered to the Congolese army on Monday in Kaziba, along with Col. Nsabimana (ex-PARECO) and 125 soldiers. Col. Innocent Gafisha, also a former CNDP command, had previously surrendered. However, Col. Saddam "Ringo" and Lt. Col. Zairois (aka Eric Ngabo), fled back into the bush after they had surrendered to the army.
  • The Rwandan government has played a key role in stabilizing the situation and pressuring defectors to return to the army. According to several sources within the Congolese army and diplomatic corps, on Sunday, April 8 several ex-CNDP officers were invited across the border to Gisenyi and attended a meeting with Rwandan and Congolese officials. Some ex-CNDP sources suggest that these officers (apparently including Cols. Makenga and Muhindo) received orders to make sure their former comrades return. Other officers were reportedly called by Rwandan officials, sealing the fate of the failed rebellion.
  • A disciplinary commission composed almost entirely of rwandophone officers has been set up by the government to try to mutineers. It is currently sitting in Goma and hearing the cases one-by-one.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update, Jason.

So, the bright topline for me is Bosco is still not in custody. Its great that Rwanda seems to be playing the nice guy here but, ofcourse, that's always subject to change given their complex reasons for being in the east to begin with.

For folks interested in another point of view on Bosco and this situation, here is a post from the Enough Blog. It also touches on what Jason touched on in the post previous to this one ("A New Army?") but mostly concerns itself with various Bosco scenarios. I try to balance reading Siassa with Enough's blog on the Congo to get an objective picture of the situation on the ground (in addition to listening to Radio Okapi ofcourse).

Here's the link to the Enough crosspost on Christian Science:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2012/0413/Congo-president-counters-call-for-Army-defection-by-rebel-Bosco

I used to balance this from reading Alex Engwete's blog as well but, alas, it is just my opinion Engwete's blog has become a mouthpiece for the regime and filled with inaccuracies when reporting on the opposition.

Mel

Anonymous said...

It’s not Col. Zaire who defected in the Fizi/Uvira region, it’s Zairois, a nickname for col. Eric Ngabo.

What function did the col. Gafisha alluded to have before his defection?

Zaire was recently appointed commander of the 105th regiment in Baraka (replacing the deserted Nsabimana), which provoked manifestations of the population there, who had bad memories of the time he was commander of the 431st brigade there. Media reporting, including that of the often mistaken Radio Okapi, stated the manifestations were related to his ex-CNDP background. Col Zaire is a Hutu from Rutshuru-territory who joined the 9th Integrated Brigade after the Second War, in which he served under the RCD-G. Clearly no CNDP or PARECO history (for sure as family member of Eugene Serufuli he is close to certain power networks related to those groups)

In any case, it indicates that the current power shifts in the army are likely to unleash an anti-Rwandophone dynamics on which both ambitious, but marginalized army officers and civilian ethnic entrepreneurs will try to capitalize

Rich said...

BREAKING NEWS,

AUGUSTIN MATATA MPONYO NAMMED PREMIER MINISTRE AFTER ADOLPHE MUZITO.

Matata Ponyo Mapon was born on 5 june 1964 in Kindu (Maniema). He is expert in monetary and budget politics.

he worked in Muzito government as Finance Minister.

He also worked as Teaching Assistant at the University of Kinshasa Faculty of Economic Sciences

he is author of many articles in "les notes de conjoncture portant sur l’hyperinflation, les déficits publics et le rôle des institutions monétaires."

Matata was in the plane crash where Katumba Mwanke died.

It all looks to me as if economic imperatives are top of the agenda.

Rich

Anonymous said...

Great.

So the Autocratic Regime of the Congo (ARC) continues the great masquerade by FINALLY finding a Premier that has no power, has no real government, and certainly governs no real state?

Is this progress? Why bother with republican institutions of government if you don't actually believe in them or the rule of law?

I'm guessing its IMF and World Bank money.

Gotta put up that show so you can get the lube to run the racket.

Anonymous said...

Well done Rwanda!
We, Population of the two kivus are tired of war and rape.

CHURUCHURU

Anonymous said...

First and foremost, thank you Jason for all you have been doing to help the world understand the plight of Congolese. As a congolese who has worked for more than 6 years in North Kivu as a rural physician, I am very grateful for the balanced information provided on this blog. I recall these early days of 1988 when young people from Masisi began to join RPF in Uganda bushes, pretending they were tired of Congo, that Rwanda was a paradise, etc. We clearly foresee that they would not cope with life in Rwanda and that they would ultimately come back. What we did not foresee was that these people would come back and behave like they do now, killing and raping people. We can't still believe it, because they were so shy, so lovely...
Turning to another subject, I am learning from some sources in Goma that a wave of muslim men are recruiting children. The scheme is this : they pay 100 $ to poor to parents in order to have access to their children in order to "give them education". If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt it), this could be a dangerous precedent. Which education? Madrassa or something else? What if in few years, these become what you can easily guess? Can someone help investigate this claim?

Anonymous said...

glad that the rebellion has been folded, but why does rwanda have to determine the situation, this is a congolese territory and the congolese government must be at the forefront. it seems like it's another case of congo being controlled by foreigners

blaise said...

@ Rich,
do you have any insight why JK picked MPonyo? I have the impression that he is looking for his steps since he lost Katumbi. Mponyo's choice looks like a conservative move in order to regroup and see how events will unfold. I have the impression JK is lost without his mentor.

Anonymous said...

Zaire is not ex-PARECO as far as I know (but ex-RCD G) He was in the infamous Ndakurasa brigade of the RCD-G in Rutshuru, together with then major Makenga. This brigade refused to go to brassage for a long time, and at some point Makenga took many of the troops to Masisi via Bwito, to join Nkunda. Zaire and a number of others left to Rumangabo for brassage and ended up in the 9th Integrated Brigade. This brigade fought the CDNP in 2007 side by side with PARECO and the FDLR. In the course of these battles, Zaire got badly wounded and needed a long time to recover. He made a military come back at the start of the Amani Leo ops as brigade commander, first deployed in Misisi (Fizi). So no ex-PARECO .

Anonymous said...

@blaise

I noticed this morning that even le potentiel is upbeat regarding the appointment of Augustin Ponyo. The view being that he is a consummate technocrat who has a proven track record of success as finance minister.

JK's "revolution de la modernite" is basically a governing vision, the cinq chantiers are a roadmap; the idea seems to be that Ponyo is the engineer who can take a blueprint and translate it into reality.

His appointment will likely be reassuring to donor countries and IFIs. I don't know enough about his political skills to make any predictions regarding how he will manage the legislative process - the job of finance minister is largely a technocratic post; guiding legislation through the National Assembly requires another skill set.

Having a majority coalition helps - but maintaining unity within a fractious coalition is a difficult task.

Bruce

Rich said...

Blaise -

I will second what Bruce just said and add the following:

It still early days but I can say for fact that Mponyo was very close to Katumb"a" (not Katumb"i" who is another member of Kabila inner circle) Mwanke. Other than that Mponyo and Katumba shared the first name (Augustin) which may be of no incendence however can bring people together...

To me, Mponyo impressed J Kabila with the idea of introducing VAT in DRC to replace the old tax on turnover. Mponyo did that in such a short time and results are already there since State's revenues increased significantly in only three months of application and the latest DRC economic forecast has predicted a 7% increase for the next two years...

This video touches upon some of what I've just said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkQXwG2gcpI&feature=relmfu

Adding to that, there is also the fact that J kabila was very affected by the death of Mwanke and because Matata Mponyo was on that plane and survived, this can be a way of thanking him for the fact that he nearly died for J Kabila...

Brief, I think, as someone already said here one day, when the powerful and deciders of this world are looking at those 'encouraging' economic figures, they will certainly 'downplay' the other pressing issues in DRC hence giving J Kabila some kind of break and certainly top up some of his 'legitimacy...'

What do the Congolese earn in all this is still debatable but I heard very happy civil servants saying that since the introduction of VAT and the subsequent increase in state's revenues (State's cash balance) they have been paid on time (20th of March) for the very first time in many years... they hope this will continue so that even if the money paid to them is not enough, at least they can plan and budget their income since they are sure they will be paid on time.

Here are some clips where Matata was at the ministry of finance and the other link is for the Ministry of Finance website.

The message about improving the social got to J Kabila loud and clear and I have no doubt he thinks Mponyo can tackle this and, as Bruce said, donor countries and IFIs love technocrats...

The link below shows Matata Mponyo talking about the economy when he was in charge of the finance ministry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRmzgmoV1Jg

The link below is that of the Ministere de finance where matat was the boss...

http://www.minfinrdc.com/index.php

Rich

FrancoPepeKalle said...

This situation is unfortanute. Hypolite Kanambe alias Joseph Kabila needs to show leadership here and find a way to organize if he wants anything to appear good for him. He needs to draw a line and say what he wants the army to do. This way a army can function and these moron characters like Bosco won't have any existence. I hope this situation finally makes Kabila show leadership that he has lacked for the last 10 years of his reign.

Anonymous said...

@all

while i wish the new PM well its simply not the case that the congo needs “technocrats” and I think we all need to be careful about this regime’s PR spin (if I see the word “technocrat” and “vigorous” in another news report I’m going to puke!) . its pretty much a fact that the so-called international community (IC) knows the congo has smart and technically-skilled high level leaders- mostly in government (not so much in business given the private sector is so weak, and often purposely so, in the congo).

what is lacking in the congo is leaders who are moral, courageous, can plan, and are accountable.

now, if this guy can do that than great. and, on the vat issue, while it's led to more consistent and steady revenue it also, given its rash implementation, contributed to inflation

but if this guy can lay out a clear plan of attack, get buy in from the“fractious coalition” (they seem more like vultures to me), and stick religiously to it than we should see some change in the congo.

but again, the congo doesn’t need any more “technocrats”- it needs leaders who are moral, courageous, and can set goals, create plans, execute, and evaluate.

and the more specific those plans the better because in this system it is the Prime Minister’s role to be fall guy. and, ofcourse, the congolese are tired of words and want action. one never gets specificity from those in government- primarily so they can avoid being held accountable. i really do hope the congolese press and media get REAL specific on this new PM’s plans. so, if he says “we want to ensure a better business environment” than the return questions should be something like “Great. What, specifically, does that mean and when will the people know that it has succeeded?”

I was hoping kabila wouldn’t go with the familiar and chose someone new and fresh from civil society who could deal with the majority and opposition from a position of moderation.

is there not someone in the diaspora who has the relevant political and managerial skills to be Prime Minister? surely there is someone??!!!

i guess i’m going to have to get used to being disappointed. :)

Anonymous said...

It is important to also add that Matata is a strong devotee to the IMF and World Bank.

If I were a Congolese patriot that would give me considerable pause given we all know neither institution could care less about the poor and working classes.

Just ask the Greeks.

Patrick said...

@Rich
The introduction of the VAT is actually one of the requirements that a country must implement once it has joined the OHADA (Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires).
I read a lot about the monthly VAT receipts that the government has been receiving since the introduction of the VAT. However, it is never mentioned fiscal authorities collect VAT but also have to pay out VAT.
If history is any guide, I suspect in the next few months we will read a lot more about cashflow problems from the Congolese government. I also expect companies to complain about fiscal authorities not paying back VAT that they will owe to companies of all sizes.

blaise said...

@ Rich,
ty for the information. Have mercy for my typo mistake, I was half asleep, I know a little bit about Moise, Katebe's brother.
I'm really intrigued by mr Mponyo's promotion. I think it's a little bit risky. I wonder how a technocrat will impose his will on those turbulent politicians from the majority. And what happened to the "geopolitics"? Naming some one from is native Maniema doesn't raise eyebrows?
Just wondering. It should be fun to watch if the government will be full of techno or politicians.

Anonymous said...

I think I'll wait the nomination of the full government before expressing a judgement but I only wish that Mr. Ponyo could implement seriously the "tolerance zero" policy.
In Uvira INGos are regularly "hostages" of the chief of the technical section of SNEL that aks bribes in order to bring power to their offices/residencies. It's a story everybody knows in town but all kind of authorities have hands tied.
Another one is about the FONER and the money perceived at Kiliba on RN5 between Uvira and Bukavu. Everybody sees that the road doesn't receive maintenance despite dozens of thousand of dollars regularly paid by INGOs and privates.
If the new PM could set an office/website where to denounce flagrant cases of malfunctioning or corruption would be great, maybe it is something the PNUD could help, maybe some INGOs could help too.

On private sector, responding to Anonymous @11:18
I don't think the private sector is weak. From my perspective in uvira it looks vibrant. I've have to say that the only serious changes in Uvirain the last 4-5 years have been brought exclusively by initiatives of private investors, even from abroad. The impact of the "5chantiers" is nil and very few durable traces have been left by INGOs. I acknowledge also that the private sector in town most of the time is based on illicit activities (smuggling of minerals, weapons) but is a reality and there are money that are laundered in constructions activities and regular trade.

andrea

Anonymous said...

@andrea

this is jose, who posted on April 19, 2012 11:18 AM I am actually a regular commenter here on Congo Siassa I just forgot to sign my name last time!

I completely agree with you on the account of “zero tolerance”. in my mind, all this talk of his technical capacity is a moot point- he was Finance Minister, he should be jack smart and on top of his duties.

as others have mentioned we have had plenty of super smart and capable Congolese politicians over the years and we still are, well, where we are in the Congo!

Augustin and the team he builds must, at long last, grapple with the snake that is congolese corruption since it is that snake ALONE that holds back peace, the rule of law, and the economy. yes, external forces are also holding the congo back but the internal ones are more determinative.

i disagree with you about the private sector. if the private sector in the congo was strong and vibrant and deep throughout the nation we wouldn’t have the corruption we see now or, atleast, on the scale we see it.

proof? look at Al Gore. after losing the election did Al raise up an army to defeat Bush in the battlefield? no. he became a director at Apple Inc, (billions in revenue) and a partner in Kleiner Perkins, one of the world’s largest venture capital firms that owns shares- if not companies outright- in thousands of companies. he has also taken jobs as a professor at numerous universities- mostly the American South where he is from.

yes, Congo is not America. trust me, I know that. but the point here is that there are OPTIONS for ambitious people in America in BOTH the public and private sectors.

this is not the case in the Congo and, until it is the case, the ambitious will continue to see government employment (or militias) as the only way to a good life and fight very hard to ensure it.

jose

Anonymous said...

What a venture capital firm?

andrea said...

Dear Jose thanks a lot for your comment.

Regarding the private sector I understand well your point. For vibrant I intend that in spite of all problems people still find a way to make things move. Against all odds you'll have trucks going up and down from uvira to minembwe - misisi, you'll find people crossing the border every day, reinventing themselves and strategies as well to make profit, trade, smuggle and cheat as well.
Congolese can be really hardworkers. Imagine what this could do in a healthy environment ...
The FEC in Uvira is a serious authority and trust me that if they want to change things they can, if they decide that roads are not longer suitable for trade they'll make people move.

In what I agree with you in the comparison between congo and america is that the administrative authority and the business world are connected in DRC. Many MPs and politicians reinvest (or should it more appropriate to say "clean") their money in constructions, trade and other business. The ambitious at the moment starts looking at the East ... East africa is getting a big share in trades around East Congo, enormous import-export both legal and illegal.

Maybe this could be the object for another article.

andrea

Anonymous said...

That is really enlightening, Andrea. Thanks!

I'm an investor, via my husband, in the Congo- palm oil in Kikwit and soon flowers/horticulture outside of Goma.

A fairly large and organized business class- from small time owners to managers of corporations- is very much needed in the Congo. Honestly, if the opposition took on Congo's TINY business class/small farmers as a constituency they would do very well I think. My husband has dealt with Nigerians, Ghanians, South Africans, Egyptians, Kenyans, Tanzanians, and Rwandans and he truly believes that the Congolese are the most innovative, dynamic, and hard working.

Personally, I'd like to see a means to connect the Kinshasa/Kikwit area with the Goma/Bukavu/Uvira area- precisely because of the booming EAC trade. A multi-lane, all weather highway that connects the cities along the path would suffice. This doesn't mean ignoring the Congo River corridor and a North/South corridor but a clear infrastructure corridor connecting East and West would dramatically improve the Congo's economy and that of the whole region.

Imagine a series of highways from Kinshasa to Dar Es Salaam?

And then, as the economies grow strong enough to support rail, taking a rail trip from the Congo River, through savannah and tropical rain forest, into and over the Rift Valley, circling the Serengeti, into yet more savannah and the arid plains around Dodoma, and finally to the Indian Ocean?

It would be a game changer and transform the lives of millions of people.

And just imagine, with the right investment, the eco-tourism potential??!!

Lets hope Augustin is a guy who dreams like that and, more importantly, has the courage and fortitude to make them reality.

He seems like an ambitious guy who thinks big so let's pray he governs with foresight.

Mel

Rich said...

Andrea -

Thanks for the constructive insight.

Mel -

I must confess your last post is one of the pieces of writing I've not only enjoyed the most; but also can relate to the most from the many 'good/postive' comments that have been posted on Siasa.

To make a long story short, your message posted above has made my day...Thanks for that I am sure this dream WILL/MUST materialise one day or another in one way or another...

Rich

blaise said...

@ Jose,
To add to Andrea and Mel,
I don't think there is lack of options in Congo as far as the private sector is concern. You may have not noticed but congolese people are engaged in all sort of trades in all levels, even in the public sector. It's the result of the famous article 15.lol.
I think what is lack in Congo is a breed of entrepreneurs focus on pushing the boundaries.
We have a lot of people who are faring pretty well as far as money is concern but you will be surprise to see that:
- they don't own a structured company
- they don't have a focus investment plan
- they stick to one activity or two.
From the outside, you may think that the private sector is weak but if you look closer you will realize that most of those activities are not in the mainstream economy.

andrea said...

Nice point blaise.

Mining sector gets most of the investments ... but ... people can't eat coltan and gold ... that's why the inflation in some areas.

Since a few months a new gold deposit is being exploited artisanally in Minembwe and the price immediately skyrocketed, with traders from bukavu on the blocks for big incomes. The price of a primus is now 3000 FCO, 40% more of last year.

To go back to the desertions topic: a few people told me that the radio said Byamungu is going have a public trial next Saturday, the 28th, in Uvira. Anybody had the same news?

andrea

blaise said...

Are the rumors true that Kashala is typed for the ministor of energy?

Anonymous said...

good point, blaise.

i think we've covered this in other discussion but "scale" in the Congo (which you seem to be suggesting) requires taking risks, bringing in more capital, and having confidence in the long term.

the one thing i DO know about the Congolese is that they are deeply cautious people primarily because so much can, and has, change so quickly. in other-wards, it makes complete sense to keep things small, unofficial, and local.

i think when we are at a place where the Congolese feel, society-wide, that things are more stable we will see more risk taking and with it more scale in business ventures.

on kashala? who knows but if the man wants to go anywhere he really does need to find something to do in the congo so he can build a base. and it would be very smart on Augustin's part to bring him into government- keep your friends close and your enemies closer kinda thing.

my friends in the congo all seem to really like this appointment and seem to be coalescing around the idea that this could mean the end of the "parallel" government.

why?

from what I can gather, Augustin is from that inner circle and is a solid member of the PPRD. Muzito, of PALU, was not and hence couldn't be trusted in the same manner as someone from the inner circle.

we've all talked alot about Augustin's skill and elan but one thing to pull out here is his closeness to Kabila and how this could potentially see the "parallel" problem reduced somewhat- a good thing overall for Congolese governance.

jose

@mel- great visionary thinking! And yes, connecting East and West Congo (and eventually North and South) would dramatically improve the economy. Personally, I'd like to see more economic planning in the Congo. So, basically, what will the Congolese produce and export to the region? What will they produce and export to the world? Both short term and long term? I think once a discussion like that is had and a clear plan in created to make it a reality infrastructure should THEN be created. As an example, the Congolese could produce at a distinct advantage most of the world's jewelry or all sorts of wood products, right? Well, where in theory should those industrial clusters be centered and what about current and future infrastructure plans need to be altered/changed to make it a reality?

Thinking through "what to make", "where to make it", and "how to quickly get it to markets" is key I believe.

Anonymous said...

I think you are dreaming, Jose.

The Congolese elite are not ones that think and plan for the long term- which you suggest in your point about the private sector. That has never been the case and I seriously doubt it will be now even with Augustin’s appointment. They are too busy either staying in or jostling for power. Always remember that this is a highly unstable autocracy. Given this, it is not in the interests of elites to think and plan long term.

If the Congolese elite operated from a sense of vision and transformation, the so-called China deal would have been a barter between minerals and factories. China gets all the minerals in wants but, in exchange, it must build textile or clothing factories of equal value, turn over the technology to run them, and train Congolese managers.

That would have been much more sustainable for the long term given that at some point coltan, gold, oil, and copper will run out.

But instead the Congolese got minerals for hospitals with either non existent or striking doctors and nurses and roads that don’t link up economic centers.

blaise said...

@ Jose,
I don't think the " "what to make", "where to make it" is really an issue. Historically, some provinces generated a lot of goods that put the then Zaire among the elite producers. On top of my head I can think of rubber, palm oil, cotton, maize and so on.
The main issue is to get the produces out of the countryside. Currently, the poor state of the roads doesn't allow that to happen.
For the planning, I think the market will dictate what people will produce.
You right about the not taking risks factor.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jason,

I heard that Colonel Chuma and Pilipili have been Killed yesterday out of a heavy fighting took place between Cheka/FDRL and FRDC troops, the fighting took place around Masisi and Walikale area.
Have you got any Update on this?

CHURUCHURU

Jason Stearns said...

@Churuchuru - Yes, I'll post on this shortly. But it is confirmed, Col Chuma Balumisa and Col Pilipili were killed in an ambush by Sheka's troops, along with 9 other FARDC soldiers.

Judith said...

When speaking of the FARDC, I think it is a MAJOR breakthrough that 1000 troops based in Mwesso and Nyanzale have been flown out to Kananaga today-the first of a wave of rotations, getting troops from Kivu out of Kivu.

One of the main problems of army integration/reforms has been the poor policy of geographical spreading. This problem started earlier than the 2009 "rapid and accelered" integration (of mostly CNDP & PARECO), for one can also still find for example ex-Mai Mai officers from the first integration wave (in the brassage-era) close to their former strongholds.

This defunct policy of rotations has "provincialized" the military in Kivu, not only physically but also mentally, with previous and local allegiances and identities sticking strongly and foregoing the development of a more uniform professional identity.

This has strongly undermined cohesion within units, with major differences in cultural, professional and identity orientations between locally recruited military and those coming from elsewhere (which has often come to be defined in ethnic banut/Nilotic terms)

In any case, this move is a milestone, and hopefully we will see more planeloads of military flying out of Kivu over the next weeks!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Bodies killed soldiers, including those of Col Chuma and Col Pilipili have just been flown to Goma. A friend who saw the bodies called to confirm the news. There seems to be too much sadness in Goma right now...

May they rest in peace

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Bodies of killed soldiers, including those of Col Chuma and Col Pilipili have just been flown to Goma. A friend who saw the bodies called to confirm the news. There seems to be too much sadness in Goma right now...

May they rest in peace

Anonymous said...

Confirmed public trial for Col. Byamungu in Uvira in the coming days

Anonymous said...

you know what would be great?

a census or flowchart of all the various commanders of all the current and former rebel groups.

i'm totally getting lost with all these names and who belongs/belonged to what group, their rank, their ethnicity, etc.

does anyone else feel this way? i mean, even stearns was forced to make a correction.

does such a public document or resource about rebel commanders exist out there in the world?

if not, could someone make one?

i know keeping up with all of this is a challenge given the shifting alliances and crazy anarchy that is east congo but it would be useful to atleast try you know?

@Jason Stearns- do you have something like this you could share with us?

jose

blaise said...

2 Jose,
believe me, I feel the same!I asked Andrea(texas in congo) if she knew if such thing exist ( She got a phd in Congo).
You remember that video game I told you about?lol. That was born from all these names, alliances, rebellions,etc.
It's will be a very useful tool to have for accountability.

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea, Jose.

Rich said...

Blaise & jose -

As you can see it's not easy to map all the actors involved in the military situations in east DRC.

The best person to do this is Judith Verweijen she has posted a few times here and I know she is extremely busy but if you can get in touch with her she may help.

I could do something but the problem is I don't have any draft from which to update and making this list from scratch can be time consuming. I bet Judith may have some existing lists of armed groups as well as main actors...

Below is a link where you can see Col Byamungu and two other officers after they were arrested and being presented to the military authorities at the FARDC HQ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UljEulejbA&sns=fb

Rich

blaise said...

Ty Rich,
interesting clip

Unknown said...

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