DRC news: sexual violence and progress toward peace

There have been allegations in the past of UN peacekeepers sexually assaulting civilians, and it's in the news again.  I'm sure we'll hear more about this in the future.  It's happened in other countries, and the mission in DRC continues its mandate, so I don't think these accusations are over.

Also, IRIN has an analysis of the progress toward peace in the Kivus, and the International Crisis Group has a new report out entitled Congo: Four Priorities for Sustainable Peace in Ituri.  For a taste of the report, check out these recommendations from the executive summary to the gov't of DRC and to MONUC (another fourteen to other parties can be found at the site, full report in French):

RECOMMENDATIONS

Completing the disarmament process and restoring state authority

To the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo:

1.  Concentrate the deployment of FARDC in the strongholds of the Front for National Integration (FNI) and the Patriotic Force of Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) militias and systematically replace it in the rest of the district with national police force officers including residents of Ituri.

2.  Order the military prosecutor to initiate official investigations into the alleged complicity of FARDC officers in the illegal exploitation of natural resources and mining in Ituri.

3.  Initiate a disciplinary investigation into Governor Médard Autsai’s administration of Province Orientale.

To the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC):

4.  Increase tactical and operational support to FARDC in order to facilitate the encirclement of the FRPI militia, limit its capacity for movement and restrict its access to external support.

5.  Create a civilian-military task force, mandated to implement an integrated strategy for finalising the disarmament of the FNI and FRPI militias that combines sensitisation and pressure and enjoys the backing of local community leaders.