Eye on Africa

****Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — Tubimbi Market Place, South Kivu

Once the breadbasket of South Kivu, Tubimbi is now just another starving outpost.

****Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — Outdoors Child IV Perfusion, Medical Center, Bunia

Copyright 2007 Economist Newspaper
July 28, 2007
Issue 950
Section: The Economist 28 Jul 2007

Congo: Only just staying in one piece

Congo threatens to slide back into chaos. Since last year’s historic elections, political and economic progress has stalled, while war drums are rumbling in the country’s east.

IF EVER there were an urgent case for change in Congo after years of neglect and war, it is Kinshasa’s general hospital. The emergency room reeks of stale urine. The sick lie outside, while relatives collect money for treatment. Life-threatening cases are accepted but nothing happens until someone stumps up the cash–even if the patients die.

Nine months after Congo’s elections (the first for more than 40 years), which were meant to mark a fresh start after a war that left some 4m dead, Dr Mbwebwe Kabamba, a surgeon in the hospital, is expecting no miracle overnight. But, like millions who walked miles, risked attacks by gunmen or simply stood in the rain to vote, he is looking for signs that those in power might improve the situation.

*** Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — Uruguayan Peacekeepers, Kasenyi, Ituri

The United Nations, or should I say UN peacekeepers, are in the news again. Check the headlines. You have got to love these guys — not. As a kid growing up in Zaire, I dreamed of working for the UN — but no more. The sad thing is that these peacekeepers make the headlines for the same old abuses, sexual misconduct, gold and gun smuggling.

Still, when it happens UN officials tend to act as if they were seeing these things for the first time. Never mind they have dealt with these types of abuses in different parts of the world. The real problem here lies with the civilian leadership, which always places politics above the underlying principles encapsulated in the UN charter.

In fairness to the peacekeepers, I reckon that most of them are professionals and dedicated to their assignment. I speak from experience. Last year I was embedded with peacekeepers in the conflict areas of Ituri and South Kivu. The Moroccan, Uruguayan and Pakistani troops I worked with discharged their duty with a high level of professionalism and commitment. In short, I was impressed with them. Then again, there is always a bad apple in the bag.

***Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — Pakistani Peacekeepers Praying, Tubimbi, South Kivu

July 23, 2007 
 
Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno 
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations 
Department of Peacekeeping Operations 
United Nations 
New York, NY 
 

We welcome your recent announcement about the conclusion of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation into alleged gold smuggling and arms trading by Pakistani peacekeepers working with the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We believe that such investigations are a useful part of the process of establishing accountability for peacekeepers alleged to have been involved in illegal acts.

** Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele – Sunset over the Congo River in Kinshasa

***Photo Mvemba Phezo Dizolele — Thunderstorm Forming over Congo River, Equateur

LE MONDE | 20.07.07 | 13h19  •  Mis à jour le 20.07.07 | 13h19

Le bilan des six premiers mois du nouveau gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo est inquiétant. Il est marqué par l’usage disproportionné de la force contre des opposants, le recours à la corruption pour parvenir à ses fins et un dangereux regain de tensions dans les provinces de l’Est. Si le gouvernement congolais ne convainc pas la population de sa détermination à vouloir reconstruire le pays ravagé par la guerre, poursuivre les réformes institutionnelles et consolider le processus de paix par des méthodes démocratiques, il sera de nouveau considéré comme une nuisance plutôt qu’une autorité légitime, et échouera certainement à restaurer l’autorité de l’Etat.
 
La transition issue du dialogue inter-congolais et des accords de Pretoria fut, par certains aspects, un remarquable succès. Elle a permis de réunifier le pays et d’améliorer la situation sécuritaire sur une grande partie du territoire. Les troupes des principaux mouvements rebelles ont pu être intégrées dans l’armée nationale et aucune force militaire, nationale ou régionale ne menace aujourd’hui le gouvernement élu. Une commission électorale indépendante a organisé un référendum constitutionnel en décembre 2005, puis des élections nationales entre juin et novembre 2006, considérées par les observateurs comme relativement libres et crédibles.