President Josef Kabila refusal to step down this month has many Congolese fearing more violence. New elections are tentatively scheduled for the end of 2017.

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Josef Kabila, has recently offered little hope for peace but rather perpetuated a fear of fresh violence. Kabila refused to step down in early December after his mandate ended saying that the election of a new president would take place in 2018. After his constitutionally limited two terms at the helm of the DRC, there is no sign that a peaceful succession to rule the country's population of 70 million people is on the horizon.

Kabila became president at a young age and - against many expectations - he moved his country forward. He assumed the presidency after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated 2001 by one of his own bodyguards. Almost 20 years later, the vast country again finds itself weakened by corruption, poverty, exploitation of its mineral resources and political unrest.

Corruption continues

The latest corruption scandal is in the banking sector and points to members of the Kabila family. Jean-Jacques Lumumba, a great-nephew of Patrice Lumumba, the former leader of the liberation movement, had to resign from his position at the "Banque Gabonaise et Française Internationale" (BGFI) after he discovered that large amounts of money had been flowing to the national independent election commission.

"I have to protect my career and the capital of the country," Lumumba told DW. He even received threats due to his disagreement with the management of the bank about these transactions. It turns out that the director of the bank is an adoptive son of the president's late father.

Lumumba subsequently went into exile. He added that he does not trust the ongoing dialogue that is taking place between the opposition and Kabila's government.

"The greed of some politicians is so huge that they have taken Congo hostage. People are dying and are being tortured. Many cannot speak anymore. We have returned to dictatorship because it is all about sustaining power," said Lumumba.

Who is Joseph Kabila?

Joseph Kabila was the oldest of 10 children. His father, Laurent Kabila, was also involved in politics early on. Kabila's childhood coincided with the low point of his father's political and military career. He had a twin sister, Jane, and one full-blood brother, Saide.

The relationship with his sister developed later in life. She became one of his most influential advisers after Augustin Mwanke, his right-hand, died in 2012. She reportedly owns stakes in the media group Digital Congo and was voted a member of parliament from the Katanga Province.

The twins were born in Hewabora, a small village in the Fizi territory of the South Kivu provincen located in eastern Congo. His mother was one of Laurent Kabila's three wives, Sifa Maanya. She was a member of the Bangubangu tribe in the Maniema province of eastern Congo, although some have claimed that she was a Tutsi from Rwanda.

Kabila went to school in Tanzania, where he learned to speak English and French at a young age. He is also fluent in Kiswahili, although not in Lingala, which is the language spoken in Congo's capital Kinshasa. This has led to many considering him a foreigner in his own country. After high school, Joseph Kabila followed a military curriculum in Tanzania and then at pursued further studies at Makerere University in Uganda.

Kabila leads military coup

In 1996 Kabila's father, the head of a guerilla force that opposed the government at that time, asked him to join him in a fight to overthrow then-President Mobutu Sese Seko. Kabila's father sent him to China to further his military training and six months later, in 1997, they led the revolt that overthrew the Congolese dictator and put Laurent Kabila into the office of president. When taking over the presidency, Laurent Kabila promised that he would change the corruption and bad politics that had plagued the government for the past 32 years. But his rule was just as corrupt.

Kabila's father appointed his son to the position of major-general in charge of the armed forces. In 2000 he became chief of staff of the land forces and was one of the main military commanders during the Congo war.

Joseph Kabila became the President of Congo ten days after his father was murdered in January 2001 when he was only 29 years old. Striving to end the atrocities that had taken place in his country up to that point, young Kabila worked to make treaties with Congo's neighbors and fought to remove foreign forces from the country. In 2003 Kabila successfully ended the war that had started when his father fought with their neighbors Rwanda and Uganda who had been occupying parts of the eastern Congo.

Over an estimated four million people were killed in the conflict, but due mainly to Kabila's diplomatic skills and his meetings with officials of the other countries, there was an end to the slaughter.

Democracy and reforms

Kabila won the democratic election in 2006 and became president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hopes were increasing that the living conditions for Congolese would improve. Kabila did manage to put Congo on the map as he worked to strengthen international relations. He also met with representatives from groups of different religious, social and commercial sectors which led to the beginning of the transformation of the country.

Profile

DRC President Joseph Kabila: reformer or corrupt authoritarian

President Josef Kabila refusal to step down this month has many Congolese fearing more violence. New elections are tentatively scheduled for the end of 2017.

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Josef Kabila, has recently offered little hope for peace but rather perpetuated a fear of fresh violence. Kabila refused to step down in early December after his mandate ended saying that the election of a new president would take place in 2018. After his constitutionally limited two terms at the helm of the DRC, there is no sign that a peaceful succession to rule the country's population of 70 million people is on the horizon.

Kabila became president at a young age and - against many expectations - he moved his country forward. He assumed the presidency after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated 2001 by one of his own bodyguards. Almost 20 years later, the vast country again finds itself weakened by corruption, poverty, exploitation of its mineral resources and political unrest.

Corruption continues

The latest corruption scandal is in the banking sector and points to members of the Kabila family. Jean-Jacques Lumumba, a great-nephew of Patrice Lumumba, the former leader of the liberation movement, had to resign from his position at the "Banque Gabonaise et Française Internationale" (BGFI) after he discovered that large amounts of money had been flowing to the national independent election commission.

Protests against a delayed presidential election turned violent in Congo's capital Kinshasa

"I have to protect my career and the capital of the country," Lumumba told DW. He even received threats due to his disagreement with the management of the bank about these transactions. It turns out that the director of the bank is an adoptive son of the president's late father.

Lumumba subsequently went into exile. He added that he does not trust the ongoing dialogue that is taking place between the opposition and Kabila's government.

"The greed of some politicians is so huge that they have taken Congo hostage. People are dying and are being tortured. Many cannot speak anymore. We have returned to dictatorship because it is all about sustaining power," said Lumumba.

Who is Joseph Kabila?

Joseph Kabila was the oldest of 10 children. His father, Laurent Kabila, was also involved in politics early on. Kabila's childhood coincided with the low point of his father's political and military career. He had a twin sister, Jane, and one full-blood brother, Saide.

The relationship with his sister developed later in life. She became one of his most influential advisers after Augustin Mwanke, his right-hand, died in 2012. She reportedly owns stakes in the media group Digital Congo and was voted a member of parliament from the Katanga Province.

The twins were born in Hewabora, a small village in the Fizi territory of the South Kivu provincen located in eastern Congo. His mother was one of Laurent Kabila's three wives, Sifa Maanya. She was a member of the Bangubangu tribe in the Maniema province of eastern Congo, although some have claimed that she was a Tutsi from Rwanda.

Supporters of President Joseph Kabila celebrate at his office in Kinshasa after he won presidential elections in 2006

Kabila went to school in Tanzania, where he learned to speak English and French at a young age. He is also fluent in Kiswahili, although not in Lingala, which is the language spoken in Congo's capital Kinshasa. This has led to many considering him a foreigner in his own country. After high school, Joseph Kabila followed a military curriculum in Tanzania and then at pursued further studies at Makerere University in Uganda.

Kabila leads military coup

In 1996 Kabila's father, the head of a guerilla force that opposed the government at that time, asked him to join him in a fight to overthrow then-President Mobutu Sese Seko. Kabila's father sent him to China to further his military training and six months later, in 1997, they led the revolt that overthrew the Congolese dictator and put Laurent Kabila into the office of president. When taking over the presidency, Laurent Kabila promised that he would change the corruption and bad politics that had plagued the government for the past 32 years. But his rule was just as corrupt.

Kabila's father appointed his son to the position of major-general in charge of the armed forces. In 2000 he became chief of staff of the land forces and was one of the main military commanders during the Congo war.

Joseph Kabila became the President of Congo ten days after his father was murdered in January 2001 when he was only 29 years old. Striving to end the atrocities that had taken place in his country up to that point, young Kabila worked to make treaties with Congo's neighbors and fought to remove foreign forces from the country. In 2003 Kabila successfully ended the war that had started when his father fought with their neighbors Rwanda and Uganda who had been occupying parts of the eastern Congo.

Over an estimated four million people were killed in the conflict, but due mainly to Kabila's diplomatic skills and his meetings with officials of the other countries, there was an end to the slaughter.

Democracy and reforms

Kabila won the democratic election in 2006 and became president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hopes were increasing that the living conditions for Congolese would improve. Kabila did manage to put Congo on the map as he worked to strengthen international relations. He also met with representatives from groups of different religious, social and commercial sectors which led to the beginning of the transformation of the country.

The Kabila family is assumed to have many business interests in the DRC including in the lucrative mineral extraction industry

Kabila recognized the need to make quick reforms to ensure unity among the country's stakeholders, bring peace and security to areas that struggled with foreign influences and establish a favorable environment for investors. In 2011 he was elected as president for the second time despite widespread irregularities. Kabila only secured 42 percent of the vote but was sworn into power under heavy military presence.

Instability in Congo

Clashes erupted at the end of 2016 between security forces and demonstrators after Congo's electoral commission said that the election slated for November wouldn't be held because of logistical reasons. A court determined that Kabila could stay in power until another election is organized.

Under young Kabila's rule, the DRC had begun to thrive and infrastructure improved. But later he departed further from democracy and put Congo in an increasingly unstable situation that has led to violent protests against his government and fears over the possibility of a new civil war if Kabila stays in power.

Details: DW.com; 29.Dec.2016; Hits: 1603

Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a new video on Thursday to dispute a claim that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold.

"We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree," Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters.

"You should not be telling lies to the people," he said, referring to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari who said on Christmas Eve that the extremist group had been defeated and driven away from the forest, its last known bastion.

"If you indeed crushed us, how can you see me like this? How many times have you killed us in your bogus death?" he asked.

It was not immediately clear where the new video was shot, but Shekau who spoke in both Hausa and Arabic said it was filmed on Christmas Day.

Shekau last appeared in a video in September where he disputed a claim by the Nigerian military that he had been wounded in battle.

He vowed to continue fighting on until an Islamic state was imposed in northern Nigeria.

"Our aim is to establish an Islamic Caliphate and we have our own Caliphate, we are not part of Nigeria."

Buhari had announced that a months-long military campaign in the 1,300 square-kilometre (500 square-mile) forest in northeastern Borno state had led to the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest".

The government in Abuja and the military have frequently claimed victories against the Islamic State group affiliate but access to the epicentre of the conflict is strictly controlled.

That has made independent verification of official statements about victories virtually impossible.

Attacks have meanwhile continued, making claims of defeating Boko Haram questionable despite undoubted progress in pushing back the group.

The Boko Haram's insurgency has killed at least 20,000 and forced some 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.

The violence has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the region, with thousands of children facing the risk of famine and starvation.

Details: Rita Akana; 29.Dec.2016; Hits: 2904

La Republique Pushes Manipulation, Bad Faith a Step Further!
The Common Law Delegation that attended the Yaounde talks chaired by Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice, Jean Pierre Fogui walked out of deliberations earlier in the day of yesterday, 28.12.2016 but on the 3pm and 5 pm newscasts on CRTV the impression was given that talks were going on frankly, honestly and serenely.
In fact, in his report at 3pm, CRTV News anchor Ashu Nyenty alleged that the talks were still going on with all members present, though some sticky points persisted. Although the reports at 3 and 5 pm tried to show some balance, no Common Law Lawyer was given speech- not even Ntumfor Nico Halle who is still President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, raising suspicions of manipulation.
Just minutes after Ashu Nyenty's report on the 3pm newscast, this reporter contacted Ntumfor Nico Halle who answered around Edea on his way back to Douala. The legal luminary made clear that all Anglophone lawyers left the hall over disagreements on preliminary objections they raised.
He said the government side refused to release Anglophone children still in detention, and that the issue of venue had yet to be resolved along with issues of representation at the commission. A position confirmed by Barristers Agbor Balla Nkonghor and Bobga Harmony Mbuton.
Great was thus the surprise to hear Minister Delegate Jean Pierre Fogui say on CRTV news that resolutions were arrived at and voted by consensus.
This is a clear indication that government is not willing to address the Anglophone problem comprehensively, it is definitely bent on manipulating the seemingly gullible public put of the strikes with the complicity of governing Anglophone elites as posited by the correspondence of the bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province.
According to Barrister Agbor Balla, the Consortium of Anglophone Civil Society Organizations will publish a press release today denouncing the Fogui resolutions.

Details: Akuroh John Mbah; 29.Dec.2016; Hits: 2394

The Minister of Justice has revealed his version of the story of the claims of anglophone lawyers.
The newspaper La Nouvelle Expression published on December 22, 2016 published excerpts of Laurent Esso, the Minister in charge of Justice, concerning the claims of the lawyers of the English-speaking part of the country.“With respect to the protection of lawyers in the street, I want to be clear on that. A lawyeris covered by immunity before the courts andthis immunity relates to statements made at the hearing and documents filed at the hearing. When a lawyer is before a court, he is protected by the Prosecutor of the Republic of the jurisdiction. But when a lawyer is on the street, he does not enjoy immunity because that is not what the law says. He is protected only in the courts.Those who go out on the street face the police, and it is not the Ministry of Justice or the court that ensures the maintenance of order. They have their own procedure and they will find, the DO, the SDO, the Governor, etc. So if lawyers want to be protected, let them come before the court. We heard a lot of amalgamation on that, so I wanted to clarify it.
We are told that the grievances of the lawyers known as “Common Law” have been presented. I would first like to say that the Ministry of Justice has received no complaints. None. We have learned through channels that you know that the so-called Common Law lawyers have presented grievances.
Nevertheless, I will tell you what the Ministry of Justice has done.We were in April 2014, I believe, I was in the office, I was advised that there are some lawyers from the northwest and southwest who wish to meet with me. Without a hearing request. Without any particular approach. I interrupted my work and met with the lawyers for nearly two hours in the conference room of the Ministry of Justice.”According to Laurent Esso, as a grievance: “They said,” We have learned that the Ministry of Justice is drafting a Code of Civil and Commercial Procedure and a Civil Code in secret. And that in this Code there were only texts under French law. I explained to them first that the Ministry of Justice does not write texts in secret.
High-ranking judges of the English-speaking Supreme Court, chiefs of the Northwest and South-West Court of Appeals, and other persons familiar with judicial practice, are now being examined by them. I told them they had insufficient information. They returned. They did not even present a grievance.” Laurent Esso spoke before the MPs in the National Assembly.

Cameroontoday

Details: Rita Akana; 25.Dec.2016; Hits: 3421

A suicide bomber in the northern Cameroon town of Mora killed a young student and a woman in an attack on a market full of Christmas shoppers, an aide to the governor of Far North region said on Sunday.

Suicide bombers suspected of belonging to the Islamist militant group Boko Haram have launched attacks in Mora, about 30 km (20 miles) from the Nigerian border, several times before.

The bomb also killed the attacker and wounded five other people, said the aide to Governor Midjiyawa Bakary.

"The suicide bomber was pretending to be a beggar and was walking towards the market which was full because of Christmas. Members of a vigilance committee spotted him before he could penetrate the market," a Cameroonian soldier told Reuters.

"He was stopped and in panic he detonated his explosives. If he hadn't been spotted the death toll would have been higher," he said.

Fighters from Boko Haram have killed thousands in their campaign to carve out an Islamist state in their base in northeast Nigeria and have also launched attacks in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The group has frequently used female bombers and children to hit targets.

Similar attacks used to happen on an almost daily basis in Cameroon, but the International Crisis Group reported this month that the frequency had fallen since September, leading analysts to believe Boko Haram was weakening there.

Reuters

Details: Rita Akana; 25.Dec.2016; Hits: 2432

UN Development Programme Published on 20 Dec 2016 —View Original

The workshop brought together both Muslim and Christian leaders, of whom 15 were women.

Since 2014, Cameroon’s security crisis, caused by Boko Haram, has exposed the vulnerabilities and obstacles that undermine integration of disadvantaged groups, especially women and youth.

To prevent youth from being radicalised, UNDP trained religious leaders from the Far North Region of Cameroon on how to identify radicalisation and how to speak with radicalised youth.

The religious leaders were trained to identify early signs of radicalisation in young people and to prevent violent extremism. They also received leaflets to share with young people. Following the workshop, the religious leaders have been meeting young people and participating in events to discuss radicalisation, with the aim of preventing young people from becoming radicalised.

The workshop, arranged in 21–22 September, was held particularly for religious leaders because they, as active members of communities, are aware of the causes and consequences of radicalisation within their communities. Therefore, religious leaders are best placed to prevent it. Held in Maroua, the capital of the Far North Region, the workshop brought together both Muslim and Christian leaders, of whom 15 were women.

“The workshop was a refresher training for the leaders to learn certain concept definitions such as radicalisation and de-radicalisation. The exchange of opinions during the session allowed us to get rid of some stereotypes by expanding our understanding on the issue of radicalisation in various forms,” one of the leaders, Imam Mahamat Goni Ali said.

The workshop is part of a UNDP project “Preventing Radicalization and Strengthening Early Recovery efforts of Women and Youth in Response to the Deteriorating Human Security Situation in the Far North of Cameroon”, which is funded by the Government of Japan with a US$2.1 million grant. It is implemented in the regions of Mayo-Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, Logone and Chari, which are the regions in Cameroon most affected by the attacks of Boko Haram.

The project focuses on empowering women through employment, while training youth on business planning to provide a stable income. It also aims to reduce the risk of radicalisation of youth and communities, and strengthen their ability to prevent and respond to violent extremism.

The Far North is the poorest of Cameroon’s regions. Around 70 per cent of the population lives on less than a dollar per day. Poverty and the presence of Boko Haram can expose young people to violent extremism. There is a need to take care of young people so that they are not radicalised and if it happens, offer them help to be able to fully re-integrate into their communities.

To understand the needs of disadvantaged groups, UNDP organised dialogue forums in 2015. The forums provided important information about the needs of young people and women living in urban and rural areas. In 2016, UNDP, in partnership with the authorities of Cameroon and with financial support from the Government of Japan, has undertaken to implement the recommendations from the forums. This includes defining an action plan and a timetable for a regional dialogue.

Details: Peter Nsoesie; 23.Dec.2016; Hits: 1338

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