Citizens flee violence in D.R. Congo as sexual attacks rise; al-Bashir vows not to co-operate with ICC probe; Zimbabwe peace talks expected to result in deal this week

 By Ted Townsend
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo  –  Tens of thousands of individuals have fled the Democratic Republic of Congo amid “horrid violence” as government troops and rebel groups have begun re-arming in expectation of conflict. This rearmament comes despite a January peace deal signed between the government and various rebel groups, which was to have seen the rapid disarmament of the rebels. This peace has become increasingly “fragile and shaky,” according to a member of Human Rights Watch, and the area has the potential to “spiral out of control.”

Attacks on aid workers has also made getting assistance to the estimated one hundred and fifty thousand displaced individuals difficult, placing those fleeing the violence at great risk for any number of factors.

In the wake of the January peace deal, the country has also seen an alarming rise in the reported rape rate, according to a report prepared by the Congo Advocacy Coalition, a group of over sixty-four local and international aid agencies.  In the violent North Kivu province alone, more than two thousand reports of rape and sexual attack were reported in the last month. In addition, a number of rapes and attacks have gone unreported, according to the report, citing stigma and poor access to doctors.

The displaced Congolese citizens also suffer from malnutrition, with rates reaching seventeen percent in certain parts of the country, “well above emergency levels.”

For more information, please see:

 

BBC News  – Congo groups ‘re-arming’ in east  – 1 August 2008

Reuters –Over 2,000 raped last month in Congo’s east - report – 29 July 2008

United Press International – Congo reported rearming despite pact –1 August 2008

------

KHARTOUM, Sudan – In an address to local and international trade union leaders Sunday, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir vowed that Sudan would not co-operate with the International Criminal Court” in its attempt to indict him for war crimes in Darfur. The Court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused al-Bashir of “masterminding” a campaign of rape and murder, and has asked for a warrant to be issued for the president’s arrest.  In his address, al-Bashir announced he will be taking a firm stance against co-operation with the ICC.

For its part, the African Union believes that the ICC’s action against al-Bashir could endanger the peace process in Darfur, an operation which is already stretched thin. Last week, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution effectively extending the terms of currently serving peacekeepers in the war-torn region.

However, outgoing head of United Nations peacekeeping Jean-Marie Guehenno warned that the peacekeeping force was already under-resourced and stretched to its limits. African aid agencies believe the Darfur peacekeeping force to be failing the region, as citizens are still subject to many human rights violations. However, Guehenno believes that without a stable political process in place, the peacekeeping forces have no chance at success. In a statement, Guehenno expressed worry that failure in Darfur would “reverberate throughout peacekeeping.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News– UN force ‘stretched to limits’ – 30 July 2008

VOA News –Sudan’s Bashir Vows No Co-operation with ICC – 3 August 2008

------

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Talks of a possible power-sharing deal continued this week between Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and the main opposition. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is reportedly “fairly satisfied” with the progress of the talks thus far, despite the talks breaking down at points last week. Monday marks the artificial two week deadline set by the parties to reach an agreement. The peace agreement may not be reached at the deadline, but many believe the talks have made significant progress, to the point that they would continue past the deadline and that there were no “significant obstacles” to accord.

The Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, made up of journalists and freedom of speech activists, announced their support of a new democratic government, and asked for a free press. Mugabe, who in the aftermath of the contested election was accused of a campaign of intimidation, has long muzzled the press, only allowing certain news to be printed.

For further information, please see:

Zimbabwe Standard – Talks Deal this Week – 2 August 2008

BBC News – Rivals resume Zimbabwe deal talks – 3 August 2008