http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/28/us-congo-democratic-un-idUSBRE95R0X720130628

Exclusive: Rwanda army officers aiding M23 rebels in Congo - U.N. experts

M23 rebels take position near the town of Mutaho, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo May 27, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Jonny Hog

By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS | Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:17pm EDT

(Reuters) - Military officers from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo are fueling violence in eastern Congo despite pledges by the countries to foster peace, according to a confidential U.N. experts' report seen by Reuters on Friday.

A rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to recruit fighters in neighboring Rwanda with the aid of sympathetic Rwandan military officers, the U.N. Group of Experts said in its interim report to the Security Council's Congo sanctions committee.

The U.N. Group of Experts also said elements of the Congolese military have cooperated with a Rwandan Hutu rebel group against the Congolese M23 rebel group, a Tutsi-dominated rebellion of former Congolese soldiers that has demanded political concessions from President Joseph Kabila's government.

The allegations are likely to displease Kigali and Kinshasa, which have signed a U.N.-backed peace agreement and pledged to cooperate on bringing peace and stability to mineral-rich eastern Congo, where millions of people have been killed and many more displaced in decades of conflict.

Recruitment and other forms of support for the M23 rebels have waned in recent months, though the insurgent forces still pose a security threat in eastern Congo, said the U.N. Group of Experts.

"Since the outset of its current mandate, the group has to date found no indication of support to the rebels from within Uganda, and has gathered evidence of continuous - but limited - support to M23 from within Rwanda," the report said.

"The group sent a letter to the government of Rwanda on 14 June 2013 asking for clarification about this support and looks forward to a reply," the U.N. experts said in the 43-page report.

They said current and former M23 members reported that Rwandan army officers or their representatives have crossed the border into Chanzu or Rumangabo in eastern Congo to meet with Makenga.

The report said 14 former M23 soldiers told the Group of Experts that Rwandans who deserted M23 and tried to go home to Rwanda were "forcibly returned to M23" by Rwandan army officers.

Rwanda's deputy U.N. ambassador, Olivier Nduhungirehe, rejected the allegations. "Now that the GoE report was leaked, can you name any single RDF officer mentioned as aiding the M23? NONE!" he wrote on his Twitter feed.

Rwanda has previously complained about the experts. In March Kigali refused to issue entry visas to two panel members, describing them as biased, Nduhungirehe told Reuters at the time.

CONGOLESE TROOPS WORK WITH HUTU REBELS

Collaboration between elements of the Rwandan military and M23 continue, it said. "The Group received information that M23 commanders have regularly met with RDF (Rwandan Defense Forces) officers," the report said.

"Three former M23 officers, a former M23 cadre, and several local authorities told the Group that from March through May 2013, they had witnessed M23 Colonels Kaina and Yusuf Mboneza with RDF officers at the border of Kabuhanga," it said.

But it said that since the brief fall of provincial capital Goma in November 2012 the Group of Experts has not received evidence of full Rwandan army units supporting M23. Also, the March surrender of former M23 leader Bosco Ntaganda has hurt the rebels' morale and sparked desertions, it said.

Last year the experts accused Rwanda's defense minister of commanding the M23 rebellion, which it said was being armed by Rwanda and Uganda, both of which sent troops to aid the insurgency.

The latest report said there was no current signs of Ugandan government support for M23 but noted that limited recruitment activities by the M23 continued on Ugandan territory. It added that Ugandan officials have thwarted several attempts at M23 recruitment.

The allegations come as the United Nations, which has a large peacekeeping force known as MONUSCO in the region, prepares to deploy a special intervention brigade in eastern Congo. That brigade's goal is to aggressively search out and destroy armed groups operating in eastern Congo.

M23 has been generating income of around $180,000 a month from taxes - $200 to $1,000 per truck depending on the load - they exact on the population in the areas where they have been active, the report said.

"The Group notes that sanctioned individual Col. Innocent Kaina of M23 remains engaged in the recruitment of children," it said.

The experts said that they have also received information indicating collaboration between the Congolese military and FDLR rebels, the remnants of Hutu killers who carried out the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, in North Kivu.

The Congolese U.N. mission was not immediately available for comment on the report.

(Editing by Vicki Allen and Doina Chiacu)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/28/us-congo-democratic-un-idUSBRE95R0X720130628

Exclusive: Rwanda army officers aiding M23 rebels in Congo - U.N. experts

M23 rebels take position near the town of Mutaho, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo May 27, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Jonny Hog

By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS | Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:17pm EDT

(Reuters) - Military officers from Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo are fueling violence in eastern Congo despite pledges by the countries to foster peace, according to a confidential U.N. experts' report seen by Reuters on Friday.

A rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to recruit fighters in neighboring Rwanda with the aid of sympathetic Rwandan military officers, the U.N. Group of Experts said in its interim report to the Security Council's Congo sanctions committee.

The U.N. Group of Experts also said elements of the Congolese military have cooperated with a Rwandan Hutu rebel group against the Congolese M23 rebel group, a Tutsi-dominated rebellion of former Congolese soldiers that has demanded political concessions from President Joseph Kabila's government.

The allegations are likely to displease Kigali and Kinshasa, which have signed a U.N.-backed peace agreement and pledged to cooperate on bringing peace and stability to mineral-rich eastern Congo, where millions of people have been killed and many more displaced in decades of conflict.

Recruitment and other forms of support for the M23 rebels have waned in recent months, though the insurgent forces still pose a security threat in eastern Congo, said the U.N. Group of Experts.

"Since the outset of its current mandate, the group has to date found no indication of support to the rebels from within Uganda, and has gathered evidence of continuous - but limited - support to M23 from within Rwanda," the report said.

"The group sent a letter to the government of Rwanda on 14 June 2013 asking for clarification about this support and looks forward to a reply," the U.N. experts said in the 43-page report.

They said current and former M23 members reported that Rwandan army officers or their representatives have crossed the border into Chanzu or Rumangabo in eastern Congo to meet with Makenga.

The report said 14 former M23 soldiers told the Group of Experts that Rwandans who deserted M23 and tried to go home to Rwanda were "forcibly returned to M23" by Rwandan army officers.

Rwanda's deputy U.N. ambassador, Olivier Nduhungirehe, rejected the allegations. "Now that the GoE report was leaked, can you name any single RDF officer mentioned as aiding the M23? NONE!" he wrote on his Twitter feed.

Rwanda has previously complained about the experts. In March Kigali refused to issue entry visas to two panel members, describing them as biased, Nduhungirehe told Reuters at the time.

CONGOLESE TROOPS WORK WITH HUTU REBELS

Collaboration between elements of the Rwandan military and M23 continue, it said. "The Group received information that M23 commanders have regularly met with RDF (Rwandan Defense Forces) officers," the report said.

"Three former M23 officers, a former M23 cadre, and several local authorities told the Group that from March through May 2013, they had witnessed M23 Colonels Kaina and Yusuf Mboneza with RDF officers at the border of Kabuhanga," it said.

But it said that since the brief fall of provincial capital Goma in November 2012 the Group of Experts has not received evidence of full Rwandan army units supporting M23. Also, the March surrender of former M23 leader Bosco Ntaganda has hurt the rebels' morale and sparked desertions, it said.

Last year the experts accused Rwanda's defense minister of commanding the M23 rebellion, which it said was being armed by Rwanda and Uganda, both of which sent troops to aid the insurgency.

The latest report said there was no current signs of Ugandan government support for M23 but noted that limited recruitment activities by the M23 continued on Ugandan territory. It added that Ugandan officials have thwarted several attempts at M23 recruitment.

The allegations come as the United Nations, which has a large peacekeeping force known as MONUSCO in the region, prepares to deploy a special intervention brigade in eastern Congo. That brigade's goal is to aggressively search out and destroy armed groups operating in eastern Congo.

M23 has been generating income of around $180,000 a month from taxes - $200 to $1,000 per truck depending on the load - they exact on the population in the areas where they have been active, the report said.

"The Group notes that sanctioned individual Col. Innocent Kaina of M23 remains engaged in the recruitment of children," it said.

The experts said that they have also received information indicating collaboration between the Congolese military and FDLR rebels, the remnants of Hutu killers who carried out the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, in North Kivu.

The Congolese U.N. mission was not immediately available for comment on the report.

(Editing by Vicki Allen and Doina Chiacu)

Exclusive: Fearing death, Congo's 'Terminator' fled with help of family

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/28/us-congo-democratic-un-ntaganda-idUSBRE95R10F20130628

Exclusive: Fearing death, Congo's 'Terminator' fled with help of family

Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda looks on during his first appearance before judges at the International Criminal Court in the Hague March 26, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Peter Dejong/Pool

By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS | Fri Jun 28, 2013 4:29pm EDT

(Reuters) - Facing defeat by a rival rebel and fearing death at the hands of Rwandan troops, Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda quietly slipped into Rwanda on a small path with a single escort to turn himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, according to a U.N. report.

Details of the March 18 surrender of Ntaganda, who evaded arrest on international war crimes charges for seven years, were contained in the confidential interim report by the U.N. Group of Experts to the Security Council's Congo sanctions committee. The report was seen by Reuters on Friday.

Ntaganda, a Rwandan-born Tutsi rebel known as "the Terminator," is accused of murder, rape, sexual slavery and recruiting child soldiers during 15 years of rebellion in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

It was not known how Ntaganda made his way from eastern Congo to the Rwandan capital, where he had simply walked into the U.S. Embassy and asked diplomats to transfer him to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The U.N. experts said his secret three-day journey followed after a violent split in the M23 rebel group weeks earlier. Ntaganda's defeat by rival M23 commander Sultani Makenga was aided by Rwandan officials and demobilized Rwandan soldiers, said the report.

Ntaganda "clandestinely crossed the border into Rwanda using a small path in the Gasizi area with one escort," it said.

"He reached Kigali with the help of his family and arrived at the United States Embassy on 18 March where he requested to be transferred to the ICC without prior knowledge of Rwandan authorities," according to the 43-page report.

Rwanda subsequently arrested an individual accused of helping Ntaganda escape and interrogated the warlord's wife and brother, the experts said.

The career of Ntaganda, who has fought for rebels, militias and armies in both Rwanda and Congo in the last 20 years, reflects the tangled and shifting allegiances of a territory that has been repeatedly traumatized by genocide and violence.

Ntaganda said he was not guilty of war crimes during his first appearance at the International Criminal Court in March.

M23 is a Tutsi-dominated group of former Congolese soldiers that has demanded political concessions from President Joseph Kabila's government.

M23 CRIPPLED AFTER NTAGANDA DEFEAT

The U.N. experts report in October named Ntaganda as the leader controlling the M23 rebellion on the ground and added that he and other commanders received "direct military orders" from senior Rwandan military figures acting under instructions from Defense Minister James Kabarebe.

Rwanda vehemently denied supporting the M23, accusing the world of trying to blame it for Congo's unremitting troubles.

The latest experts report found "continuous - but limited - support to M23 from within Rwanda" and cooperation between elements of the Congolese military and a Rwandan Hutu rebel group against the M23 rebels.

Ntaganda had a network of contacts within Rwanda that he used to support his M23 faction against Makenga after the pair had disagreed over the management of M23, the experts said.

"To halt Ntaganda's activities, Rwandan authorities arrested some of the individuals who were part of this network," the experts said.

"Some Rwandan officers also provided limited material support to Makenga as he sought to defeat Ntaganda," found the report. "While some Rwandan officers had ensured Ntaganda of their assistance, in reality they had decide to support Makenga.

"Rwandan officers also fed disinformation to Ntaganda which precipitated his defeat. Former M23 soldiers who fought alongside Ntaganda reported that soldiers of the (Rwandan Defense Force) special forces that were deployed along the border provided Ntaganda with ammunition at the outset of fighting, which made him believe that he enjoyed RDF support."

As his troops began to run low on ammunition after two weeks of fighting, Ntaganda fled into Rwanda, where he feared Rwandan soldiers deployed on the border would kill him. The U.N. experts said that Makenga had also ordered his troops kill Ntaganda.

It was estimated that about 200 rebels from both sides were killed during the M23 split, the report said. Almost 800 rebels loyal to Ntaganda also fled into Rwanda after their defeat. The experts said Makenga was left with some 1,500 fighters spread across a 270 square mile area (700 sq km).

"Moreover M23 has lost the support of leaders and communities which had supported Ntaganda in northern Rwanda and stopped benefiting from the recruitment and financial networks he had established," the report said.

"The movement is unable to control its entire territory and suffers from poor morale and scores of desertions," it said.

http://www.france24.com/fr/20130626-nelson-mandela-source-inspiration-blancs-afrique-sud-apartheid

"Mandela est une source d'inspiration pour nous les Blancs"

Donovan et ses deux filles.

© Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

À Montana, un quartier huppé de Pretoria où vivent majoritairement des familles blanches, l'état de santé de Madiba est vécu comme une tragédie. Beaucoup démentent la rumeur selon laquelle les Blancs "auraient peur de l'après-Mandela".

Par Charlotte BOITIAUX  envoyée spéciale en Afrique du Sud (texte)

 

C'est un quartier qui détonne avec le bruyant centre ville de Pretoria. À Montana, dans le nord de la capitale, et plus précisément à Sinoville, un petit quartier de maisons résidentielles huppées, seuls les chiens - qui aboient lorsque l'on s'approche trop près des portails - viennent briser le silence. Ici, pas une maison n'a fait l'impasse sur l'installation d'alarme, de grillages aux portes et aux fenêtres, et sur l'acquisition d'un gros canidé.

Debbie et son mari Hennie. Toux deux estiment que les organisations racistes blanches comme le AWB (Afrikaneer Wieerstands Beweging) lancent des rumeurs pour affoler les Blancs sur l'après-Mandela.Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

Pourtant, d'aucuns réfutent l'accusation de "surprotection" ou de "paranoïa"."On sait très bien que des rumeurs disent que l'on a peur. Que l'on redoute l'après-Mandela", explique Donovan, un businessman de 49 ans installé à Montana avec sa femme et ses deux filles. "Mais c'est faux, et personne ici ne dira du mal de lui", affirme-t-il, un cigare à la main.

Pour Donovan, comme pour son voisin Tonie, un jeune étudiant de 19 ans, l'ancien président sud-africain est en effet une "icône" intouchable. "C'est une source d'inspiration pour nous les Blancs. Mandela nous a appris l'égalité des peuples et tout ça dans la non-violence", confie le jeune garçon en descendant de sa Rover.

Mauvais procès anti-Mandela

Même son de cloche chez Hennie et Debbie Roets, un couple d'une cinquantaine d'années, installé depuis 3 ans à Sinoville. Tous deux remercient Madiba de leur avoir évité le pire : la guerre civile.

Tonie, 19 ans: "Mandela nous a appris l'égalité des peuples et tout ça dans la non-violence".Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

"Mandela est un grand homme, nous le respectons tous. Grâce à lui, nous sommes en vie, personne n'a jamais voulu se venger. Personne ne nous a jamais menacés parce que nous étions blancs. Et ça, c'est grâce à lui, je lui dois ma vie heureuse et paisible", confie Debbie, entourée de ses quatre labradors. "Ici, vous ne trouverez pas un Blanc qui ne l'admire pas, ni un Noir d'ailleurs", lance-t-elle en souriant, quand son jardinier, noir, passe le pas de la porte d'entrée.

Tous affirment être agacés par ce mauvais procès anti-Mandela que leur intentent certains Sud-Africains. "Ce n'est pas parce que nous ne descendons pas dans la rue en chantant et en priant que nous ne le respectons pas, se justifie Tonie. C'est juste une question de tradition culturelle, je préfère prier pour lui avant d'aller me coucher que de rester des heures entières devant l'hôpital à chanter. Il n'y a rien d'irrespectueux là-dedans !"

Le plus important, selon Donovan, reste l'héritage de Nelson Mandela. "Certes, quand il ne sera plus là, certaines choses changeront", affirme-t-il. Mais le risque, selon lui, est essentiellement politique. "Peut-être que l'aile dure de l'ANC pourrait faire n'importe quoi, renforcer ses pouvoirs.. Je ne sais pas… Peut-être que la corruption va s'amplifier, précise-t-il. Mais quoi qu'il se passe, je crois en mon pays, il est solide, et rien ne le fera basculer dans la violence encore une fois."

À Sinoville, toutes les maisons sont équipées d'alarme et de grillages aux portes et aux fenêtres.Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

http://www.france24.com/fr/20130629-soweto-obama-universite-johannesburg-afrique-sud-reportage-mandela

Soweto accueille Barack Obama, "un homme de paix comme Mandela"

Le marché de Bara à Soweto.

© Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

Au marché de Bara, à deux pas de l'université où le président américain doit rencontrer samedi des étudiants et entrepreneurs sud-africains, les habitants de cette banlieue de Johannesburg se réjouissent de la venue de Barack Obama.

Par Charlotte BOITIAUX  , envoyée spéciale en Afrique du Sud (texte)

 

MANDELA TOUJOURS DANS UN ÉTAT "CRITIQUE MAIS STABLE", SELON JACON ZUMA Lors de son entrevue avec Barack Obama, le président sud-africain Jacob Zuma a déclaré que Nelson Mandela était toujours dans un état "critique mais stable",  tout en formulant l'espoir que l'icône de la lutte contre l'apartheid, 94 ans, sorte "très bientôt" de l'hôpital.

Le bruit est assourdissant, l'odeur de nourriture brûlée particulièrement forte. Il n'est que 10 heures du matin, samedi 29 juin, et déjà dans les allées de Bara, le plus grand marché du township de Soweto, à quelques centaines de mètres seulement de l'université de Johannesburg où Barack Obama est attendu ce samedi, l'activité bat son plein.

La voix du chanteur britannique James Blunt, sortie d'un vieux lecteur CD posé sur le trottoir, résonne entre les stands des vendeurs. "Un chanteur américain pour la venue d'un Américain", se méprend en riant Edward, le propriétaire de l'appareil, assis en tailleur devant un amas de vêtements posés à même le sol et qu'il vend 20 rands l'unité (1,50 euro). "Je sais que le président américain vient aujourd'hui nous voir, je suis content", ajoute-t-il.

"C'est un Africain"

Comme Edward, beaucoup d'habitants se réjouissent de la venue de Barack Obama. D'un point de vue économique surtout. "Si vous le voyez, dites lui de venir ici avec encore plus d'entreprises", confie Stanley, un Sud-Africain de 78 ans coiffé d'un bonnet noir sur la tête alors que le soleil commence à taper. À ses côtés Eva, une amie, ne cache pas elle non plus sa joie. "On a besoin de boulot, et lui peut nous offrir ces opportunités", explique-t-elle en riant.

Eva et Stanley. © Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

Certains précisent aussi qu'ils sont surtout fiers de recevoir le premier président américain noir. "C'est un Africain", s'enthousiasme Petruce, en zoulou, tout en dépliant son stand de DVD vendus 10 rands l'unité (75 centimes d'euro). "Je trouve qu'il traite les gens bien, c'est un homme de paix comme Mandela. L'économie c'est bien mais respecter les êtres humains c'est mieux", ajoute-t-il.

Pas question pour lui comme pour Eva de voir dans le déplacement officiel de Barack Obama un voyage "irrespectueux" vis-à vis de l'état de santé de Nelson Mandela, hospitalisé depuis trois semaines à Pretoria. "La vie doit continuer, lance Eva. Je ne pense pas que Mandela aurait voulu qu'on le reçoive mal, il n'aurait pas aimé."

"Nous l'aimons bien mais qu'il revienne plus tard"

La veille, pourtant, à Pretoria, environ 300 manifestants se sont rassemblés pour manifester contre la visite du chef de l'État américain. Certains estiment que l'heure n'est pas aux affaires et aux tractations économiques. "Le peuple est au chevet de Mandela, il n'a pas envie de voir Obama débarquer avec son argent et son arrogance", explique ainsi Boitumelo, une étudiante affiliée au Parti communiste sud-africain. "Nous l'aimons bien mais qu'il revienne plus tard", ajoute son amie Becky.

Le quartier de Soweto. © Charlotte Boitiaux/FRANCE 24

D'autres encore, plus virulents, comparent Barack Obama à un "terroriste", qualificatif déjà attribué à Nelson Mandela durant l'apartheid. "Il est l'opposé de Mandela, c'est un homme qui fait la guerre et qui avait promis de fermer Guantanamo, mais il n'a rien fait", dénonce Nizam Omar, un Sud-Africain investi dans la cause palestinienne.

Barack Obama, qui a quitté le Sénégal vendredi, doit rester trois jours en Afrique du Sud. Il ne se rendra pas au chevet de l'icône de la lutte contre l'apartheid, mais devrait s'entretenir avec la famille de Nelson Mandela.