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Russ Feingold on Congo: First, End the Conflict

April 6, 2014

Last year marked major progress toward finding a peaceful resolution for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s achingly long conflict, rooted in decades of civil war, regional incursions, ethnic tensions and resource pilfering. Throughout the many years, women have borne the brunt of the fighting, caught in the crossfire between rival militias and governments …

Africa, Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights

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Congolese Rebel Leader Faces Broad Charges of Sex Crimes

February 13, 2014

by Dulcie Leimbach

The first step to possibly try Bosco Ntaganda, a Congolese warlord born in Rwanda, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, began recently at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Ntaganda, who turned himself in to the court last year by going to the United States Embassy in Rwanda, allegedly committed the crimes …

Africa, Child Soldiers, Gender-Based Violence, ICC, International Justice, Women

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WORLDVIEWS

Business in Kinshasa Rolls On While Eastern Congo Simmers

September 11, 2013

by Christina Juan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Democratic Republic of the Congo is riddled with negative media attention. In the midst of virtually persistent conflict in eastern Congo since 1993, what goes on far away in Kinshasa, the capital of this massive country? Economic reforms, health care developments and a culture of music and creativity are providing …

WORLDVIEWS

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Britain Steps Into the Battle Against War Rapists

June 10, 2013

by Elisabeth Braw

LONDON — When Angelina Jolie and William Hague traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March, the Hollywood star and the British foreign minister naturally attracted attention. But what they came for — to announce a plan by the British government to bring war rapists to justice — might have been met …

Africa, Gender-Based Violence, Human Rights, Peace and Security, Women

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A New UN Brigade Will Make Combat Moves in Congo

April 11, 2013

by Lorraine Boissoneault

For the first time, the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution allowing UN troops to go on the offensive in a mission against armed rebels. The combat intervention brigade will operate as part of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco). …

Africa, Peace and Security, Security Council

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Helping Congolese Women, One Community at a Time

April 3, 2013

by Barbara Crossette

Two innovative women from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where violence against women and girls has been harsh and unrelenting through years of lawlessness and civil conflict, came to New York in early March with a message of progress and hope. They have been chipping away at the epidemic of abuse, working …

Africa, Women

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Notorious African Rebel Lands in International Court Hands

March 22, 2013

by Dulcie Leimbach

Bosco Ntaganda, whom the United States calls “one of the most notorious and brutal rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” has arrived at the International Criminal Court in The Hague after being transported by court officials from Rwanda. Ntaganda is a Congolese warlord who has been operating with impunity in eastern Congo …

Africa, Child Soldiers, ICC

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Illegal Gold Mining Runs Rampant in Eastern Congo

February 26, 2013

by Lorraine Boissoneault

Gold is now one of the most problematic conflict minerals in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and United Nations Security Council sanctions on the illegal mining of natural resources, including gold, have done little to prevent smugglers from profiting, says a new report from a German foundation. The foundation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, is …

Africa, Peace and Security, Security Council

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A Rerun of History in Eastern Congo Threatens Kinshasa Again

November 26, 2012

by Barbara Crossette

Less than two decades ago, this is what happened to a huge African country once known as Zaire: Rebels backed by Rwanda’s recently installed, ethnic Tutsi-led government moved out of their strongholds in the eastern flank of the country and advanced toward the Zairian national capital, Kinshasa, and overthrew the central government. To Rwandan …

Africa, Child Soldiers, ICC

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In Congo, Listening to Rape Victims to Establish Trust

August 30, 2012

by Dulcie Leimbach

Justine Masika Bihamba’s work is centered in North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where for about 12 years she has been fighting poverty and sexual violence, promoting peace and human rights and supporting war victims through psychological services, grants and medical care. The province has experienced tremendous conflict in the …

Women

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UN WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2012

Thomas Lubanga, Congolese Warlord, Sentenced to 14 Years

July 10, 2012

by Dulcie Leimbach

Thomas Lubanga, the 52-year-old Congolese militant convicted by the International Criminal Court in March for the war crimes of conscripting and enlisting child soldiers under age 15 and using them in hostilities, was sentenced today to 14 years’ imprisonment. The children were forced to fight a conflict in northeastern Congo from Sept. …