Congo- Brazzaville: Actually we are worse than the rest.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports

Four newspapers suspended in Republic of Congo

New York, June 7, 2013--Authorities in the Republic of Congo should lift the suspensions against four weekly newspapers in connection with their articles critical of government officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The suspensions were handed down by an official board whose 11 members are all hand-picked by the president.

I am getting immune to acts of insanity with regard to to media freedom in Uganda and the DR Congo so I was a only little surprised to discover Congo Brazzaville getting in on the act. In any democracy  the media are the " Fourth Estate ". That the executive branch of government can silence any media should be a cause for concern.

" Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all."

Thomas Carlyle

Africa you don't have time for this shit.   

"Authorities in the Republic of Congo are using punitive legal measures to intimidate critics in the press, and avoid public scrutiny and accountability," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "They should lift these censorship orders immediately."

The state-run High Council on Freedom of Communication (known as CSLC) on June 1 suspended L'Observateur, Talassa, and Le Trottoir for four months, accusing them of incitement to violence, defamation, and dishonoring government officials, according to news reports and local journalists. The ruling cited an article that the papers had republished from the France-based bimonthly magazine Afrique Education that accused President Denis Sassou Nguesso of involvement in the assassination of military ruler Marien Ngouabi in 1977. Sassou Nguesso has denied involvement in the murder, according to Reuters.

"....defamation, and dishonoring government officials." In other words doing their job. As for giving the President, shit if he can't take he should get of dodge. Nguesso doesn't fit the usual " Crocodile " profile but for all that he seems to be making a real effort to fit in with his contemporary leaders.

In July 2007, British NGO Global Witness published documents on its website that appear to show that the President's son, Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, may have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of money that may derive from the country's oil sales on shopping sprees in Paris and Dubai. The documents show that in August 2006 alone, Denis Christel, who is the head of Cotrade - the marketing branch of Congo's state oil firm SNPC - spent $35,000 on purchases from designers such as Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli. Attempts were made by Schillings Solicitors to suppress this information but the application failed.

The council also imposed a two-month suspension on Le Glaive, accusing the newspaper of "repeated refusal to obey and respond to inquiries from the Council," Reuters reported. Guy Milex Mbondzi, a contributor to Le Glaive, told CPJ that the suspension was in retaliation to the weekly's investigation into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' practices in issuing diplomatic passports. The paper had published a series of articles saying the ministry was issuing diplomatic passports in contravention of Congolese legal requirements. In conjunction with the stories, they also printed copies of passport applications of several individuals whom reports said did not qualify to receive diplomatic passports.

Foreign Affairs Minister Basile Ikouébé issued a May 22 press statement in response to the articles that said the documents were illegally obtained from the state's archives. He accused Le Glaive of participating in a "campaign of denigration" and "systematic acts of provocation," and called on the council to take action against the newspaper.

So we have illegal documents ( diplomatic passports no less ) being issued by criminals within the government being defended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. One might not only expect the world to take notice but I would suggest that the Republic of Congo might well be considered a suspected supporter of terror.

In September 2012, the council handed Le Glaive a six-month suspension and the weeklyLa Voix du Peuple a nine-month suspension in connection with a series of articles that were critical of the council's leadership and methods, according to news reports.

Bastards.

CAR: The rebels advance ?

 Reuters reports

Central African Republic rebels say split over peace talks offer

 Soldiers from the Congolese contingent of the Central African Multinational Force (FOMAC) stand in formation as they arrive at an airport in Bangui, December 31, 2012.

 

Rebels in Central African Republic are split over whether to start peace talks with President Francois Bozize or carry on an assault to overthrow him, a spokesman said on Monday, leaving efforts to end the conflict hanging in the balance.

The Seleka insurgents had advanced to within 75 km (45 miles) of the mineral-rich country's capital Bangui and threatened to seize the city - until Bozize made a last ditch offer on Sunday to hold talks and share power with them.

"At the moment there are divisions within Seleka on this point," said Nelson Ndjadder, a France-based official for CPSK - one of the three main rebels movements in the Seleka alliance.

"Some want to keep fighting, but CPSK is ready to put down its weapons and talk," he added.

 Interesting in so far as the rebels were saying just a few days ago according to Africa Journalism the World

“We call on the boys and girls of the Central African Republic, on defence and security forces still loyal to the regime of François Bozizé…to lay down their arms immediately,” Séléka announced in a statement.

The rebels, who have so far encountered little resistance from the army, said that, “by the measure of security and the protection of civilians, we don’t consider it necessary to launch a battle for Bangui and send troops there, because General François Bozizé…has already lost control of the country.”

 Regional neighbours and CAR's former colonial ruler France have urged both sides to end the revolt in one of Africa's most conflict-prone regions, and the United States on Monday expressed fresh worry about the situation.

Their hopes appeared to take a hit earlier on Sunday when another Seleka spokesman, Eric Massi, said the group had rejected Bozize's proposal. But Ndjadder told Reuters Massi was not speaking for all of Seleka's fighters.

The problem isn't that the rebels that won't put down their aren't speaking for all but rather the reverse that those who will put down their arms aren't speaking for all.

Bangui residents, who have watched the rebels edge closer in three weeks of fighting, said they were still hoping for a deal.

"We are in fear and sadness because the war has stopped everything," said Germaine Panika, a 24-year-old history student in the ramshackle riverside city. She added she would spend New Year's Eve indoors because of a military curfew.

Hardly edging closer, rather desperately trying to keep up with the retreating regime forces would seem a more accurate description.

"All we want is for the people who are fighting to solve their problems without guns," said Felix Camere, a 45-year-old teacher. "It is ordinary people who are suffering from this crisis and we're tired," he told Reuters.

Seleka unites three rebel groups - CPJP, UFDR and CPSK - who have accused Bozize of reneging on a 2007 peace deal to give former fighters money in exchange for laying down their arms.

'DEEPLY CONCERNED'

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States is "deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation."

"We call on the rebel alliance to cease hostilities and movements towards the capital. We also call on the rebels to ensure the safety of the civilian population," Nuland said in a statement.

"We urgently call on the CAR government to ensure that its security forces respect the human rights of the Central African people and foreign populations within the CAR," Nuland added.

Nuland said the United States is particularly concerned by allegations of "arrests and disappearances of hundreds of individuals who are members of ethnic groups" with ties to the Seleka alliance. "Those guilty of violations and crimes under international law must be held to account," Nuland said.

I think that we can continue to interpret that as US indifference.

Central African Republic is one of a number of countries in the region where U.S. special forces are helping local forces track down the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group which has killed thousands of civilians across four nations.

Chad and other neighbours agreed to send 360 troops to shore up CAR's army after a string of defeats this month.

The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) already has more than 500 peacekeepers in CAR which, despite rich deposits of uranium, gold and diamonds, remains one of the least developed nations on the planet.

"Their mandate will be to secure the ceasefire between the rebels and the army," said the peacekeeping mission's commander Maurice Ntossui Allogo. He said 120 troops from Republic of Congo had arrived on Monday, and 240 soldiers from Gabon and Cameroon were due in the days to come.

Interestingly the link would suggest the DR Congo although I suspect it is Congo Brazzaville. 

Chad President Idriss Deby, who is also CEEAC's president, said on Monday the force could be used if rebels move past the town of Damara, some 75 km (45 miles) outside Bangui.

"The town of Damara is a red line that can't be crossed for any reason," he said.

The streets of Bangui were unusually quiet - many residents have fled by car or boat to neighbouring Congo.

Again I have no idea which Congo they are referring to. It could be either looking at the map. Unusual for Reuters. 

Soldiers with automatic rifles patrolled the streets and manned checkpoints while troops in French military uniform were deployed at strategic sites, including the Presidential Palace, a Reuters correspondent said.

France has reinforced its military presence in Bangui to around 600 soldiers from 150 in recent days, but says the force is to protect some 1,200 French citizens and other interests in the country, and not to defend Bozize.

DR Congo: The AU Force announced

New Vision reports

Ten countries for DRC peacekeeping - Kiyonga

By John Nzinjah

A total of 10 countries in the Great Lakes region have resolved to form a joint force of 4,000 troops to contain the insurgency in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Defence Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has confirmed.

"The countries to contribute to the force include Angola, Namibia, Congo Brazzaville, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Burundi and the DRC itself," Kiyonga said.

That is a hell of an unwieldy force make up. Tanzania is going to have fun commanding the force. Interesting Rwanda and Uganda are committing troops. What has happened to Zimbabwe ? They are usually up for pillaging opportunities.
He said this while officiating at the passing out of 350 youths at the end of a two-week military and patriotism course at Kisinga Vocational Secondary School in Kisinga sub-county Kasese district on Monday.

Will blog about that separately.
He said the force would operate under the command of Tanzania. 

The current insurgency in the eastern DRC broke out in April this year when the M23 rebels mutinied and deserted from the country's army causing over 500,000 people to flee from their homes in the ensuing unrest.

Addressing himself to the youthful cadres, the minister warned them against supporting elements that may want to change government by the use of force.

How ironic.
He advised them to be supportive of ideas which are pro Pan-Africanism and regional integration for faster economic and social development of the African people.

He urged them to use the skills and knowledge they had acquired during the military and patriotism course to ensure that corruption is routed out the country.

Kiyonga said that among the ten reasons the NRA/M waged a bush war was to fight corruption that existed in the former governments.