DRC

On 11th October, International Alert released a new report – Ending the deadlock: Towards a new vision of peace in eastern DRC – which proposes a comprehensive approach to building lasting peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This report demonstrates how the conflicts in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo are embedded in Congolese history and how they relate mainly to the distribution of power and economic resources, influenced by the ethnic identity of the various parties. The conflicts combine local aspects along with the dynamics of regional war, which explains their particular complexity. This report analyses the various programmes aimed at restoring peace in the country, concluding that they have not addressed the root causes of conflict.

Full report

Ce rapport fait le bilan de la participation des femmes dans le Dialogue Inter-Congolais (DIC) et dans les élections générales de 2006. Le rapport montre que malgré leur faible représentation au Dialogue Inter-Congolais (DIC) à Sun City en Afrique du Sud, les femmes Congolaises sont quand même parvenues à faire inclure des dispositions favorables aux droits des femmes et au  principe de l’égalité des sexes dans l’Accord global et inclusif pour la RDC signé à Pretoria en 2002. Cependant aucune de ces dispositions n’ont été mises en œuvre.

La participation des femmes dans les processus de paix et la prise de décision politique en République Démocratique du Congo

The Great Lakes region has in the last ten to fifteen years seen an increase in women’s representation and involvement in politics and the public sphere, a positive outcome of the region’s peace processes and political transitions.

One of the positive outcomes of recent peace processes in Africa’s Great Lakes region has been the increased involvement of women in the public sphere, primarily thanks to the adoption of quota systems for female representation. Women have had some success in influencing official peace processes in the region, ensuring provisions for women’s rights were made. They have been actively engaged as both voters and candidates in elections, but few are elected.

Full report

Small-scale cross-border trade plays an important role in supporting communities in the Great Lakes region of Africa. This trade provides essential foodstuffs for communities and an income for some 45,000 traders and their families. Yet it faces considerable barriers.

Ce rapport de recherche analyse les dynamiques du petit commerce transfrontalier au niveau des 3 frontières à l’Est de la RDC et entre le Burundi et le Rwanda, et propose des actions pour l’amélioration de ce commerce afin de faire avancer le pouvoir économique des femmes et, par là même, contribuer à la paix et à la sécurité dans la région.

Full report

Annexes

This report analyses the dynamics of small cross-border trade in eastern DRC, and between Burundi and Rwanda, and ways to improve  such trade in order to advance the economic power of women, contributing to peace and security in the region.

Full report

Annexes (in French)

Par la présente, nous exprimons notre inquiétude face à la reprise de la guerre dans le territoire de Rutshuru, Province du Nord Kivu, entre les Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) et le groupe armé M23. Les affrontements en cours risquent de raviver les tensions entre les communautés ethniques du Kivu et avoir un impact négatif sur le développement économique, dont le petit commerce transfrontalier qui fait vivre des centaines de milliers de personnes dans la région, de part et d’autres des frontières.

The signatories of this statement hereby express our concern regarding the return to war in the territory of Rutshuru in North Kivu, between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and the armed group, M23. The on-going violence could possibly revive tensions between ethnic communities in the Kivus as well as have a negative impact on economic development, including on cross-border trade by small traders which sustains hundreds of thousands of persons in the region on both sides of the border.

In the context of an ongoing programme on Women’s Economic Empowerment, Alert co-organised a regional workshop with the Economic Community of the Great Lakes (CEPGL) and UN WOMEN on April 25th – 27th in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

This report focuses on how theories of change can improve the effectiveness of peacebuilding interventions. A review of 19 peacebuilding projects in three conflict-affected countries found that the process of articulating and reviewing theories of change adds rigour and transparency, clarifies project logic, highlights assumptions that need to be tested, and helps identify appropriate participants and partners. However, the approach has limitations, including the difficulty of gathering theory-validating evidence.

Full report

Last week, the Democratic Republic of Congo went to the polls for the country’s second democratic elections, which have been marred by violence and tensions in many provinces since the start of the electoral campaign in October.

Bien que de nombreuses études publiées au cours de la décennie qui vient de s’écouler aient souligné le rôle central joué par l’exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle du coltan, de l’or et de la cassitérite dans les conflits qui continuent de secouer la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), le mode opératoire des différents acteurs participant à l’exploitation et au commerce de ces minerais reste mal connu.

Full report

Lands of our Ancestors from International Alert on Vimeo.