Rapes 'surge' in DR Congo
Report says that many rapes occur inside homes in the presence of family members
The number of sexual assaults in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has increased dramatically, according to a study by the UK-based aid group, Oxfam International.
Researchers from Harvard University in the US examined more than 4,000 cases of sexual assault from 2004 to 2008 and discovered that the number of rapes carried out by civilians had increased seventeen-fold.
The study, based at the Panzi hospital in the eastern city of Bukavu, which specialises in treating victims of rape, revealed that more than half of the victims were "raped by gangs of armed men and more than half of the aggressions took place inside homes".
Fifty-six per cent of the attacks were perpetrated by armed men inside family homes, nearly 16 per cent in fields and nearly 15 per cent in the forest, the report said, citing statements by the 4,311 women questioned.
Carried out for Oxfam by The Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, the report spoke of "the stigmatisation that the women are victims of in their families after having been raped and the difficulties they encounter in accessing medical care".
"Fewer than one per cent of the rape victims went to Panzi hospital with their husbands and nine per cent of them were abandoned by their partner," Oxfam said.
Violence escalated in the DRC after many Rwandan Hutus fled to the country following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Since then, the country has been embroiled in widespread conflicts between its army and Rwandan and Congolese militias.
'Wake-up call'
Around 20,000 UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the nation since 1999 to help stabilise it, but thousands are raped each year as sporadic fighting between the various armed groups continues.
Joseph Kabila, the DRC president, has asked the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping mission by 2011, but some UN officials have said they are reluctant to do so.
Krista Riddley, who directs humanitarian policies for Oxfam, said: "This is a wake-up call at a time when plans are being discussed for UN peacekeepers to leave the country.
"The situation is not secure if a woman can't even sleep safely in her own bed at night.'"
The Oxfam report reveals that many of sexual assault cases were carried out by armed men in the presence of the victim's families, including their children.
Susan Bartels, the chief researcher of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, said: "Sexual violence has become more normal in civilian life.
"The scale of rape over Congo's years of war has made this crime seem more acceptable."
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Leja Bulela Annual Conference Flyer: Miami 2010
This year's conference will be held in Miami, FL at July 2-5, 2010:
Courtyard Miami Downtown
200 SE Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33131 USA
We hope to see you there!
(click flyer picture for more detail)
Friday, March 26, 2010
Support the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic in Democratic Republic of Congo
http://lejabulelafundraising.eventbrite.com/
(Click the link above)
Support Dr Kabongo in his quest to raise a minimum of $2,500 for the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic.
Dr Kabongo will run in two 50 miles long races in April and May 2010. We are looking for people of
goodwill to sponsor each mile of the race with a donation of $25 or more. Dr Kabongo and Big Red (his high performance, high octane bike) have been training hard in order to start and finish the race, let's encourage them by sponsoring each mile of the race. Your $25 donation will go toward the completion of the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic. We thank you in advance for donating and spreading the word.
RACE 1: Tour De Cure will take place in San Diego, CA on Saturday, April 17th, 2010
RACE 2: San Diego Century will take place in San Diego, CA on Saturday May 22nd, 2010
Your support will be greatly appreciated.
The Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic is a primary health care clinic located in the central part of Democratic Republic of Congo built by Leja Bulela,Inc a 501 c (3) non-profit organization founded by Congolese immigrants in the United States of America.
The mission of the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic is to provide high quality primary health care to the people of Cibombo Cimuanyi and surrounding areas.
Join us on our Facebook Page look for: "Support The Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic in Democratic Republic Of Congo"
Your donation is handled safely via eventbrite.com and paypal. We do not receive and
will not store any of your personal financial information.
(Click the link above)
Support Dr Kabongo in his quest to raise a minimum of $2,500 for the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic.
Dr Kabongo will run in two 50 miles long races in April and May 2010. We are looking for people of
goodwill to sponsor each mile of the race with a donation of $25 or more. Dr Kabongo and Big Red (his high performance, high octane bike) have been training hard in order to start and finish the race, let's encourage them by sponsoring each mile of the race. Your $25 donation will go toward the completion of the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic. We thank you in advance for donating and spreading the word.
RACE 1: Tour De Cure will take place in San Diego, CA on Saturday, April 17th, 2010
RACE 2: San Diego Century will take place in San Diego, CA on Saturday May 22nd, 2010
Your support will be greatly appreciated.
The Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic is a primary health care clinic located in the central part of Democratic Republic of Congo built by Leja Bulela,Inc a 501 c (3) non-profit organization founded by Congolese immigrants in the United States of America.
The mission of the Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic is to provide high quality primary health care to the people of Cibombo Cimuanyi and surrounding areas.
Join us on our Facebook Page look for: "Support The Kalala Muzeu Health Clinic in Democratic Republic Of Congo"
Your donation is handled safely via eventbrite.com and paypal. We do not receive and
will not store any of your personal financial information.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"VIOLENCE IN THE CONGO: WESTERN EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES"
Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja is an expert on governance, conflict and African politics. Born in Congo-Kinshasa, he is the author of:
The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People’s History. Zed Books, 2002.
The Crisis in Zaire: Myths and Realities. Trenton: Africa World Press, Inc. 1986.
The International Dimensions of the Congo Crisis. UNDP, 2005.
DATE: Friday, 3/19/10
VENUE: California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
1453 Mission Street, San Francisco
TIME: 6:30 pm
A specialist in African politics, development policy and administration, and political theory, Dr. Nzongola is currently professor of African Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA) and professor emeritus of African studies at Howard University in Washington, DC. He holds a B.A. degree in philosophy (Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 1967); an M.A. in diplomacy and international commerce (University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1968); and a Ph.D. in political science (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975).
In the past, Professor Nzongola held academic appointments at the University of Kisangani in Congo-Kinshasa, 1970-71; the University of Lubumbashi (1971-75), also in the Congo, where he was associate dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1972-73; Clark-Atlanta University, 1975-77; and the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria, 1977-78.
Professor Nzongola has served as an international civil servant for seven years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): as a senior adviser for governance to the Federal Government of Nigeria from March 2000 to May 2002; as Director of the Oslo Governance Centre, from August 2002 to July 2005; and as Facilitator for the Africa Governance Institute (AGI), an independent pan-African think tank on governance, from August 2005 to July 2007. He has done consulting work for the United Nations Secretariat, UNDP, UNESCO, the United Nations University, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the World Bank, the United States Department of State, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the Social Science Research Council of the United States and other organizations. In 1999, he served as an expert in conflict mediation and legal drafting to the negotiations between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Lomé, Togo.
In the area of public service, Professor Nzongola served as a delegate to the Sovereign National Conference of Congo-Kinshasa, in which he chaired the subcommittee on political files of the Committee on Political Affairs; as Diplomatic Adviser to the Conference’s elected Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi in 1992-93; and as Deputy President of the National Electoral Commission in 1996. He also served, as a representative of the Tshisekedi government, in the United Nations Mission to Observe the Referendum in Eritrea (UNOVER) in 1993.
Past President of the African Studies Association of the United States (ASA) and of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), Professor Nzongola is the author of several books and numerous articles on African politics, development, and conflict issues.
The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People’s History. Zed Books, 2002.
The Crisis in Zaire: Myths and Realities. Trenton: Africa World Press, Inc. 1986.
The International Dimensions of the Congo Crisis. UNDP, 2005.
DATE: Friday, 3/19/10
VENUE: California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
1453 Mission Street, San Francisco
TIME: 6:30 pm
A specialist in African politics, development policy and administration, and political theory, Dr. Nzongola is currently professor of African Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA) and professor emeritus of African studies at Howard University in Washington, DC. He holds a B.A. degree in philosophy (Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 1967); an M.A. in diplomacy and international commerce (University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1968); and a Ph.D. in political science (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1975).
In the past, Professor Nzongola held academic appointments at the University of Kisangani in Congo-Kinshasa, 1970-71; the University of Lubumbashi (1971-75), also in the Congo, where he was associate dean in the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1972-73; Clark-Atlanta University, 1975-77; and the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria, 1977-78.
Professor Nzongola has served as an international civil servant for seven years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): as a senior adviser for governance to the Federal Government of Nigeria from March 2000 to May 2002; as Director of the Oslo Governance Centre, from August 2002 to July 2005; and as Facilitator for the Africa Governance Institute (AGI), an independent pan-African think tank on governance, from August 2005 to July 2007. He has done consulting work for the United Nations Secretariat, UNDP, UNESCO, the United Nations University, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the World Bank, the United States Department of State, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the Social Science Research Council of the United States and other organizations. In 1999, he served as an expert in conflict mediation and legal drafting to the negotiations between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Lomé, Togo.
In the area of public service, Professor Nzongola served as a delegate to the Sovereign National Conference of Congo-Kinshasa, in which he chaired the subcommittee on political files of the Committee on Political Affairs; as Diplomatic Adviser to the Conference’s elected Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi in 1992-93; and as Deputy President of the National Electoral Commission in 1996. He also served, as a representative of the Tshisekedi government, in the United Nations Mission to Observe the Referendum in Eritrea (UNOVER) in 1993.
Past President of the African Studies Association of the United States (ASA) and of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), Professor Nzongola is the author of several books and numerous articles on African politics, development, and conflict issues.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Congo-Kinshasa: DRC Army Accuses Advocacy Groups of 'Cooking Up Reports'
Congo-Kinshasa: DRC Army Accuses Advocacy Groups of 'Cooking Up Reports'
James Karuhanga13 March 2010
Kigali — The Congolese army (FARDC) has accused advocacy groups of intentionally being fed with false and dangerous information by FDLR rebel elements, to 'cook up treacherous reports' and continue instilling chaos in the country's 'now recuperating east.'
The accusations came after an advocacy group; Global Witness, issued a press release on Thursday, saying that former CNDP rebels--now integrated into FARDC ranks, have asserted "mafia-style" control over lucrative mining sites in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Major Vianney Kazalama, the FARDC spokesperson in the east, maintained yesterday that CNDP no longer has troops in Congo.
CNDP is the National Council for the Defence of the People, a rebel movement that was last year integrated into the national army after a truce with the DRC government.
"We have also seen the report, but you must understand that a person who says that doesn't wish Congo any peace at all," Kazalama said.
"I met with those women (Global Witness researchers) here in Goma and I know for sure that they got most of what they published from FDLR people."
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Rwandan militia group whose members include perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
When contacted yesterday, Global Witness campaigners Annie Dunnebacke, one of the authors of the report, denied Kazalama's claims.
"On this [particular] research trip, we actually did not meet any FDLR people, we got information from a very wide variety of people like NGOs - we didn't speak to the FDLR," Dunnebacke said.
Major Kazalama strongly contested everything in Global Witness' release noting that the group and others have often published false reports purposely to "set off conflict in the country."
He stressed that some sections of westerners are hedged on seeing continued conflict in the region, a situation he maintains, they hugely benefit from.
"When there is trouble here, they keep earning from it in various ways, and they really don't want to see an end to this conflict. But we have now resolved to end it, have peace and develop our country."
The leader of the separatist PARECO movement, 'General' Kakule Sikuli, alias La Fontaine, surrendered to the Congolese armed forces early this month and it is believed his surrender will have a positive effect on regional stability.
Lambert Mende, the DRC Minister of Information has said that his country is forming a competent national army to take over from MONUC when they leave the country next year.
With an estimated annual budget of more than $1 billion, MONUC is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping operation in any country.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have recently opposed the proposed withdrawal of UN troops from DRC saying massacres, rapes and looting continue unabated.
Copyright © 2010 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica - All the Time
James Karuhanga13 March 2010
Kigali — The Congolese army (FARDC) has accused advocacy groups of intentionally being fed with false and dangerous information by FDLR rebel elements, to 'cook up treacherous reports' and continue instilling chaos in the country's 'now recuperating east.'
The accusations came after an advocacy group; Global Witness, issued a press release on Thursday, saying that former CNDP rebels--now integrated into FARDC ranks, have asserted "mafia-style" control over lucrative mining sites in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Major Vianney Kazalama, the FARDC spokesperson in the east, maintained yesterday that CNDP no longer has troops in Congo.
CNDP is the National Council for the Defence of the People, a rebel movement that was last year integrated into the national army after a truce with the DRC government.
"We have also seen the report, but you must understand that a person who says that doesn't wish Congo any peace at all," Kazalama said.
"I met with those women (Global Witness researchers) here in Goma and I know for sure that they got most of what they published from FDLR people."
The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Rwandan militia group whose members include perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
When contacted yesterday, Global Witness campaigners Annie Dunnebacke, one of the authors of the report, denied Kazalama's claims.
"On this [particular] research trip, we actually did not meet any FDLR people, we got information from a very wide variety of people like NGOs - we didn't speak to the FDLR," Dunnebacke said.
Major Kazalama strongly contested everything in Global Witness' release noting that the group and others have often published false reports purposely to "set off conflict in the country."
He stressed that some sections of westerners are hedged on seeing continued conflict in the region, a situation he maintains, they hugely benefit from.
"When there is trouble here, they keep earning from it in various ways, and they really don't want to see an end to this conflict. But we have now resolved to end it, have peace and develop our country."
The leader of the separatist PARECO movement, 'General' Kakule Sikuli, alias La Fontaine, surrendered to the Congolese armed forces early this month and it is believed his surrender will have a positive effect on regional stability.
Lambert Mende, the DRC Minister of Information has said that his country is forming a competent national army to take over from MONUC when they leave the country next year.
With an estimated annual budget of more than $1 billion, MONUC is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping operation in any country.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have recently opposed the proposed withdrawal of UN troops from DRC saying massacres, rapes and looting continue unabated.
Copyright © 2010 The New Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
AllAfrica - All the Time
Monday, March 8, 2010
Ishango Bone
The Ishango bone is the oldest known object containing logical carvings. It was discovered in the Congo, and has been dated to be 22000 years old.
From Harvard's Math Department Oliver Knill's Teaching Math with a Historical Perspective
Natural Numbers. Counting can be realized by sticks, bones, knots on a string or pebbles. The tally stick concept is still used today...An other famous paleolithic tally stick is the Ishango bone, the fibula of a baboon. It could be 20,000-30,000 years old.
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