GENERAL NEWS

Ibrahim Index: Africa's Good Governance ‘Stalling’

NEWS STORY

Source: VOA

London, 5 October 2015 - Progress in good governance across Africa is stalling, according to the latest figures compiled by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. At the same time, a few countries are showing notable improvement.

The Ibrahim Index says it holds the most comprehensive collection of data on African governance. Analysts measure each country annually on key aspects, such as its business environment, accountability of public figures, and legislation on violence against women.

At the launch of the latest annual report, founder Mo Ibrahim said the overall trend in the past four years raises concerns.

“We notice that this upward direction somehow plateaued. It has not gone back. It is still going up at a very slow pace. So the first thing we say here, ‘Is African governance improvement stalling?’” he asked.

21 nations see drop

Twenty-one countries have seen their overall governance scores fall since 2011.

But the trend masks significant progress in some areas. Health and education have improved across the continent. Ibrahim said Ivory Coast, which is to hold elections later this month, showed the biggest overall improvement.

“Cote d’Ivoire has done well in every aspect of governance. But again you have to remember Cote d’Ivoire is coming out of conflict," said Ibrahim. "But then you have some countries which are not coming out of conflict, like Rwanda, Morocco, Togo, Kenya, these countries really have governments which are really focusing on development and are delivering.”

Ongoing conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan and Central African Republic meant they landed at the bottom of the list.

The measures of economic governance show some of the biggest declines. Analysts say several African states have suffered because of falling commodity prices in recent years.

Diversified economies

Conversely, successful countries have diversified economies, said former president of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka, speaking at the launch event in London.

“The commonalities are they are not dependent on commodities. So there has been something else happening, which is increasing investments; number two, increased domestic consumption; and number three, underrated, growth in regional trade,” said Kaberuka.

The Ibrahim Foundation says the aim of the index is to remove the mystery around governance, and to empower the ordinary African citizen to hold those in power to account.

Back to the Top

D.R. CONGO

RDC : le Nigérien Maman Sidikou pressenti pour diriger la mission de l’ONU

INFORMATION

Source: RFI

Selon nos informations, Maman Sidikou devrait être prochainement nommé patron de la Mission des Nations unies au Congo (Monusco). Le Nigérien est actuellement à la tête de la mission de l'Union africaine en Somalie (Amisom).

6 octobre 2015 - C'est une annonce très [attendue] en République démocratique du Congo, le nom du prochain patron de la Monusco, la mission des Nations unies. Selon nos informations, le Nigérien Maman Sidikou est pressenti pour le poste. Son nom devrait être confirmé cette semaine par le Secrétaire général de l’ONU Ban Ki-moon.

Maman Sidikou était depuis octobre 2014 à la tête de l'Amisom, la mission de l'Union africaine en Somalie où, confie un proche, il sera regretté. « Il est dur mais juste, il nous donne des instructions 24 heures sur 24, 7 jours sur 7 », raconte ce collaborateur au sein de l'Union africaine.

Celui qui est aujourd'hui pressenti par les Nations unies pour remplacer Martin Kobler a une double carrière, voire même triple. Journaliste de formation, il a alterné les postes à responsabilité dans son pays et à l'international. Au Niger, il a notamment été ministre des Affaires étrangères de 1997 à 1999 puis directeur de cabinet du président jusqu'à l'élection de Mamadou Tandja.

Il a ensuite assumé des fonctions sur le plan international notamment au sein de l'Unicef et de la Banque mondiale. Suivi d’un premier passage par la région des grands lacs. Maman Sidikou a été coup sur coup directeur pays de Save the children au Rwanda, puis en RDC. Avant d'être rappelé par Mahamadou Issoufou qui le nomme en 2011 ambassadeur du Niger à Washington.

De l'Amisom, le voilà qui devrait passer à la Monusco. Interrogé par RFI, le nouvel ambassadeur du Niger auprès des Nations unies, lui-même ancien de la mission onusienne, ne tarit pas d'éloges sur Maman Sidikou : grande capacité d'écoute, discrétion, finesse politique...

Des qualités et compétences, le futur patron de la Monusco, quel qu'il soit, devra en avoir, à un an de la présidentielle dans un contexte politiquement tendu. Notamment sur le plan des relations entre la mission et le gouvernement congolais.

RDC: l'ONU demande à Kinshasa d'assurer des élections crédibles

INFORMATION

Source: VOA avec l'AFP

7 octobre 2015 - Le chef de la mission de l'ONU en République démocratique du Congo (Monusco) appelle le gouvernement congolais à garantir une campagne électorale équitable menant à des "élections crédibles".

S'exprimant pour la dernière fois devant le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies, Martin Kobler a souligné que "les tensions politiques sont fortes" et il a dénoncé "un nombre croissant de violations des droits de l'homme liées au processus électoral, particulièrement à l'encontre du droit de rassemblement pacifique".

En vue des élections prévues en novembre 2016, il a réclamé que le gouvernement congolais "prenne toutes les mesures nécessaires pour garantir que ces élections législative et présidentielle soient transparentes, crédibles" et qu'elles n'excluent personne. "Réduire l'espace politique avant les élections mine la crédibilité du processus électoral", a-t-il ajouté.

L'organisation américaine de défense des droits de l'homme Human Rights Watch (HRW) a affirmé mardi que des responsables des services de sécurité et du parti au pouvoir ont été impliqués dans l'attaque d'un rassemblement d'opposition le 15 septembre, une accusation rejetée par Kinshasa.

Aux termes de la Constitution de la RDC, le président Joseph Kabila, au pouvoir depuis 2001, ne peut pas se représenter lors de la présidentielle.

L'opposition et une partie de la majorité l'accusent cependant de chercher à tout faire pour se maintenir au pouvoir, par exemple en retardant le scrutin.

"Rien ne doit empêcher la tenue à temps des élections en novembre 2016 comme le prévoit la Constitution", a affirmé à ce propos M. Kobler.

Il a aussi appelé une nouvelle fois le président Kabila à "donner le feu vert à des opérations conjointes" entre les forces gouvernementales et la Monusco contre les rebelles dans l'est du pays.

Il a enfin réaffirmé que l'ONU "ne peut pas et ne doit pas se retirer dans la hâte" et qu'un tel retrait doit être progressif et lié à des "progrès tangibles sur le terrain", en référence à la volonté de Kinshasa de voir un retrait rapide des Casques bleus.

L'ambassadeur congolais à l'ONU Ignace Gata Mavita a déploré que les pourparlers officiels sur un retrait de la Monusco soient "au point mort".

DR Congo: political tensions ‘running high’ ahead of 2016 elections, UN officials warn

NEWS STORY

Source: UN News Centre

7 October 2015 – The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told the UN Security Council today that he cannot say with certainty whether the progress attained in the country is sustainable, or whether violence will erupt again and reverse what has been achieved so far.

“The political situation in the DRC is increasingly marked by the electoral process [and] political tensions are running high ahead of the 2016 presidential and legislative polls,” said Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the country, who was joined today by UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Said Djinnit.

“The conduct of peaceful, timely and credible elections in November 2016 would send a clear message to the world that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a nation that respects its Constitution, a nation keen on a peaceful transition of power, a nation that will consolidate peace,” Mr. Kobler continued, highlighting elements from the latest report of the Secretary-General.

To ensure transparent and inclusive elections, he appealed to the Government of the DRC to immediately address open questions related to the sequencing of the electoral calendar, its budget, and updating the voter registry to include eligible individuals who turned 18 since the last election in 2011.

On the issue of human rights in the country, Mr. Kobler said more than 2,200 violations affecting 5,400 victims have taken place this year so far. “Half of these abuses were still committed by State agents. Despite repeated calls, there has been limited progress in bringing senior perpetrators to justice,” he stated.

Meanwhile, he informed the Security Council that, in some parts of eastern DRC, refugees are gradually returning home but the population remains “wary of a fragile peace that still needs to be consolidated.” He recalled that when he first arrived in the Congo in August 2013, Goma was recovering from a takeover by the M23 rebel group – but after two years, the situation had changed.

“In August 2015, I flew into a newly-renovated airport in Goma with a major international airline,” explained Mr. Kobler, who is also head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO).

“The slow return of investors is a sure sign of improving stability and security in the city. In some islands of stability in the East, the state has demonstrated its ability to enhance the presence of the army and police, while a justice system is being established and basic services delivered.”

Although the M23 is now defeated, Mr. Kobler underlined that military success alone is not durable. “M23 ex-combatants still sojourn in camps in Rwanda and Uganda. All efforts of reintegration on the basis of the Nairobi Declaration [2013 agreement ending hostilities] have not succeeded thus far. This is a time bomb that must be urgently defused.”

In addition, he informed the Security Council that the Ugandan armed rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have also been weakened, and highlighted that the “brave combat of the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces have resulted in the gradual return of 80,000 refugees since early 2014.

“Further West in the Beni area, however, the population continues to experience the anguish of armed conflict. The 440 terror victims in one year alone speak a clear language. The ADF is far from being defeated,” he reported, adding that one victim is too many.

Regarding the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group mainly composed of remnant Rwandan Hutu rebels, Mr. Kobler said their existence “remains one of the most important hindrance to peace in Eastern DRC.” He welcomed the criminal convictions and long prison terms recently handed down against two FDLR leaders by a court in Germany.

“The only efficient solutions to address the security situation are joint MONUSCO-FARDC operations,” he insisted. “In my last briefing to you, I urged [DRC] President Kabila to give the green light for joint operations. Unfortunately, the green light has not yet been given. I again call on the President to instruct the FARDC to resume cooperation which produced so many positive results in the past.”

Turning to the gradual drawdown and exit of MONUSCO from the DRC, Mr. Kobler insisted that the UNs’ commitment to the population remains steadfast, and that the Mission “cannot, and must not, exit hastily.”

Meanwhile, in light of recent allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel within some of the Organization’s peace operations, Mr. Kobler echoed the United Nations Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy, underlining that prevention and accountability “should become engrained in the modus operandi.”

He also voiced “deep concern” about the degradation of the environment and the deforestation of the Congolese rainforest, noting that “the DRC’s natural resources are a blessing.”

This was Martin Kobler’s last briefing to the 15-member body in this capacity, as the end of his term as Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC is nearing.

In his remarks, Mr. Djinnit expressed concern about tensions related to the electoral process, as well as the persistence of armed groups in the eastern DRC and acts of violence they commit against particular populations.

“These negative forces and perpetuate tensions and maintain a climate of mistrust in the region. Neutralization remains undoubtedly a need for the DRC as part of its efforts to consolidate State authority throughout the country and ensure the safety of citizens and their property," Mr. Djinnit explained.

While he praised the operations conducted by the FARDC against the armed groups in country’s restive eastern region, he stressed that such operations benefit from being strengthened by the full support of MONUSCO and its intervention brigade, calling for a resumption of joint operations between FARDC and MONUSCO against all armed groups.

RDC: un véhicule burundais chargé d’armes préoccupe les autorités

INFORMATION

Source: RFI

A Goma, dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), les autorités ont confirmé avoir saisi ce week-end un véhicule transportant des armes. Elles auraient également arrêté des ressortissants rwandais et burundais. Une enquête est en cours.

6 octobre 2015 - Moins d'une dizaine d'armes saisies, mais les autorités se disent très préoccupées par cette affaire. Les forces de sécurité congolaises auraient intercepté un véhicule immatriculé au Burundi samedi dernier. Une Toyota qui provenait du Rwanda voisin et qui aurait traversé la frontière au niveau de la grande barrière à Goma.

A son bord, un capitaine burundais et au moins un Rwandais. Et à l'arrière, quelques kalachnikovs et lance-roquettes. « Ce groupe avait été repéré, il voulait acheter de grosses quantités d'armes et on l'a piégé »,