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22 février 2013 5 22 /02 /février /2013 05:45
Scandinavian countries ask Uganda to return stolen aid
http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/scandinavian-countries-ask-uganda-return-stolen-aid
Agence France-Presse
Published on 28 Jan 2013

OSLO, Jan 28, 2013 (AFP) - Norway, Sweden and Denmark -- following Ireland's lead -- have asked Uganda to return aid that was allegedly misappropriated in the East African country, government officials said on Monday.

An investigation by the auditor general of Uganda last year found that 10 million euros ($13.4 million) in aid had been funnelled into private accounts linked to the prime minister's office in Kampala.

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Britain all froze their aid to the country after the scandal was revealed.

Following Ireland's announcement in November that Uganda had pledged to return four million euros of Irish funds, the three Scandinavian countries have all asked to be reimbursed by the Ugandan government.

However, Norway is only asking for a partial refund, since its aid was paid into a special account that made it easier to identify fraudulent transactions.

"We have asked to be repaid 23 million kroner (3.1 million euros, $4.2 million) and we have been promised that we will be," said Astrid Versto, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian minister of international development.

Unlike Norway, the other countries had transferred their funds into a joint account, making it harder to trace the money, she added.

According to a spokeswoman for the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), negotiations to recover 45 million kronor (5.2 million euros or $7.0 million) in Swedish aid are ongoing.

Denmark has been told by the Ugandan government that its 10 million kroner (1.3 million euros or $1.8 million) contribution will be fully repaid, according to Birger Fredriksson, a minister counsellor at the Danish foreign ministry.

Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has denied having any knowledge of the incident and has rejected calls to step down.

The Peace, Recovery and Development Programme for northern Uganda, established to rebuild the region after decades of conflict and devastation, received funds from Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

A guerrilla campaign was waged in Uganda between 1987 and 2006 by the Lord's Resistance Army, which became notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to become child soldiers.

Uganda ranks among the world's 40 least-transparent states and has the highest level of corruption in East Africa, according to graft watchdog Transparency International.

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22 février 2013 5 22 /02 /février /2013 05:40

A haute voix: Le Rwanda et l'Ouganda à travers le M23 écoulent les minerais pillés à l'est du Congo aux Etats-Unis et en Europe!

 

EU's Soft Power in Congo Toothless on 'Conflict Minerals'


EurActiv  15 February 2013
http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/campaigners-press-eu-conflict-mi-news-517784

Congolese rebels are plundering the country’s natural resources to finance guns and materiel, but the EU remains powerless to compel companies to disclose whether they are buying vital minerals supplied by armed groups in Congo and other conflict states.

Analysts say thefts and smuggling have grown since M23 guerrillas began an offensive 10 months ago in North Kivu and other eastern mining regions that hold abundant reserves of industrial raw materials. The well-armed M23 was formed by Congolese army defectors.

“When M23 took power in Goma in November, the first thing they did was empty all the warehouses of all the minerals,” said Jean-Paul Matuk Munan, who heads a Congolese organisation that campaigns against the small arms trade.

“The future of the world is going to be played in that region,” Matuk Munam told EurActiv in Brussels, adding that Congo’s resource reserves make it an important counterbalance to China for supplies of raw materials used in mobile phones, computers, jet engines and other manufactured goods.

The EU has major investments in development, humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and supports global measures to the illicit trade in so-called conflict minerals.

Yet the EU, unlike the United States, has no law to compel corporations to disclose the sources of raw materials bought in Congo to ensure that armed groups were not part of the supply chain.

EU under pressure

“It’s absolutely essential that the European Union take steps to issue a regulation that requires companies, not just from Congo but from any high-risk and conflict-affected area, to do due diligence along their supply chains,” said Sophia Pickles, a campaigner at the Global Witness, a London anti-corruption and human rights organisation.

“I don’t think you can find anybody who will argue against the fact that companies should purchase their raw materials in a responsible way, and that’s basically what due diligence is all about,” she said in a telephone interview.

Global Witness has urged the EU to adopt into law the voluntary standards drafted by corporations for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD’s conflict minerals guidelines are designed to shed light along the entire supply chain.

The European Commission supports voluntary initiatives on conflict diamonds and has acknowledged the need for more transparency in its year-old Communication on trade, growth and development.

The United States is well ahead in terms of compulsory standards. The US Securities and Exchange Commission last August finalised new rules on corporate disclosure as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which watchdog groups and human rights campaigners in Brussels see as a model for the EU.

“If the EU introduces something that is along those lines, what we will see is little islands of ‘clean trade’ developing in Congo,” Pickles said. “And the reason I say that is that’s what were are already beginning to see [with] Dodd-Frank.”

Several American business lobbies, including those representing firms based in Europe, are fighting the main provisions of Dodd-Frank – Section 1502, which requires companies to report their use of conflict minerals, and Section 1504, which obliges companies to disclose payments made to the US or foreign governments for oil, gas or minerals contracts.

Last year, MEPs backed a move to enact a law similar to Section 1504, but there is no comparable legislation on conflict minerals.

A number of multinational corporations have backed voluntary reporting measures, including the Conflict-Free Tin Initiative, yet the absence of compulsory laws leaves room for abuse, analysts say.

“Unfortunately, what’s been happening - and this has been going on for 15 years now - companies have been buying minerals and looking the other way because they can get the minerals cheap, in large quantities and quite good quality minerals from eastern DRC,” said Pickles.

EU’s investment in Congo

The EU has high stakes in the Congo conflict. It has promised more than €584 million in development assistance to the country over the past five years and plans another €54 million in humanitarian aid this year. In January, Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs signed a Peace and Security Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring states aimed at stabilising the fragile country.

The EU also finances a police and judicial training operation in the country, and forces from several EU nations work with Congo's army to improve its human rights performance and treatment of non-combatants.

Despite its entrenched poverty and conflict, eastern Congo has abundant reserves of industrial minerals, including niobium, tantalum, tin and gold. Tantalum is a relatively rare metal that is used in electronic and computer equipment, while niobium alloys are used in jet engine production, jewellery and pipelines. There are also important diamond deposits.

Relief workers operating in the region say a 10-month advance by rebel forces, aided by neighbouring Rwanda, has disrupted food supplies and encouraged the smuggling of resources to Rwanda, where they then are sold to exporters.

Accusations of using illicit trade in Congo are nothing new, but Matuk Munan says it is growing in the strategic eastern town of Goma and in the mining areas west of lakes Kivu and Tanganyika.

The Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security, a Belgian organisation that monitors the small arms trade, says minerals smuggling is financing eastern Congo’s arms trade, fuelling a cycle of conflict, poverty, fear and instability.

CARE International, one of the charities operating in the region, recently issued a statement warning that insurgent-led violence has led to mass dislocations of non-combatants and a rise in sexual violence.

Donors sanction Rwanda

Last September, the EU and United States froze some development aid to Rwanda on the grounds that the country’s military was supporting rebels in Congo. Rwanda’s government has denied interfering in Congo but maintains a strong military presence on the border.

Matuk Munan said Brussels has done little to back up its verbal condemnations of violence and interference with action.

“The Europeans condemn the actions in the DRC but in reality nothing happens,” he said.

He also accused European companies of benefiting from the chaos and illicit sales of natural resources, though he said he would welcome “equitable commerce” and foreign investment under more stable conditions.
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22 février 2013 5 22 /02 /février /2013 04:28
Etienne Tshisekedi quitte Kinshasa pour aller  consulter son docteur dans un hopital chic et ultra-moderne de son village natal de Kabeya Kamwanga construit pendant son règne avec Mobutu!
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22 février 2013 5 22 /02 /février /2013 04:26

"Congolais? Donnez-leur la musique pour qu'ils oublient leur histoire tragique!" C'est ainsi que Franco Luambo Makiadi entonnait des chansons kilométriques au profit de la dictature de Mobutu et de Tshisekedi

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 22:22

Quand une parcelle du pouvoir est confiée à un Congolais, il la célèbre avec les étrangers et tourne le dos à ses compatriotes. Qu'ils vivent dans l'enfer, ce n'est pas son problème!

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 22:18

La ligne éditoriale de la Radio Okapi choque parfois! C'est Ban Ki-Moon qui promet «une nouvelle stratégie» pour faire face à la violence dans l’Est. Le gouvernement Congolais totalement éffacé! 

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 03:56

La RDC n'a pas besoin d'investisseurs. Les Congolais doivent plutôt importer les nouvelles technologies pour creuser leurs propres minerais, les transformer sur place et les vendre aux autres.

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 03:39
Mukuba Provides Update on the Consolidation of the Cominex Copper Project in the DRC

http://news.yahoo.com/mukuba-provides-consolidation-cominex-copper-152900818.html

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 20, 2013) -

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.

Mukuba Resources Limited ("Mukuba") (TSX VENTURE:MKU) announces that Mukuba and Benzu Resources Limited ("Benzu") are continuing to work towards the completion of the transaction contemplated by the acquisition agreement between Mukuba and Benzu dated January 16, 2013 as reported in Mukuba's press release dated January 21, 2013. After discussion and agreement between the parties, Benzu has terminated its option over the Lubudi North and Lubudi East properties in theDemocratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"). This termination will allow the combined company to focus its financial and management resources on its flagship asset, the Cominex Project, which is also located in DRC. The termination of the Lubudi concessions does not alter the terms of thetransaction. As set out in Mukuba's press release dated January 21, 2013, the parties expect to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2013.

About Mukuba

Mukuba is a Canadian exploration and development company primarily focused on copper and other base metal assets in Africa. Mukuba holds a 100% interest in the Northcore Project. The Northcore project covers 2,209 km2 on the Central African Copperbelt and is prospective for copper and cobalt. Mukuba has also signed a joint venture agreement with Benzu Resources Limited to explore and develop the Cominex Project. The Cominex Project, which is approximately 165 km2 in size, is located in the Katanga Copper Belt region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Tenke-Fungurume mining concession, which is operated by Freeport and owned by Freeport, Lundin Mining Corporation and Gecamines.

The Katanga Copper Belt Geology

The Katanga Copper Belt is one of greatest metallogenic provinces on earth. The Katanga region hosts some of the richest and largest copper/cobalt deposits in the world: Tenke-Fungurume 550Mt @ 3.5% Cu & 0.27% Co; Kolwezi 760Mt @ 4.4% Cu. The Katanga region is estimated to contain 10% of world's copper resources and 50% of cobalt. There are over 89 known deposits with sizes between 90 and 580Mt @ average 3.6% Cu. Parts of the belt are still unexplored with significant potential for discovery of major new deposits. Individual copper deposits tend to be relatively small, though often high grade, and occurring in geographic clusters.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including Exchange acceptance and disinterested Shareholder approval. The transaction cannot close until the required Shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Management Information Circular and/or Filing Statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the RTO may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Mukuba should be considered highly speculative.

Securities regulators encourage companies to disclose forward-looking information to help investors understand a company's future prospects. This press release contains statements about our future business and planned activities, including matters relating to the Offering. These are "forward-looking" because we have used what we know and expect today to make a statement about the future. Forward-looking statements usually include words such as may, intend, plan, expect, anticipate, believe or other similar words. We believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable. However, actual events and results could be substantially different because of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business or events that happen after the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. As a general policy, we do not update forward-looking statements except as required by securities laws and regulations.

This press release does not constitute, and the subject matter hereof is not, an offer for sale or a solicitation of an offer to buy, in the United States or to any "U.S. Person" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act")) of any equity or other securities of Mukuba. The securities of Mukuba have not been registered under the 1933 Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States (or to a U.S. Person) absent registration under the 1933 Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act.

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 03:37

La colonisation des ondes de la RDC confirmée! Médias : Radio Okapi occupe la première place à Kinshasa, selon Immar(...).

Et les Congolais jubilent! Mawa, mawa mpenza!

http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2013/02/13/medias-radio-okapi-occupe-la-premiere-place-kinshasa-selon-immar/

 

RTNC et d'autres ... Les Congolais sont-ils bien organisés donc?

Bakobotolo Congo mpo na mbongo!

 

Les Congolais sont des gens coastauds! Partout à   Kinshasa, j'assistais à  des bagarres entre les jeunes dans la rue. De telles bagarres sont qualifiées "d'hommes forts contre hommes forts! "

Et pourtant Rwandais et Ougandais se permettent de faire des promenades dans le pays "des hommes costauds et forts" pour librement et facilement piller, violer massacrer...! 

Même Kagame a déclaré qu'en RDC, il ne craint qu'un seul général: le Général Defao!

Kagame oublie qu'l y a des prisoniers de guerre Rwandais qui ont été capturés et les FARDC ont tué 151 soldats Rwandais à Kibumba, tout récemment!

Neamoins, allons-y réflechir à ce que l'ennemi dit!

Nous ne sommes pas des donneurs de leçons! Nous nous basons sur les faits nous livrés par l'actualité de chaque jour! Après tout, on connait l'arbre par ses fruits!

Le fait que la Radio Okapi occupe la première place à la place de la Radio Nationale en dit volume! 

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21 février 2013 4 21 /02 /février /2013 03:31

Silence! Ils accumulent immeubles au pays (entre autre l'imeuble abritant la CENI), comptes bancaires à l'étranger mais le peuple continue d'être soumi aux viols, massacres et pauvrété!

Les immeubles ainsi accumulés seront ensuites loués aux services de l'Etat (entre autre l'imeuble abritant la CENI).

Quel cercle vicieux?!

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Présentation

  • : Congo Panorama. Le blog du soldat du peuple: Par Antoine Roger Lokongo, le Soldat du Peuple engagé dans la bataille des idées pour un Congo meilleur. Un Congo qui s'assume et devient un parténaire clé de la Chine, hier un pays sous-développé, qui, en un lapse de temps, a changé son destin en comptant sur ses propres efforts et devenu une puissance.
  • : A partir des idées de mes héros, Patrice Emery Lumumba et Laurent Désiré Kabila, je suis l'actualité politique de mon pays, la République Démocratique du Congo en partuclier et de l'Afrique en général et je donne mes commentaires. Antoine Roger Lokongo
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Hymne des Opprimés

  Ces CPP-ci sont la lumière des ouvriers
et des paysans,
ainsi que de tout opprimé.

Il n’y a point de doute d’abattre l’exploitation et de créer une juste société.

Notre serment est de ne jamais échouer,
enjoignons toutes nos forces en un faisceau,
tenons bien nos armes dans nos mains,
car ces CPP sont la force du peuple.


Dans sa noble cause,
jamais de spoliation.

Notre lutte revendique nos droits,
quoiqu’il en coûte,
jamais de servitude.


Pour les opprimés,
la Révolution est un rempart,
son ultime but est que le peuple gouverne.

Laurent Désiré Kabila,
lâchement assassiné le 16 janvier 2001.

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