Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saw Kony 2012? A Must Read New Book on Conflict and Aid

Tom Murphy | Posted 05.20.2012

The timing of the Kony 2012 campaign is quite apt in light of the recent release of Dr Samantha Nutt's memoir-cum-aid commentary Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies & Aid.

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Reason for Hope in Congo

Amy Kurland | Posted 02.07.2012

Read More: Joseph Kabila, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Drc, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kabila, Congo Elections, Drc Elections, World News

A truly democratic DRC will only be possible if the Congolese people believe they have the right and the power to demand reform and stability. It will only be possible if they believe that they can "throw the bums out." It will only be possible if they believe that they don't deserve to be exploited.

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The Modest Heroine Of The 2011 Opus Prize: Lyn Lusi

Katherine Marshall | Posted 01.08.2012

Read More: Loyola Marymount University, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rape, Goma, Opus Prize, Lyn Lusi, Heal Africa, Women's Empowerment, Lyn Lusi HEAL Africa, Africa, 2011 Opus Prize, Lyn Lusi Opus Prize, Congo, Gender and Religion, Religion News

The Opus Prize recognizes unsung heroes from any faith tradition, anywhere in the world, who are working to solve today's most persistent social problems. Lyn's is an inspirational story.

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SEC Struggles Over Disclosing Which Companies Use 'Conflict Minerals'

Posted 12.16.2011

Read More: Dodd-Frank Financial Oversight Law, Securities Regulators, Conflict Mineral, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hewlett Packard, Africa Sec, Securities and Exchange Commission, African Conflict Minerals, Business News

WASHINGTON (Sarah N. Lynch) - Securities regulators are struggling to craft a rule that sheds light on companies that use certain African "confli...

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U.S.: Don't Finance Child Soldiers

Human Rights Watch | Posted 12.05.2011

Read More: Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Somalia, Barack Obama, Child Soldiers, World News

(New York) – The US government should reverse its decision to continue military assistance to governments using child soldiers, Human Rights Wat...

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Obama Waives Penalties On Countries That Employ Child Soldiers – Again

Foreign Policy | Josh Rogin | Posted 12.04.2011

Read More: Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Samantha Power, Ban Against Child Soldiers, Chad, Child Soldiers, Dan Baer, Child Soldiers Protection Act, Jo Becker, South Sudan, Politics News

President Barack Obama has decided to waive almost all the legally mandated penalties for countries that use child soldiers and provide those countrie...

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Ending Rape in War

Laura Carlsen | Posted 08.02.2011

Read More: Rwanda, War Crimes, Women, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rape, World News

The use of sexual violence against women to submit, terrorize and dominate entire populations is, in the 21st century, common in many parts of the world. It is a calculated strategy of war.

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When You Hear the Word "Congo," Naturally You Think "Fun for Children"

Disgrasian | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Toys, Games, Inappropriate-Product-Names, Congo Rape, Children, Disastrous Product Names, Inappropriate Product Names, Congo Crisis, Congo Violence, Congo, Disastrous-Product-Names, Congo Rebels, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo War, Costco, Advertising, Playgrounds, Africa, Gorilla Playsets, Conflict in Congo, Inappropriate Toys, Congo Genocide, Rape in the Congo, Refugees, Jungle Gyms, Comedy News

For a limited time only, we can go to the Congo for $799.99!

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Obama Easing Restrictions On Child Soldiers

The Cable | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: US Child Soldiers, US Child Soldier Policy, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Chad, Child Soldiers, Obama Child Soldiers, World News

On Monday, the Obama administration waived sections of a law meant to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers in Africa, paving the way for new mili...

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PHOTOS: 10 Best Travel Quotes Of All Time

Black Tomato | Posted 09.19.2011

Read More: India, South America, Thailand, Australia, The Motorcycle Diaries, Vincent Van Gogh, Italy, Che Guevara, Gotta See This, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Provence, Africa, Slidepollajax, Kerala, Johnny Depp, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, South of France, California, Caribbean, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson, Alex-Garland, Charles Dickens, The Rum Diary, Puerto Rico, Art, Traveling in South America, Andaman Islands, Europe, Travel News

As the excitement for the upcoming release of the film adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's "The Rum Diary" builds, here at Black Tomato we have been in...

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LRA Victims Appeal to President Obama (VIDEO)

Human Rights Watch | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Central African Republic, Drc, Obama, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Human Rights, Car, Africa, Lord's Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, World News

Victims of atrocities by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have sent emotional personal pleas to US President Barack Obama, calling for urgent action to end attacks by the rebel group.

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Conflict Minerals: Not Just an NGO Issue

Marshall Chase | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Drc, Sandy Merber, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Karen Hayes, Conflict Minerals, BSR Conference 2010, Pact, Securities and Exchange Commission, Impact News

It was a standing-room-only crowd of over 150 people from a broad range of companies beyond ICT, including U.S. and international auto manufacturers, heavy industry, and others.

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UN Council Told to Act Against Rapists in Congo

Evelyn Leopold | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Security Council, Conflict Minerals, United Nations Peacekeepers, Margo Wallstrom, Congo Rape, Congolese-President-Joseph-Kabila, World News

The UN Security Council was told that the best way to stop rapes was to arrest commanders who permitted it. UN envoy Margot Wallström's speech was among the most graphic and frank by a senior official since the mass rapes.

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DR Congo: War Criminal Ntaganda and Rwandan Security Agents Accused of Assassinations

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Murder, Human Rights Violations, Icc, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo Massacre Kiwanja, Rape, Bosco Ntaganda, War, Joseph Kabila, Assassinations, Paul Kagame, Rwanda, Laurent Nkunda, World News

Human Rights Watch has offered testimony that Bosco Ntaganda, a Congolese army general sought on an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, is involved in the assassination of at least eight people.

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Mission Creep in the Congo

Peter Swarbrick | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo War, Congo Rape, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Congo Violence, Peacekeepers, Peacekeeping, Soussan, Swarbrick, United Nations, Monuc, Un, Paul Kagame, World News

Peacekeepers in the Congo may be doing more harm than good unless their mission is adapted to the realities on the ground.

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Konono No 1's DIY Spirit Fills Prospect Park And Le Poisson Rouge (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)

Dustin Reid | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Video, Nycbeat, Brooklyn, Le Poisson Rouge, Slideshow, Konono No 1, Prospect Park, New York News

Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Konono No. 1's bright and distinctly tribal sounds seemed fit for a sunny day at Prospect Park. ...

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Wrong Time for Congo Debt Forgiveness

Kerry Kennedy | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, World Bank, Floribert Chebeya Bahizira, Imf, Congo, Congo Violence, World News

Given the recent murder of Congolese human rights activist Floribert Chebeya, we should delay debt relief for the DRC pending an independent investigation, a delivery of justice and an improvement of the human rights situation.

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UN Peacekeeping: 'Blue Helmets' Wear New Hats as Challenges Grow

Kiyotaka Akasaka | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: United Nations, Peacekeeping, Un Peacekeepers, Peace, Haiti, Ban Ki-Moon, Drc, Palestine, George Clooney, Secretary-General, Democratic Republic of the Congo, International Day, Security Council, Blue Helmets, Un, World News

When an author I met today during an overseas visit gave me a copy of his recently published book, he said writing it was very special since it recoun...

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Taking on the Enablers of Mass Atrocities

Human Rights First | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Atrocities, Darfur, War Crimes, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Enablers, Genocide, Home News

By Julia Fromholz & Ann-Louise Colgan* This week's arrival of a new National Security Council Director for War Crimes, Atrocities and Genocide Preven...

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Renewable Energy Expert Steve Smith Mitigates Conflicts in Congo, Rwanda, Sudan

Jim Luce | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Renewable Energy, Peace Corp, Somalia, Darfur, United Nations, Refugees International, Twa, Thought Leaders, Thomas Pakenham, Madeline Albright, Hutu-Tutsi Genocide, Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Wikipedia, Global Citizens, Congo, Laurent-Desire Kabila, Human Rights Monitors, Women in Transition, Belgian Colonies, Tutsis, Democratic Republic of the Congo, National Peace Corp Association, Chic Dambach, Zaire, Ohio, Mobutu Sese Seko, Conflicts Resolution, Tanzania, French Language, Swahili, Uganda, Bill Clinton, Steve Smith, Chevron, Roman Catholic Church, The Scramble for Africa, Kinshasa, USAID Office of Transition Initiatives, Burundi, Hutus, Steven Smith, New York City, U.N. Development Program, Refugee Camps, Geneva, Eastern Congo, Genocide, Jimmy Carter, Sudan, Hillary Clinton, Operation Support Hope, Fortune 500 Companies, Usaid, Hotel Rwanda, Rwanda, Léopoldville, Kinyarwanda, World News

Multi-tasking is de rigueur these days, so it comes as no surprise that renewable energy expert and conflict resolution specialist Steve Smith has his hands full. His specialty comes from years of practice.

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Congo forest protector shares alternative Nobel

AP | DONNA BRYSON | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, New York-New York, Copenhagen, Australia, Congo, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Home News

JOHANNESBURG — Rene Ngongo, honored with the "alternative Nobel" this week, grew up in a Congo where he could marvel at the wealth of animals and trees.

"Those are memories my children won't have," the father of four told The Associated Press, expressing fears that his work to save the forests may have started too late.

Ngongo won the Right Livelihood Award on Tuesday "for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use."

A New Zealander, an Australian and a Canadian also won for working to rid the world of nuclear weapons, improving women's health in Africa and raising awareness of climate change. The awards were founded by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull in 1980 to recognize deeds he felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes.

Ngongo said by telephone from Kinshasa, Congo, that his award comes at a "great time," as negotiators prepare to meet in Copenhagen in December to draft a global climate pact.

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DR Congo: Civilian Cost of Military Operation is Unacceptable

Refugees International | Refugees International | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Goma-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Home News

(Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, October 13, 2009) - The Congolese government's military operation in eastern Congo, Kimia II, backed by United N...

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Michael Kavanagh discusses the problems afflicting the DRC

Pulitzer Center. | Pulitzer Center | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lord's Resistance Army, Congo, Rwanda, Home News

An interview by Worldfocus with Michael Kavanagh January 7, 2010 Contributor Michael J. Kavanagh reported for Worldfocus last year on the crisis in ...

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War and Tribal Tradition Feed Sexual Violence Against Women

GroundReport.com | GroundReport.com | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Lubumbashi-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Home News

Tribal customs and the legacy of conflict put women at risk of violence and abuse. By Heritier Maila in Lubumbashi (AR No 231, 1-Oct-09) Simone Mag...

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Guinea's military leader bans demonstrations

AP | ALHASSAN SILLAH | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Conakry-Guinea, Guinea, Geneva, New York-New York, Goma-Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, France, Home News

CONAKRY, Guinea — Guinea's military leader banned all gatherings and demonstrations Wednesday, as the United Nations pressed for an independent investigation into why troops opened fire on 50,000 pro-democracy protesters.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the soldiers' use of live ammunition against the unarmed people who gathered Monday in a stadium in Conakry, the capital, to protest against Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara, the country's military leader.

A human rights group said 157 people were killed and more than 1,200 were wounded. The government maintains that 57 people died and said most of them were trampled.

The U.N. Security Council also condemned the shootings Wednesday and joined the call for an independent investigation.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, the current council president, called on the government to free all opposition leaders and political prisoners "without delay."

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