Skip to main content

Latest Analysis

Independent analysis, commentary and investigations on Africa, the Great Lakes Region and international accountability.

[AfricaWatch] U.S. Will Broaden Sanctions to Deter Violence in Congo

 


World

WASHINGTON — The United States will expand sanctions on groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it easier to target those who are trying to instigate violence and disrupt peacekeeping efforts in that country, the White House announced on Tuesday.

"The United States continues to be deeply concerned about the situation in the D.R.C., which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security and stability of the country," the White House said in a statement.

The announcement is a quiet signal that the United States is trying to stay engaged in a troubled region that the administration is often accused of forgetting. It comes a week after the administration placed sanctions on the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan militant group that operates in eastern Congo, and brings the United States in line with United Nations sanctions that are already in place. Those targeted by the sanctions could be subject to travel bans or have their assets frozen.

Both the United States and United Nations measures are broad, and the United States announcement noted that they would be applied to those who are "directly or indirectly" involved in the recruitment of child soldiers, sexual violence, obstruction of humanitarian assistance or other provocative actions in Congo.

"It's hard to be optimistic when you look at events in the Congo, but there has been progress in the last few months," said Richard Downie, deputy director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies here.

The sanctions are a signal that the United States is trying to keep up momentum to reduce the violence in Congo, despite efforts among the commanders of some groups to bring their scattered fighters back into the fold. "It sends a strong message to the spoilers out there — we're not going to stand for efforts to derail this process," Mr. Downie said.

At the end of last year, the M23 rebel group, made up of former members of the Congolese Army, signed an agreement to stop fighting. In June, members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, another militia operating in eastern Congo, alsobegan to disarm. Still, many of the fighters from these groups and others continue to be active.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council and the United States Treasury Department singled out the Allied Democratic Forces for attacks carried out against civilians in Congo in 2013, displacing many people from their homes. "The A.D.F. was also responsible for brutal attacks on women and children in several villages, including acts of beheading, mutilation and rape," the Treasury's statement said in announcing those sanctions.

The sanctions announcement also comes after several high-profile visits by United States officials in recent months. On Saturday, in the middle of a trip through several African countries, Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., traveled to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, and Bukavu, in eastern Congo. Dr. Biden met with victims of sexual violence at a hospital in Bukavu.

In May, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Congo and urged President Joseph Kabila to take action against the Allied Democratic Forces, but noted that military force would not be enough.

"Lasting peace will not grow out of the barrel of a gun," Mr. Kerry said at the time. "It will come from restoring state authority and state services."

"It will also come from demobilizing the combatants and returning them to civilian life," he added.

Next month President Obama and his administration will have another chance to reinforce concerns about violence in Congo when Mr. Kabila visits Washington as part of the United States-Africa Leaders Summit.

Most Popular on NYTimes.com

DCSIMG

__._,_.___
Posted by: Nzinink <nzinink@yahoo.com>
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (1)
----------------------------------------------------------
The Voice of the Poor, the Weak and Powerless.
More News:http://changingafrica.blogspot.co.uk/
-----------------------------------------------------------
Post message:  AfricaWatch@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: AfricaWatch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: AfricaWatch-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: AfricaWatch-owner@yahoogroups.com
__________________________________________________________________

Please consider the environment before printing this email or any attachments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.

__,_._,___

Comments

Post a Comment

Support Our Work Now !

Africa Realities Media is independent. Your support helps us expose injustice, challenge silence and produce evidence-based analysis on Africa and the Great Lakes Region.

Recent Posts

Show more
Africa Realities Media offre un espace aux écrivains, chercheurs, experts, activistes, voix communautaires, militants, analystes et personnes ayant une expérience vécue qui souhaitent contribuer à des contenus réfléchis, responsables et courageux sur les changements nécessaires dans la région des Grands Lacs, ainsi que sur les réalités politiques, économiques, culturelles et sociales africaines souvent ignorées, minimisées ou mal représentées. Nos articles et vidéos visent à ouvrir le débat, renforcer la sensibilisation, encourager la pensée critique et favoriser une réflexion plus profonde sur les réalités vécues par les populations africaines. Nous voulons aider les peuples de la région des Grands Lacs à mieux comprendre leurs droits, notamment leurs droits humains, leur droit au développement, leur droit à la dignité, à la sécurité, au bien-être et à une vie meilleure. À travers nos contenus, nous cherchons également à rappeler aux décideurs, aux institutions publiques, aux acteurs régionaux et internationaux, ainsi qu’aux responsables politiques, leur devoir de transparence, de responsabilité et de redevabilité envers les populations qu’ils prétendent servir. Notre objectif est de contribuer à une culture de vérité, de justice, de participation citoyenne et de protection égale pour tous les peuples africains.

Why We Exist

Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states, ruling elites, armed groups, military forces and security services. But these abuses are often sustained by international silence, Western lobbying, trade interests, migration deals, mineral access, diplomatic partnerships and unequal global accountability. Africa Realities Media exposes that system.

Lived Experience Matters

Survivors, displaced communities, refugees, families affected by repression, journalists, activists, women, young people and diaspora voices are not passive subjects. They are knowledge holders. Their experiences must shape policy, advocacy, journalism and public debate. The people closest to injustice are often closest to the solutions.

Our Principle

Africa Realities Media is rooted in one principle: African lives deserve equal truth, equal justice and equal protection.

Popular Posts

Why Africa Realities Media Is Different

Africa Realities Media speaks to Africa and to the developed world. Many abuses facing African people are committed by African states and ruling elites, but they are often protected by international silence, lobbying, public relations, trade interests, migration deals and unequal global accountability. While governments pay lobbyists to present a good image abroad, ordinary African people continue to face violence, hunger, disease, poverty, repression and exclusion. We challenge the normalisation of African suffering and demand equal truth, equal justice and equal protection.

Pourquoi Africa Realities Media est différent?

Africa Realities Media s’adresse à l’Afrique et au monde développé. De nombreux abus subis par les peuples africains sont commis par des États africains et des élites dirigeantes, mais ils sont souvent protégés par le silence international, le lobbying, les relations publiques, les intérêts commerciaux, les accords migratoires et une responsabilité mondiale inégale. Tandis que des gouvernements paient des lobbyistes pour présenter une bonne image à l’étranger, des Africains ordinaires continuent de faire face à la violence, à la faim, aux maladies, à la pauvreté, à la répression et à l’exclusion. Nous contestons la normalisation de la souffrance africaine et exigeons une vérité égale, une justice égale et une protection égale.

BBC News

Loading...

Policy and Systems Change

Our work is designed to trigger debate, discomfort and action. We do not only expose injustice; we work for policy and systems change. We want governments and institutions to address the root causes of inequality, disadvantage, discrimination, exclusion and barriers affecting African people. We believe lasting change must be shaped by people with lived experience.

Exposing Injustice in Africa

Africa Realities Media is an independent African accountability platform based in London. We report, analyse and challenge the systems that shape African suffering, silence African victims and protect abusive power. We are not here to repeat diplomatic language. We are here to ask the questions that are often avoided: why are African deaths treated as normal? Why are African victims given less urgency? Why are governments that imprison, exclude, displace or kill their own people protected when they serve powerful international interests?

Africanews

Loading...
Africa Realities Media gives space to writers, researchers, experts, activists, community voices, campaigners, analysts and people with lived experience who want to contribute thoughtful, responsible and courageous content about the changes needed in the region, as well as the political, economic, cultural and social African realities that are often ignored, minimised or misrepresented. Our articles and videos aim to encourage debate, raise awareness, stimulate critical thinking and support reflection. We seek to help people in the Great Lakes Region understand their rights to human rights, development and wellbeing, while also encouraging decision-makers to be more transparent, responsive and accountable.

Appel à contributions

Sensibilisez le public aux causes qui vous tiennent à cœur. Prenez part au changement que vous souhaitez voir émerger. Aidez à combattre l’injustice partout où elle se manifeste.

Africa Realities Media accueille des articles originaux, analyses, tribunes, réflexions communautaires et commentaires fondés sur des faits concernant la région des Grands Lacs africains, ainsi que les questions liées à la justice, aux droits humains, à la gouvernance, aux conflits, à la paix, aux réfugiés, aux ressources naturelles et à la responsabilité publique en Afrique.

Nous accueillons également les annonces concernant de nouvelles ou d’anciennes publications liées à nos domaines d’intérêt. Vous pouvez annoncer gratuitement votre publication, notamment un livre, un rapport, une étude, un article académique ou tout autre travail pertinent.

Les articles doivent être rédigés en anglais ou en français et ne doivent pas dépasser 1 500 mots.

Veuillez inclure le nom complet de l’auteur, qui sera publié avec l’article s’il est accepté.

Avant de soumettre votre article, veuillez d’abord lire nos pages du site web afin de vérifier si votre article correspond à nos priorités éditoriales, à nos thèmes et à nos domaines d’intérêt.

Si vous avez un article, un commentaire ou une annonce de publication à partager avec un public plus large, veuillez l’envoyer par email à :

africarealitiesmedia@gmail.com

Nous étudierons la possibilité de publier gratuitement les articles et annonces de publications appropriés s’ils répondent à nos critères éditoriaux, notamment la pertinence, la clarté, l’originalité, l’intérêt public, le respect des communautés concernées et l’utilisation responsable des informations et des preuves.

Les articles sont publiés tels qu’ils sont soumis s’ils répondent à nos critères et à notre politique éditoriale. Nous ne procédons pas à une modification supplémentaire de votre article avant sa publication.