Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.

- Ginetta Sagan

Amnesty International USA Central Africa Region Action Network

January 2012 Volume 4 Number 1

Democratic Republic of Congo: Support the Congolese Struggle for Justice

A new government was elected in the Democratic Republic of Congo and an opportunity for reform has opened. In November 2011, the Justice Now campaign called for the new government to make the reform of the justice system a priority and to ensure that the interests of the victims lies at the heart of the reforms. This campaign is supported by about 100 Congolese NGOs who have a presence in each province in the DRC.
@Amnesty International Amnesty International asks its members and supporters to urge the new President to prioritize justice reform and to send a message of solidarity to Congolese activists struggling for justice.

1Central Africa Region

A monthly publication of Amnesty International USAs Central Africa Country Coordination Group To contact, email [email protected]

Take Action:
Action 1: Please send a postcard showing the city, town or village where you live, with a message of support in your own language. You could also add some words in French, Swahili (spoken in the east and Katanga) and Lingala (spoken in the west) as shown below. To download the Amnesty International postcard and action leaflet: click on Download postcard and leaflet. Avec vous, je soutiens la Justice au Congo! (French With you, I support justice in the Congo!) Haki Mbele! (Swahili Forward to justice!) Justice na Liboso! (Lingala Forward to justice!) Please address your postcard to one of the human rights defenders listed on the back of this leaflet. Because there is no postal system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, you should send the postcards to the International Secretariat (IS) and the IS will make sure they reach their destination. Amnesty International International Secretariat DRC Solidarity Action AFR Programme Peter Benenson House 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW United Kingdom
Page 1

In This Issue
Actions / Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo Central African Republic Chad Gabon Rwanda

Amnesty International News Other Human Rights News Region/Country News

Action 2: Visit http://www.amnesty.org/en/50/campaigns/international-justice and sign the Amnesty International online petition to the President.

Amnesty International News

Burundi:
A critical moment for justice
19 December 2011 Burundis parliament should amend a draft law establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to ensure victims of crimes under international law and their relatives obtain justice and truth, Amnesty International said today. Read More

Democratic Republic of Congo Analysis: Post-election intimidation through arrests must end
19 December 2011 Security forces in Democratic Republic of Congo must halt a series of politically motivated arrests, including arbitrary and unlawful arrests following disputed elections, Amnesty International said today. Dozens of arrests have been carried out across the country since the 28 November elections, frequently targeting members and supporters of the political opposition. The Congolese security forces seem to be taking advantage of the Security forces in DRC have carried out dozens of politically tense climate of uncertainty motivated arrests since elections last month. following the recent elections to carry out this series of politically motivated arrests, including unlawful and arbitrary arrests that threaten to stifle freedoms of expression and assembly, said Paule Rigaud, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Africa Programme Director. These arrests must end. Those detained must be released unless they are promptly charged with legitimate criminal offence and brought before a judge to challenge the legality of their detention with full respect of their fair trial rights, including access to a lawyer. Reports suggest that the practice is used as a method of intimidation and the victims include civilians, journalists, lawyers and opposition politicians, as well as some security force officers themselves. Four community radio journalists were arrested by agents of the national intelligence agency (Agence nationale de renseignements, ANR) on 14 December, early morning, in Kabambare, in the eastern province of Maniema after being accused of violating an official decision to close down their radio station. Three of them were released in the afternoon the same day, while the fourth one was released on 15 December in the afternoon. On 13 December in Bukavu, South Kivu, agents of the Congolese National Police (Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC) reportedly beaten and arrested lawyer Eustache Nsimba and brought him to an unknown location. He had been taking part in a march organized by the opposition. Bukavus mayor had been previously informed about the march but allegedly banned it during a radio announcement. Eustache Nsimba was released later the same day. Amnesty international has also learned that security agents were involved in the arbitrary arrests of at least two Union for Democracy and Social Progress (Union pour la Dmocratie et le Progrs Social, UDPS) members in Katanga province. Both members of the main opposition party are still being detained, with one of them held incommunicado at the ANR holding cell. According to a local NGO, members of the national army (FARDC) have also reportedly abducted or arbitrarily arrested a dozen of other army officers and PNC agents as well as civilians since the beginning of December in Kinshasa. All those arrested were allegedly targeted because they come from Equateur province and the two Kasai provinces, two strongholds of the opposition. The whereabouts of some of the detainees is unknown, while others are being detained incommunicado in military camps in Kinshasa such as Kokolo camp or in other facilities that fall outside the scrutiny of any judicial authority, such as the Tshatshi camp and the Groupe Litho Moboti (GLM) Building.

Cameroon:
Cameroon urged to release men jailed for alleged homosexuality
24 November 2011 The Cameroonian authorities must immediately release two men who have been sentenced to five years in prison by a court in Yaounde for homosexual acts, Amnesty International said today. Read More

Video of Jean-Claude Mbede featured in AI Global Write-a-thon

Jean-Claude Roger Mbede is a 31-year-old Cameroonian student who is serving a three year prison sentence for "homosexuality and attempted homosexuality", View Video

Page 2

Discrimination condoned by the Spanish authorities in Cameroon

14 December 2011 Imagine that almost every day police officers stop you and ask for your documents, get angry and insult you. They do it when you dont have documents, but also when you do have them. They do it because of the colour of your skin. Read More

Amnesty International urges the Congolese authorities to clarify the fate of those being detained, and release them if they are not promptly charged with a legitimate criminal offence, allowed to challenge the lawfulness of their continuing detention and granted access to their families and lawyers. The organization also calls on the Congolese authorities to ensure a thorough, impartial and independent investigation is carried out into reported human rights violations, including unlawful killings of demonstrators, carried out by the DRC security forces and others in the immediate run-up to the elections. Numerous reports of human rights violations marred the run-up to the Congolese elections, and continue, with restrictions placed on freedom of expression and assembly, and security forces intimidating opposition supporters and human rights defenders, said Paule Rigaud. All those responsible for such violations must be investigated and swiftly brought to justice. Impunity would only fuel further violence and abuses. Dr. Thomas Turner, AIUSA Democratic Republic of Congo Country Specialist

DR Congo:
Post-election intimidation through arrests must end
19 December 2011 Security forces in Democratic Republic of Congo must halt a series of politically motivated arrests, including arbitrary and unlawful arrests following disputed elections, Amnesty International said today. Dozens of arrests have been carried out across the country since the 28 November elections, frequently targeting members and supporters of the political opposition. Read More

Chad: Great News! Human rights defender released in Chad

From Amnesty International USA
Issued 17 January 2012 Human rights defender Daniel Deuzoumbe Passalet was released without charge on 30 December 2011. He returned to N'Djamena, still weak from his hunger-strike. The N'Djamena High Court sat at Moussoro for two days before it released Daniel Deuzoumbe Passalet on 30 December. The judges ruled that there was insufficient evidence to charge him (Il a ete libere au benefice du doute). He returned to N'Djamena the same day with Chadian human rights defenders who had come to support him during the hearing. The prosecutor appealed against the decision; so did Daniel Deuzoumbe Passalet, to make sure that the procedures are not indefinitely prolonged by the prosecutor.

Daniel Deuzoumbe Passalet @Frontline Defenders

Daniel Deuzombe Passalet is president of the Chadian organization Human Rights without Borders (Droits de l'Homme Sans Frontieres DHSF). He was arrested on 19 December over an interview he had given the previous day to Radio France Internationale (RFI) about impunity for the death of 10 men in the custody of the Chadian National Gendarmerie in September. He went on hunger strike in protest, and was still very weak when he was released, but his morale was high. He thanked all Amnesty International members for their support. No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Further information on UA: 336/11 (20 December 2011)

Central African Republic: End the Abuse of Civilians

On 20 October 2011, Amnesty International launched the report Central African Republic (CAR): Action needed to end decades of abuse which was part of Amnesty Internationals work in the protection of civilians affected by the armed conflict in the CAR. Amnesty International is calling on the international community to support the African Union (AU) and the CAR government in their efforts to bring an end to the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic. The focus in the United States is the US Government, which has expressed support of such efforts.

Page 3

Other Human Rights News

UN envoy welcomes new measure to stop violence against children
19 December 2011 A United Nations envoy dealing with childrens rights today hailed the decision of Member States to adopt a new protocol aimed at protecting children from abuse and violence. . Read More

Background
In its October 2011 report on the Central African Republic (CAR), Amnesty International (AI) highlights decades of human rights abuses by armed groups, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. There has been no effective action to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent further abuses. Urgent action is needed to protect civilians in the CAR. One of the groups responsible is the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), which has expanded beyond its attacks on civilians in northern Uganda to a similar pattern of abuses in eastern CAR. The LRA launched Armed conflict in CAR, results in these latest incursions from neighboring Democratic deaths and displacement @ AI Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. Their abuses include killings, abductions, sexual violence including rape, mutilations, looting, burning homes, and its well-known long-term practice of forcibly recruiting and using young children as fighters. In May 2010, President Obama signed a law committing the US government to provide political, economic, military, and intelligence support to multilateral efforts to apprehend LRA leaders or remove them from the battlefield, provide humanitarian assistance, and promote justice and reconciliation in LRA. On October 14, 2011, he announced that the US will send about 100 US troops to support Ugandan forces dealing with the LRA. Last November, President Obama submitted to Congress a Strategy to Support the Disarmament of the Lords Resistance Army. AI believes that a cooperative, more holistic approach to tackling the armed elements operating in the CAR and the wider sub-region is essential to address the gross violations ongoing in the CAR, where the government has also been accused of human rights abuses. Any military support should not lead to further human rights abuses in the CAR. LRA commanders indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) should, if arrested or captured, be handed over to the Court. Amnesty International urges the African Union (AU), the government of CAR, and other governments and intergovernmental organizations active in the region to use their influence and resources to put an end to the LRAs activities.

UN urges better protection for worlds forcibly displaced, stateless people

What I am asking is for all of us to assume our shared duty. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres December 2011 The United Nations refugee chief today called on the international community to assume its shared duty to protect and assist millions of forcibly displaced and stateless people around the world, as he opened the largestever conference on the issue in Geneva. Read More

Action: Please write a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasizing the
points in the following sample letter: The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 USA Dear Secretary Clinton,

Do you know?
How many people are displaced globally?
Global forced displacement figures already stood at a 15year high at the end of 2010, with 43.7 million people uprooted by conflict and persecution worldwide. Recent events indicate that this number is likely to rise again by

In its October 2011 report on the Central African Republic, Amnesty International (AI) highlights decades of human rights abuses by armed groups, including possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. There has been no effective action to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent further abuses. Urgent action is needed to protect civilians in the CAR. As you know, one of the groups responsible is the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), which has expanded beyond its attacks on civilians in northern Uganda to a similar pattern of abuses in eastern CAR. The LRA launched these latest incursions from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. Their abuses include killings, abductions, sexual violence including rape, mutilations, looting, burning homes, and its well-known long-term practice of forcibly recruiting and using young children as fighters. We urge the US Government to use its influence with the AU, the CAR Government, and other governments active in the region to put an end to the

Page 4

the end of the year. The number of stateless people is estimated to be at least 12 million. Read More

LRAs activities. I am writing today to request that you use your position to see that the US Government: Considers providing political and material resources to the AUs initiative to involve all governments, inter-governmental organizations and actors in the CAR in drawing up and implementing a strategy to protect civilians in the CAR, and helps coordinate efforts to achieve this objective; Seeks assurances that the AUs strategy includes measures for insuring that any security forces involved in peacekeeping or peace enforcement in the CAR are governed by a code of conduct insuring the protection of civilians from human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, and that administrative and judicial measures are taken against anyone that may be implicated in abuses; Takes a lead in insuring that adequate human and material resources are provided so that victims of human rights abuses, including former child soldiers, are given medical and other humanitarian assistance they require to recover and be reintegrated into their society; Remains committed to supporting the protection of civilians in the CAR until the countrys government and law enforcement forces have the expertise and means to prevent and investigate human rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice; Contributes resources and exercise all necessary political influence to insure the implementation of mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of such human rights and humanitarian crises, as well as to promote and protect the rule of law based on respect for the civil, political, social and economic rights of all the people of the CAR. Thank you for your consideration of this delicate and critical time for the human rights situation in the Central African Republic.

UN rural poverty agency unveils billiondollar funding target

16 December 2011 Member States of the United Nations rural development arm announced today that they will aim to raise $1.5 billion in new contributions to support the agencys efforts to bolster the living conditions of rural poor across the developing world. With almost two billion rural people worldwide depending for their livelihoods on an estimated 500 million smallholder farms in developing countries, the UNs International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) aims to fill a crucial niche, focusing its efforts in the areas of food and income security. Read More

Yours sincerely,

Gabon Analysis: Human Rights Challenges

Gabon recently held legislative elections on 17 December 2011 that resulted in a massive majority of 114 out of 120 total seats in the Gabonese parliament for the Parti Dmocratique Gabonais [PDG] party. Most opposition parties boycotted the elections after the government chose not to issue biometric identification cards, which most Voting in Gabon opposition members claimed would have helped to impede electoral fraud. The government has claimed roughly 40% of eligible voters participated in the election, but opposition members have claimed less than 15% of voters participated in many districts. While the Gabonese government has created in 2011 a government-appointed human rights commission, other policies continue to limit human rights, especially the right of freedom of expression. Mike Jocktane, a member of the banned Union Nationale party, was charged with Outrage against the Gabonese Republic for publically declaring in the French press that the late Gabonese president Omar Bongo Ondimba (who ruled Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009) provided financial support in the 2007 French presidential election of Nicolas Sarkozy. Regardless of the veracity of these claims, the fact the government considers such charges aimed at a deceased president constitute a criminal matter suggests a troubling lack of respect for freedom of the press. The state of Gabonese prisons remains disturbing, as evidence by the death of three West African illegal immigrants in a jail in the northern Gabonese town of Bitam in the summer of 2011. Through the government suspended several policemen, the results of the government investigation have not been made public.

UN Anti-Corruption Day: December 9, 2011 Time to fight back against cancer of corruption UN chief

No country, region or community is immune to corruption, a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies

Page 5

8 December 2011 Secretary-General Ban Kimoon is urging everyone to do their part to stamp out corruption, which afflicts all countries,

undermining social progress and breeding inequality and injustice. All of us have a responsibility to take action against the cancer of corruption, he declares in a message for International AntiCorruption Day, which is observed annually on 9 December. Read More

An Amnesty International research team was refused access to Gabon in November 2011. Although the Gabonese embassy in London did approve visas for the team, Gabonese customs officers at the airport in the capital of Libreville refused to allow them into the country, citing a technical problem with the visas. Dr. Jeremy Rich, AIUSA Gabon Country Specialist

Rwanda Analysis: Paul Kagame's 'Worrying Ways" Against Critics

Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, is taking on his international and domestic critics in worrying ways that should concern those of us working for peace in Rwanda. The most extreme example of Kagames inflammatory language occurred on 23 November 2011, in Kigali, where the American Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, offered a speech full of glowing praise for Rwandas institutional and economic Rwandan President development. In the final few paragraphs of the speech, Rice, Paul Kagame who believes 'friends should speak frankly to friends', encouraged Rwanda to open up its political space so that 'the deepening and broadening of democracy can be the next great achievement of this great country and its remarkable people.' Kagame's immediate reaction to the speech showed his true stripes. He is the embodiment of Rwanda and to insult the country is a direct and personal attack on Kagame himself as father of the nation. Indeed, Rice could have come out much stronger against many of the regime's current oppressive practices. It wasn't until days later, allegedly during Kagame's participation in a Kigali-city umuganda clean-up that he began to rant about 'so-called friends or those among us who consider themselves extraordinary'. Key excerpts from Kagame: 'If you promote equality among people, and you are the first in the world in terms of gender equality -- by lifting up women who had never before reached such a level, if you tell me this is not democracy, if you tell me this is not respect of human rights, you certainly are sick.' Indeed, I think it remains fair to say, that even as women's visibility in politics is at an all-time high, their ability to shape the future of the country, ironically, has not improved. They have little room to develop policy or even to debate openly; space for free and open political expression is limited. Instead, we are seeing from Kagame is his an acknowledgment that his gender policy is only for elite women, and for elite women who toe the RPF line. Susan Rice surely knows this, but said nothing about it, opting instead for a more diplomatic statement of 'friends talking to friends.' Someone who is receptive to criticism sees it for what it is, considers the advice, reflects upon, perhaps seeks counsel from others, and finds ways to improve the situation. We see none of this emotional or political moderation from Kagame, and that is the worrying aspect of his leadership at the moment. Indeed, his rhetoric is reminiscent of the ramping of political language we saw before the 1994 genocide. Surely, this is food for thought for anyone concerned about peace in Rwanda. I believe we are at a critical juncture in Rwanda's post-genocide evolution. President Kagame has entered a phase of political extremism. It is the spectre of renewed conflict that is worrying, and this is something those of us working for peace in Rwanda and the region need to think about as the 2017 elections are less than five years away. Dr. Susan Thomson, AIUSA Rwanda Country Specialist
Page 6

UN tribunal reaffirms decision to refer pastors case to Rwandan court system

19 December 2011 The United Nations tribunal trying suspects connected to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda has dismissed an appeal by a former pastor accused of inciting attacks against Tutsi civilians, reaffirming its decision to refer him for trial in the national court system. Read More

Human Rights Watch:

DR Congo: 24 Killed since Election Results Announced, Security Forces Attack, Detain Protesters, Local Residents
(Kinshasa, December 22, 2011) Congolese security forces have killed at least 24 people and arbitrarily detained dozens more since President Joseph Kabila was announced the winner of the disputed presidential elections on December 9, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today. Read More

For more information about Rwanda: Rwanda: Unsafe to speak out: Restrictions on freedom of expression in Rwanda

Ugandan Government Should Ensure Safety of Rwandan Exiles

December 6, 2011 The persecution of government critics can reach beyond Rwandas borders. We fear for the safety of other exiled journalists and government opponents in the aftermath of Ingabire's murder. Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. Read More

Region and Country News

Central Africa Region News
Reducing flow of arms in Central Africa crucial for regional security Ban
8 December 2011 Stemming the flow of illicit arms in Central Africa can help reduce the growing threat of piracy and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, disrupt the activities of trans-national armed groups, notably the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and prevent acts of terrorism and electionrelated tensions, Secretary-Ban Ki-moon said today. Read More

South Sudanese children displaced by attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the town of Mundri, Western Equatoria state

ICC orders release of Rwandan rebel leader after dismissing charges

16 December 2011 Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today ordered the release of a Rwandan rebel leader after dismissing war crimes charges related to deadly fighting in the far east of the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2009. Read More

UN officials urge eradication of sexual violence in Africas Great Lakes region

By punishing the perpetrators, we can lift this burden of blame and shame from the backs of innocent victims. Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro 15 December 2011 Deputy Secretary-General AshaRose Migiro today stressed that efforts to restore peace and stability in Africas Great Lakes region will not come to fruition unless the scourge of sexual violence is completely eradicated and justice systems are strengthened to end impunity. Sexual violence not only wreaks havoc in the lives of Rose Migiro individual women and girls it also causes lasting damage to the social fabric and economies of the Great Lakes region, Ms. Migiro told the Fourth Ordinary Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. Read More
Deputy Secretary-General Ash-

US special forces in Central Africa for LRA rebel hunt

Key organizers of Rwandan genocide jailed for life by UN tribunal
12/20/11 1:28 PM Kampala - US special forces have set up a base in the Central African Republic as part of their regional hunt for fighters from the Ugandan-born Lord's Resistance Army group, military sources said Monday. "The deployment of this contingent, the size of which is unknown, was carried out very discreetly with Ugandan military aircraft," a Central African military official said on condition of anonymity. Read More

Burundi News
Security Council extends mandate of UN political mission in Burundi
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania

December, 25 2011, AFP/Nairobi An anti-corruption watchdog has taken Burundis government before an East African court on allegations of embezzling millions of dollars,

Page 7

1 December 2011 Two key organizers of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 were today sentenced to life in prison by the United Nations tribunal dealing

20 December 2011 The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations political mission in Burundi, stressing that the country must continue to make progress on protecting human rights, fighting corruption, reforming its security sector and boosting economic development. Read More

Burundi government sued over graft

with war crimes in the country which resulted in the deaths of some 800,000 people in just 100 days. Read More

the regional court's first such case, the group said. The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Observatory (OLUCOM) has accused Burundi of misusing $13.7mn of debt repaid by Uganda between 2005 and 2007, and making an illegal purchase of a presidential jet that led to a $4.5mn loss in 2005. Read More

Cameroon News
CLIMATE CHANGE: Durban or bust - the Trans-African Caravan of Hope

Cameroon: Voter Registers Open on January 5

27 December 2011 Cameroon's elections governing body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), will in 2012 organize the expected parliamentary and council elections in the country. This will be the second time ELECAM will be organizing elections after the October 9, 2011 presidential election in which 23 candidates contested. Read More

Cameroon: Letter to the Minister of Justice Regarding Treatment of those charged with Homosexual Behavior
In December 2011, Human Rights Watch (HRW) wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice in Cameroon about the situation of LGBT people in Cameroon. Like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch is concerned about the human rights situation for those charged with homosexual conduct, like Jean-Claude Mbede. In this public letter, HRW urged government authorities to release, and drop charges against, all individuals currently detained under Article 347 (a) or detained solely because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; to end arrests, detention, prosecution, and other forms of persecution and discrimination against people suspected or known to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; repeal all legislation criminalizing consensual same sex- sexual acts between adults. Read More

Photo: Charles Akena/IRIN Boniface Okot (right), a Ugandan student, at the Kampala stopover of the TransAfrican Caravan of Hope

KAMPALA, 2 December 2011 (IRIN) - Brandishing a plea for developed countries to make good their promises to reduce carbon emissions, 300 farmers, youths and activists took the scenic route to the COP17 conference in Durban, travelling more than 7,000km from Burundi in 17 days, through 10 eastern and southern African countries, aboard a convoy of buses draped in various national flags. Read More

Central African Republic News

Security Council extends mandate of UN office
21 December 2011 The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacebuilding office in the Central African Republic (CAR) for another year, stressing the need to ensure effective coordination of the work of UN agencies, funds and programs in the country. Read More

UN official in Central African Republic urges support for demobilization

14 December 2011 The head of the United Nations peacebuilding office in the Central African Republic (CAR) told the Security Council today that dialogue between the Government and opposition groups is paying peace dividends, but warned that lack of funds to implement programs to disarm and demobilize former fighters could undermine efforts to restore security. Read More

Cameroon: The Taps Have Run Dry

"More than five months ago, the pipes in my house ran dry. Now I have to trek five km every day to this valley to fetch water," she tells IPS. 29 December 2011 Yaound Mama Rosalie of Damas quarter in the capital of Cameroon trudges down a narrow, winding footpath, headed for a narrow stream

Central African Republic: A healthcare crisis, says MSF

BANGUI, 14 December 2011 (IRIN) - Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) has described the Central African Republic (CAR) as being in a state of chronic medical emergency and is calling on donor governments and development agencies to provide additional funding and
Page 8

take urgent action. The NGO sounded the alarm in a 13 December report,

Photo: Phuong Tran/IRIN Life expectancy in CAR is the second-worst in the world

running far below, a 20litre water container in her right hand. Read More

Central African Republic: A Silent Crisis based on a countrywide survey conducted over the past 18 months. Read More

Chad News
Chad failed to arrest Sudanese President, ICC tells Security Council
13 December 2011 The International Criminal Court (ICC) decided today that Chad has not met its obligation to fully cooperate with the court by failing to arrest and surrender Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during his visit to Chad in August. Following its decision, pre-trial chamber I of the ICC referred the matter to the Security Council and the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statue, the ICCs founding treaty. Read More

DRC: Measles immunization campaign targets 1.7 million children

Democratic Republic of Congo News

Photo: Cornelia Walther/UNICEF The measles immunization campaign in Kinshasa targets 1.7 million children, according to UNICEF

UN mission urges review of issues raised by election observers

12 December 2011 The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today called on the countrys electoral authorities to review the issues raised by independent observers about the recent DRC presidential and parliamentary polls, saying there were significant irregularities in the results process. Read More

NAIROBI, 21 December 2011 (IRIN) - Amid rising measles and polio cases, tens of thousands of children are being targeted for immunization in health campaigns in affected regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). At least 128,965 measles cases, with 1,573 deaths, have been recorded in the DRC in 2011, and 89 wild poliovirus type 1 cases had been reported up to 13 December, UNICEF said.
Read More

UN experts outline sources of funding for armed rebels

An observer outside a polling station in Kinshasa during the 28 November 2011 presidential elections in the DRC

30 December 2011 Armed rebel groups active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) derive their funds from several sources, notably trade in natural resources, but also ordinary commerce and illegal taxation, according to a report by a United Nations group of experts unveiled today. The final report to the Security Council by the Group of Experts tasked with monitoring the arms embargo and other sanctions against armed rebel groups in DRC details their recruitment networks and sources of financing, including trade in minerals, timber, charcoal and cannabis and other cash crops. Read More
Photo: Sara Geenen/IRIN Artisanal miner in DRC

Keeping track of mineral resources

Cholera outbreak in DR Congo near end in one area but ongoing in two others
29 December 2011 The cholera outbreak that has infected thousands of people across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is almost over in the worst-affected province, but fresh cases are being KINSHASA, 13 December 2011 (IRIN) - In the Democratic Republic of Congo, two projects are under way to map mineral deposits in South Kivu province to facilitate traceability, amid increasing concerns in the international community that profits from the minerals trade are being illegally used to fund armed groups in the east. Read More

Equatorial Guinea News

Insight: African leader's son tests U.S. anticorruption push
Fri, Dec 2 2011 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The wealthy son
Page 9

recorded in two other areas, the United Nations humanitarian arm reports. Read More

of Equatorial Guinea's president squared off this week against the U.S. government in a legal battle over efforts to seize his $30 million California mansion, exotic cars, a private jet and an extensive collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia. Read More

UK accuses Equatorial Guinea elite of stealing oil wealth

Democratic Republic of Congo: 16 Days of Activism - Couples in the Congo Stand Up to the Stigma of Rape
30 November 2011 Kavumu, Democratic Republic of the Congo Rape is widespread in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but for many of the female victims, what comes after is often worse than the act itself. Read More Wed, Dec 7 2011 LONDON (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea's leadership is stealing the small African nation's oil wealth while the majority of its population lives in poverty, Britain said on Wednesday. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled Equatorial Guinea for more than three decades, the longest serving African leader after the demise of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, with rights groups labeling his regime one of the world's most corrupt. Read More

Gabon News
Gabon Ruling Party Wins Election Largely Boycotted by Opposition
December 22, 2011 Gabonese President Ali Bongo's ruling party has won a landslide victory in a parliamentary election largely boycotted by the opposition.
Photo: AFP Members of the election Official results from Saturday's vote, released late commission of the polling station of Atout Wednesday, show Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party near Medouneu, Gabon, wait for electors during the legislative elections on and its allies secured 114 of 120 seats in parliament, December 17, 2011. an increase from their 98 seats in the outgoing assembly. Opposition candidates took the remaining six seats. Read More

Burundian sports center a beacon for peacebuilding says UN official

5 December 2011 A new youth center in the border region between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will use the power of sports to bring peace to an area historically fraught with tragedy the United Nations sports and peace envoy announced today. Read More

Republic of Congo News

Two Brazzaville weeklies suspended; CPJ seeks reversal
New York, December 20, 2011--Authorities in the Republic of Congo should immediately lift the months-long suspensions imposed last week against two private weeklies in reprisal for articles critical of government officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Read More

Rwanda News
Rwandan online journalist killed in Kampala
New York, December 2, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the fatal shooting of Rwandan journalist Charles Ingabire in Kampala, Uganda's capital, and calls on the police to identify the culprits and bring them to justice. Read More

Ingabire trial: Rwanda rejects bail request

Charles Ingabire (Ally Mugenzi/BBC)

16 December 2011 The Supreme Court of Kigali rejected a request on Friday to grant bail to Rwandan opposition leader, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, because the accusations against her are too serious. These include charges of terrorism and genocide denial. Read More
Page 10