Weekly Education Update

3/8-3/15

Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, DRC

Sudan, South Sudan

In the New York Times, an American aid worker reports on the fear inspired by government rocket fire in the Nuba Mountains.

Over 4,000 riffles were collected in Bor, the capital of Jonglei state, and thousands more in other towns and villages in the first day of disarmament 

After days of tense negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Sudan and South Sudan signed an agreement on issues of nationality and demarcation of the border.

The United Nations and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army signed a revised action plan regarding their commitment to ridding the army from child soldiers.

The Sudanese defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein took part in a regional conference in the Libyan capital Tripoli making it his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him earlier this month.

The commissioner of Rumbek East county of Lakes state, David Marial Gumke, reported that his county authorityhas arrested 24 suspected criminals involved in cattle raiding activities.

The Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Saudi Arabia and immediately held talks with King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz, Saudi state media reported.

Renewed tension and clashes in the disputed border areas of north and South Sudan has led to massive influx of people seeking safety in the Southern state of Upper Nile and western Ethiopia, an official from the United Nations refugee agency has said.

A US aid worker serving with the World Food Program (WFP) in Sudan’s western region of Darfur has been kidnapped.

Syria

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan met with Syrian officials over the weekend as part of the The Joint Special Envoy (JSE) for Syria, a mission aimed at mediating an end to the violence in Syria which now is nearing a full year in length. Annan outlined to the Syrian government the necessary steps to restore peace and stability in the nation; among them the allowance of humanitarian aid for impacted populations, dialogue between the government and opposition. However, progress on the implementation of these measures remains uncertain. The United Nations has also announced its plans to deploy monitors to nations bordering Syria in order to document testimonials and observe the ongoing atrocities in that nation.

The Syrian Army has launched several large scale offensives across the nation this week, aiming at seizing and pacifying key sites of resistance. The northern Syrian city of Idlib, formerly a Free Syrian Army stronghold, has been largely captured by the Syrian army as of Wednesday according to BBC news; with Syrian army and security forces undertaking sweeps throughout the city. With Idlib and other Northern sites taken, as well as the embattled Baba Amr district in the city of Homs now occupied, the Syrian government has made major gains over the course of the last week. Beginning on Wednesday, the Syrian army also launched a major raid in the Southern city of Dara’a, the site where the protest movement initially began last year. Along with raids, government forces have used artillery and armored units to strike the city in a manner similar to that undertaken in Baba Amr.

Amnesty International released a report Tuesday chronicling the widespread use of torture by Syria’s military and security services upon detained individuals. The report documents the systematic nature of the abuses, with approval for said practices being directed from the highest levels of the Syrian government, and continuing down chain of command..

DRC

Despite three months passing since the contentious and controversial November 2011 elections, the DRC still lacks a parliament or a new government. President Kabila, who is notoriously media shy, has limited public appearances even more following outbreaks of protests and political violence around the country. His last address to the nation was over 2 months ago, which has allowed for rumors to flourish in his absence. On Tuesday, Kabila’s former cabinet finally resigned in a procedural move that allows Kabila to form a new government. However when the government will fully be formed is unclear. Investors concerns have already surfaced, as government projects have come to a standstill and state employees have not been paid. 

The Congolese election was one of the most expensive in recent history. In many western countries, the average citizen pays about $1-3 per election. In the DRC, the logistical challenges translated in a cost of $20 per voter for the election. Overall, the vote cost $700 million with foreign donors contributing to just over a third of the total. 

Joseph Kony’s notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has resumed attacks in the Orientale province in northeastern DRC, according to UNHCR. In that province alone, one person has been killed, 17 abducted and 3,000 displaced in 20 separate attacks. This echoes a larger theme of displacement in the region, which has been exacerbated in the past six months. Since the beginning of this year, more than 3,000 Congolese have fled into Uganda. This breaks down into an average of 50 people per day. While some Congolese are from neighboring regions to Uganda like Rutshuru, others are making a long trek from Masisi and Walikale territories located further inside North Kivu which speaks to the severity of the situation. 

In Goma, the capital of DRC’s Northern Kivu province, a month-long water shortage has led to an outbreak of cholera. Though Goma is no stranger to cholera outbreaks, this specific case has spread rapidly and has already claimed over 50 lives. The current water shortage is due to the national water company REGIDESO’s failure to pay its electricity bill, which prompted the national electricity company SNEL to cut its water supply. Now, residents are forced to make the two kilometer trip to Lake Kivu for water, which is contaminated. 

On Wednesday, the International Criminal Court issued its first verdict against Congolese rebel leader Thoma Lubanga. Lubanga’s verdict was the result of an arduous three-year trial, which established the precedent for the use of children in war as an international crime. He was ultimately found guilty of recruiting and enlisting boys and girls under the age of 15 and using them in warfare. However this ruling also highlights some of the limits of the ICC’s approach, as the rebels under Lubanga’s command were known for raping, pillaging and killing many civilians. When Lubanga was handed over to the court in 2006, however, the strongest evidence they had was about child recruiting. The verdict was criticized by some judges, but also welcomed by human rights groups worldwide. 

On Tuesday, Lt. Col. Idrissa Muradadi, the leader of the 2^nd battalion of the Rwandan Hutu militia the FDLR, surrendered amid a UN-backed military offensive. Muradadi has been fighting in eastern Congo, where the FDLR has launched brutal attacks against the civilian population. He is now awaiting extradition to Rwanda. 

The education update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org 

 Weekly Education Update 

2/24-3/1

Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, DRC

Sudan, South Sudan

South Sudan announced it was seeking US$99 million in funding to conduct a census, which has been encountering that may prevent the exercise planned for 2014 from taking place.

A soldier of the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was killed in an attack carried out by unidentified gunmen in South Darfur state.

The United Nations (UN) has proposed a 7.8% reduction in its global peacekeeping operations citing the difficult financial situation of several member countries.

Rebel groups said Monday they had captured a Sudanese Army garrison near the border with South Sudan. The rebels said they killed 130 members of the government forces in the attack. 

Sudan denounced suggestions that it was confiscating oil from South Sudan on Tuesday and indicated that the newly independent South was responsible for stonewalling an oil deal between the two nations.

Sudan’s President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has received an invitation from his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani to attend an Arab League’s summit slated for late March in Baghdad.

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, told a rally in Jonglei state—the scene of large scale ethnic violence over the last two months—that the military and police would fight cattle raiders if they refused to hand over their weapons in an imminent disarmament campaign.

Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa and neighboring Sudan’s capital Khartoum launched an annual action plan to further consolidate multilateral ties between the two East African cities.

Syria 

The United Nations Human Rights body the Geneva Forum passed a resolution, brought to the floor by Arab and Western states, which condemned the Syrian government for “the widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities.” A United Nations meeting earlier in the week determined that over 7,500 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the unrest almost a year ago; with BBC News reporting via opposition sources that some 100 civilians a day are being killed due to the intense shelling campaign undertaken by the Syrian military upon the city of Homs in preparation for their ground assault.

Syrian rebel fighters announced Thursday that they were withdrawing from the Baba Amr district of the city of the Homs owing to losses incurred from the almost month long shelling campaign, the severe humanitarian cost upon the civilian population as well as the impending offensive launched by Syrian ground forces into the district. The last week has been marked by frequent clashes throughout the outskirts of the district between security and army forces against Syrian rebels. Syrian civilians trapped in Baba Amr are said to be desperately lacking in basic medical and food supplies, in addition as rebel forces pulled back Thursday security forces moved in to perform a sweep of the district and make arrests and detentions. However, the International Red Cross and Syrian Red Crescent have also been allowed temporary access to the district in order to distribute supplies and medical care.

A political row occurred Thursday between the leadership of the Free Syrian Army and Syrian National Council, the two central opposition forces in Syria. The Syrian National Council’s leadership had announced the formation of a military body to oversee and coordinate resistance efforts within Syria, however, leaders with the Free Syrian Army, the central body conducting armed resistance within Syria itself, alleged it had not been consulted in the formation of the coordinating body. The row highlights continuing divisions within the Syrian opposition movement and in particular, the divide between emigre organizations and of those based within Syria.

DRC

Due to the influx of refugees from eastern Congo into neighboring Uganda, the country has announced it will open a third refugee camp. Uganda’s refugee minister Stephen Malinga estimates that up to 100 people cross the border per day, and up to 3,000 people have fled the country since November’s elections. Recent arrivals to the camp are speaking out about instances of violence and rape, and even cite example of armed men questioning how they had voted in the presidential election. It is not expected that refugees will be able to return to the DRC soon, as violence continues and the number of displaced both internally and outside of the country continues to grow. 

Congolese refugees are not only fleeing to Uganda, but also to countries in the surrounding region as a whole. UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon announced this week that he was “concerned” by the treatment of migrants on the border between Angola and the DRC. Since the elections, there has been an influx of refugees across the border which has been accompanied by increased incidence of sexual violence. Displaced women and men continue to experience sexual assault and rape along this contentious border. Last year, a UN envoy reported on the systematic rape of displaced Congolese by uniformed men along the border which has often served as a site of conflict over resources. Ki-Moon said in Angola on Monday, “It is natural that you need to deal with immigrants engaging in illegal extraction of natural resources. However, I remain concerned by the human rights situation of these people and also the sexual violence which is happening…” 

The International Criminal Court announced that it will deliver its final verdict on Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga, who is accused of conscripting, training and arming hundreds of child soldiers between 1998 and 2003. He was apprehended and handed over to the court in 2006 and went on trial in 2009. Prosecutors have spent the time compiling a detailed case against him, saying that he is guilty “beyond any possible doubt.” Lubanga’s case represents the war crimes court’s first trial. Human Rights Watch has compiled the answers to many questions raised by this first verdict by the ICC here. 

DRC Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu announced that the government will block exports of tin ore, gold, coltan and wolframite unless traders can prove that the minerals originate from a state-certified conflict-free source. This represents the latest government initiative to try to cut the ties between minerals and conflict, and will begin within the next three months. Many believe the move reflects Dodd-Frank and the growing global awareness of the conflict mineral trade. Though the minister acknowledged the role conflict mineral legislation has played in slashing exports from the eastern Kivu provinces, he stressed the importance of regulation to take mines from the hands of the militia. 

In Brussels, Katanga Province Governor Moise Katumbi narrowly escaped an attack by opposition supporters. This highlights a growing trend in the diaspora to target Congolese officials traveling abroad who are sympathetic or even complicit in the current Kabila regime. 

The Carter Center continues to discredit the November presidential and parliamentary results, saying the integrity of both polls have been “compromised” and the truth may never be revealed. According to the organization, it may be impossible for CENI to reconstruct the poll results and produce “a faithful record of the will of the people” due to systematic fraud, disorganization and even political violence. 

The education update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org  

 Weekly Education Update

2/10-2/16

Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC

Syria

China, facing criticism for its veto along with Russia of a condemnatory action towards the Syrian regime in the UN Security council, has announced Friday that will send its Deputy Foreign Minister, Zhai Jun to the Syrian capital.While arguing against foreign intervention, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has called for the opposition’s “legitimate” desire for change to be respected. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry stated “"I believe the message of this visit is that China hopes for a peaceful and proper resolution of the Syrian situation, and that the Chinese side will play a constructive role in the mediation.”

Amid continuing violence throughout Syria over the past week, UN Genera Secretary Ban Ki-Moon issued a condemnatory statement to the Assad regime while speaking to reporters in Vienna, saying “We see neighborhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused. We see almost a certain crimes against humanity.” The statements come ahead of a coming vote in the United Nations General Assembly, with Arab League backing, calling for President Assad to step down and hand over power to his vice president. The Arab League has also called for a potential UN Peacekeeping force to be deployed in Syria.

Large scale violence has continued throughout the week in Syria, with BBC News reporting some 40 people were killed throughout Syria on Thursday. Along with continual shelling and military sweeps of the cities of Hama, and Homs, Syrian military and security forces have begun a major sweep in the Southern city ofDeraa. Further, a string of guerrilla have been conducted in cities throughout Syria in the last two weeks. On Saturday, a brigadier general and doctor in the Syrian army was killed by gunmen in an attack in Damascus. Two days prior, two car bombs exploded outside offices belonging to government security forces in Aleppo, killing 28. Responsibility for the attacks remains unclear.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has announced a referendum that will establish a new constitution and a multiparty system, however the date has been moved to February 26^th in consequence of ongoing violence. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called the referendum a “farce”, stating “"How can you propose a referendum on the 26 February while at the same time continuing to attack your own innocent people in some Syrian towns?"

Sudan, South Sudan

Local officials have reported that at least 22 people were killed and 26 wounded in clashes between the Dinka Bor of Bor County and Murle ethnic group from Pibor County.

South Sudan officials have reported that they have started talks with the Djibouti government to build an alternative oil pipeline through Ethiopia and Djibouti. The South Sudanese oil lines were shut down after the cabinet of the new nation passed a resolution shutting down oil production over a transit fee dispute with north Sudan.

The UN released a report saying that they will need an additional $145 million to assist Sudanese refugees in South Sudan and Ethiopia fleeing conflict in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

The government of South Sudan’s Lakes state has reported that 12 people were found dead on Saturday afternoon from a fire in the forest of Titagau payam [district] of Yirol East county. 

 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the signing of a non-aggression and cooperation pact between the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and urged both countries to maintain the positive spirit that led to the agreement and abide by its provisions.

The United Nations Security Council  voiced alarm at the rising levels of malnutrition and food shortages in parts of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan, saying the situation could deteriorate further if international humanitarian personnel are not given access to carry out assessments and deliver aid.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has helped to launch the construction of a training center in the west of the country that is aimed at helping former soldiers disarm, demobilize and return to civilian life.

DRC

On Sunday, President Kabila’s chief adviser Augustin Katumba Mwanke was killed in plane crash, while his finance minister Matata Ponyo Mapon and roving ambassador Antoine Ghonda remained critically wounded. Katumba was regarded by many as “the power behind the throne” according to a leaked 2009 diplomatic cable during the WikiLeaks scandal. Summing up Katumba’s power, one Congolese senator said anonymously, “If you wanted to negotiate business and Kabila said ‘yes’, that was 50 percent. But if Katumba said ‘yes’, that was 100 percent.” President Kabila still has to navigate a political landscape where his party won fewer seats from before, meaning he must form a solid coalition government without the help of his top adviser. For more information on Katumba, check out Jason Stearn’s blog post here. 

Though the DRC courts have upheld the election results, the US State Department has called on authorities in the DRC to release records from the election. The US State Department also released a press release stating that the US continues to closely monitor the electoral process and the hundreds of legal disputes against the legislative election results.  

Seven international NGOs have urged the international community to take immediate action to uphold democracy and human rights in the DRC, as the situation in the country following the elections continues to deteriorate. 

The DRC Ministry of Information has pulled three media stations off the air. Two of the media stations were close to opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, while the other belonged to the Roman Catholic Church who has been vocal about the illegitimacy of the November elections. This represents just one more example of repression of the media and freedom of speech, which has been characteristic of Kabila’s regime. 

The DRC Supreme Court has received over 500 appeals over the results of the disputed legislative elections in November. Despite widespread national and international criticism of the electoral process’ legitimacy, the court has not made any changes to the results. Many of Kabila’s critics accuse him of stacking the court with his supporters before the election in anticipation of the volume of appeals. 

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) continues to have a huge presence in the country, with 18,997 uniformed personnel. Despite allegations of human rights violations and exploitation of national security elements by the forces, MONUSCO remains one of the longest running peacekeeping operations in the world to limited success.  

Details are just emerging from the DRC today that police and local gangs have tear-gassed, beat and threatened protesters during a peaceful march organized by the Christian Council of Congolese Catholic Lay Apostolate (CALCC) in Kinshasa. Protesters who suffered violent attacks included both priests and nuns. 

The education update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org  

In November 2011, the GOP presidential hopefuls hit the road to meet with voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other states with early primaries. Mitt Romney announced to voters that his campaign aimed "to save a vision of America," the country he calls "the greatest nation in the history of the Earth."

Eight thousand miles away in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a radically different presidential election was unfolding. Allegations of fraud plagued the voting process, instigating violence in Kananga and other major cities throughout the vast nation. Since the elections, human rights abuses have spread with security forces killing more than 25 civilians. Attempting to prevent the spread of post-election information, the government shut down SMS texting services.

What did U.S. candidates have to say about it? Nothing. Nor is the Congolese election the only humanitarian issue that has largely been ignored on the campaign trail. On the contrary, candidates have been applauded for bashing humanitarian aid and support for developing countries. Newt Gingrich told constituents that he would make heavy cuts to the foreign aid budget, saying that America "ought to start off at zero" and tell developing countries, "explain to me why I should give you a penny." Mitt Romney concurred with this sentiment.

Paradoxically, the candidates have been talking incessantly about American leadership and preeminence on the world stage. Romney has told voters, "I believe a strong America must — and will — lead the future." Gingrich endorsed this vision of American exceptionalism, telling constituents, "every generation must learn why being an American is a unique and precious experience." How can the candidates claim to endorse American leadership, yet reject responsibility for those deprived of freedom and security abroad?

A group of student organizers have begun amplifying that question, intent on holding their presidential hopefuls accountable for global leadership. STAND is a student-led anti-genocide organization with more than a hundred chapters on high school and college campuses across the United States. This semester, STAND students are using the 2012 presidential elections as an opportunity to engage the candidates in conversations about mass atrocities prevention, civilian protection, and the foreign aid budget. The Know Your Candidate campaign will allow students to raise their voices in the current political climate, as well as to raise national awareness about the issue of genocide prevention. Using state primaries as an outlet for participation, STAND students will hold local events, attend town hall meetings, and implement letter-writing campaigns aimed at sustaining the U.S. budget for foreign aid. During national debates STAND will use social media to raise the profile of humanitarian issues that the candidates have failed to address.

Sudan will be high on the list. Aerial bombardment and ground attacks by the government have persisted on the Sudan-South Sudan border for the past eight months, displacing more than 80,000 civilians. Until January 31, no GOP candidate so much as mentioned the region. On the 31st, Romney released his first statement on civilian protection, condemning the violence in South Kordofan, Sudan. He showed courage in addressing the subject of humanitarian intervention during a campaign season in which compassion is in low esteem, with voters cheering for execution and jeering assistance to the needy.

Statements like Romney’s should not demand courage. They should be expected of candidates who have promised global leadership.

Emma Goldberg
STAND Social Media Coordinator
*as posted on HuffPost High School 2/8/2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-goldberg/american-responsibility-o_b_1261248.html

 Weekly Education Update 

2/3-2/9

Syria, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan

Syria

Violence in Syria against civilians by government security forces has rapidly escalated over the course of the past week in the aftermath of the unsuccessful UN Security Council vote on condemnatory action against the Syrian regime. BBC News reports via opposition sources that hundreds of Syrian civilians have been killed since last week, caught in an intensive campaign of artillery strikes upon the city of Homs conducted by the Syrian Army; as well as major sweeps throughout the rest of the nation. A further 95 civilian deaths were reported to BBC News via opposition forces on Thursday. Of the escalation in violence, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon asserted Thursday that the United Nations Security Council’s failure to agree on action regarding Syria emboldened the Syrian government’s willingness "to step up its war on its own people". Secretary General Ban also stated that he has been in communication with Arab League Secretary General, Nabil al-Araby, in hopes of reforging the Arab League’s observatory mission with aid of the United Nations.

The United States State Department announced Monday that it will be closing its embassy operations in Syria, owing to the escalating scale and unpredictability of the ongoing violence. Victoria Nuland, the embassy spokesperson stated that “The deteriorating security situation that led to the suspension of our diplomatic operations makes clear once more the dangerous path Assad has chosen and the regime’s inability to fully control Syria.”The Russian Foreign Ministry sent a delegation to Syria on Tuesday, owing to criticism of Russia’s veto of condemnatory action at the United Nations Security Council vote in the previous week. Of the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated “We have confirmed our preparedness to facilitate a rapid end to the crisis based on the positions set out in the Arab League initiative. In particular, the president of Syria gave assurance that he is fully committed to an end to violence, no matter its source.”

DRC

According to the parliamentary election results released last week, Kabila’s party has garnered 260 votes, “a weak majority”, while the opposition party has 134.  This represents a loss by Kabila’s party of more than  40% of its legislative seats to rival parties, which complicates President Kabila’s ability to form a majority coalition. Now more than 80 political parties are represented in the National Assembly. According to a professor at the University of Kinshasa, “Everyone will want their seat in government. The future government will be even more heterogeneous than the one that came from the elections in 2006. A heterogeneous coalition means a weak government.” 

Now that the parliamentary election results have been announced, the UN has stressed the need for all parties to use legal means and dialogue to settle differences and maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the country. “It encourages all candidates and political actors to use the legally prescribed channels for the resolution of disputes, and to refrain from the use of force or violence.” 

The fallout from the UN Group of Experts report on the DRC continues. Not only was former NBA star Dikembe Mutombo implicated in gold smuggling, a US trade adviser appointed by President Obama was also involved. Kase Lawal, a Nigerian-born US oil tycoon, transferred millions of dollars to Bosco Ntaganda between December 2010 and February 2011 in return for minerals. Ntaganda is wanted by the ICC for crimes of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of fifteen for hostilities. Lawal never received the gold, despite paying an estimated $30 million in total. According to Jason Stearns, “Lawal knew Bosco Ntaganda was involved in the deal, so he was knowingly doing business with a man wanted by the ICC. On top of that, there was a Congolese mining ban in place at the time. And finally, he’s probably violating a UN arms embargo in the region.” For more information on the UN Group of Experts report and its fallout, read Jason Stearns interview here. 

According to UNHCR, armed groups have infiltrated internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, renewing violence in the North Kivu region and committing atrocities against these displaced groups. There are over 31 IDP camps in North Kivu alone housing nearly 79,000 people, who are often at great risk. “Displaced Congolese are constantly being threatened by various groups and militias who accuse them of collaborating with one or another armed group.” This ongoing violence not only threatens the safety of IDPs, but also hinders humanitarian access to camps and prevents assistance from reaching the displaced. Currently, only 8 of the total 31 camps are accessible to humanitarian workers without military escort. In total, there are 1.7 million IDPs across the country.

Protests against Kabila’s re-election continue around the world. In Cape Town, South Africa, Congolese protesters picketed on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba on Wednesday. Not only did they urge investors to steer clear of the DRC’s resources, but they also claimed that South Africa’s support of Kabila was driven by purely economic interest in the mining sector. This is part of a larger South African campaign initiated by members of the Congolese diaspora to call attention to the illegitimacy of the November elections. 

Congolese immigration police briefly detained the second highest in command for Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP) party on Tuesday. Jacquemain Shabani, secretary general of the party, was detained for possessing a passport that did not belong to him as well as documents related to the electoral process and human rights violations in the country. 

Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook affirmed his company’s commitment to ethically and environmentally sound practices, and Nokia seems to be following in their footsteps. Nokia just released a policy outlining its philosophy on conflict minerals, saying that while it doesn’t play a direct role in obtaining these materials, all suppliers must provide detailed information on their supply chain. 

Sudan, South Sudan

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator described the situation of nearly 88,000 people displaced in the aftermath of ethnic violence in South Sudan’s Pibor County, Jonglei state as extremely serious. She also warned that the shut down of South Sudan’s oil supply will lead to more aid dependency and what she calls “a longer season of hunger.”

US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, has strongly condemned the bombing of a school in Sudan’s southern region of South Kordofan by the country’s military.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) released a report saying that at least 4.7 million people in South Sudan are likely to be food insecure this year.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) distanced itself from the head of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Ibrahim Gambari, and accused him of violating the mandate UN largest operation. Gambari has been criticized by Human Rights Watch for attending a wedding at which President al-Bashir was also present.

Sudanese rebels released 29 Chinese workers, ten days after kidnapping them in the  South Kordofan. 

Officials in South Sudan’s Jonglei state say armed raiders killed more than ten people in two separate attacks in Akobo and Bor counties this week, in the latest violence to affect the country’s largest state.

Following six weeks of raids and counter raids in Jonglei state, armed men from the Nuer ethnic group announced that they are forming a combined force with the Dinka tribe and members of the Nuer from Ethiopia to form a border force to "quarantine" the Murle. The 30,000 strong group of armed civilians, calling itself the White Army, will encircle Murle areas to prevent cattle raids. 

The education update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org  

 Weekly Education and Policy Update

1/27-2/2

Syria Bill, Girifna Action, Syria, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC

Syria Bill 

On Tuesday of last week, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY] introduced new legislation on the conflict in Syria, titled the Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act (S. 2034).  This legislation calls for sanctions on US companies of sensitive technology to Syria, and would implement sanctions on specific people identified for engaging in human rights abuses and censorship.  The bill expands on legislation Senator Gillibrand introduced last year (the Syria Sanctions Act of 2011, or S. 1472), which emphasized sanctions for US companies engaged in Syria’s petroleum sector.  Both articles of legislation are currently active in the Senate.

Keep an eye out for further informational and advocacy materials on S. 2034 in the next week.  In the meantime, please call 1-800-GENOCIDE and urge your Senators to co-sponsor these pieces of legislation as a way of showing their support for civilian protesters in Syria.

Girifna Action

Last week, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested nine student activists, whose whereabouts are now unknown.  Five of the students were members of the group Girifna, a non-violent, student-led, pro-democracy group, .  The arrested students include the organization’s co-founder, Nagi Musa.  Four other students have been arrested since that day, and Girifna also reported that Gasm Allah, the leader of Youth for Change, has been missing since Friday. 

Please call the State Department’s Sudan office at (202) 647-4531 to demand a proactive response, and then tweet about your call at #FreeGirifna. 

Syria, Libya 

NYT Reports that the Arab League announced on Sunday that it was suspending its monitoring mission in Syria. Head of the Arab League, Nabil-al-Araby, stated that the escalation in violence undertaken in recent months by the regime has made the situation on the ground too dangerous forobservers to continue operating in Syria. The suspension

comes amid a flurry of League activity surrounding a condemnatory UN Resolution which the League is looking to propose within the next week. On February 1^st, Al-Araby and Jassim Al Thani, PM of Qatar, stated that the United Nations Security council must take action to pressure the Syrian government into ending its crackdown, however both leaders expressed opposition to foreign military intervention. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated it will veto a proposed resolution relating to Syria that opens the door for sanctions or military intervention. Owing to these concerns, Security Council policy makers are now attempting to revise the resolution and potentially remove direct calls within it for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, to step down.

The past several weeks have been marked by a major escalation in violence by government security forces, as well as fierce clashes throughout Syria between regime forces and elements of the Free Syrian Army. BBC News reported Wednesday via opposition sources that some 43 people had been killed by security forcesthis week, with security forces using directing heavy artillery strikes upon the city of Wari Barada, killing 21. The United Nations has stopped attempting to estimate the number of ongoing deaths in Syria for a lack of clarity and reliability in sources, its final toll standing at 5,400 Syrians dead.

Sudan, South Sudan

Demonstrations against the newly appointed governor escalated resulting in the death of two people in South Darfur State. 

South Sudan has threatened litigation against those who purchase its oil from neighboring Sudan after Khartoum reportedly sold crude seized from the newly independent state at millions of dollars discount.

Authorities in oil rich Unity State said Friday, January 27th that they had successfully closed down over 300 stations of oil wells in both Tharjath and Unity oil fields. Last week South Sudan announced it was stopping the export of its oil through north Sudan over a fee dispute. Omar al-Bashir and Salva Kiir, presidents of Sudan and South Sudan respectively, failed to reach an agreement on the terms by which Juba can export its oil through the north’s pipelines despite pressure mounted by African leaders present at the summit in Addis Ababa.

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Saturday, January 28th announced that fighters from the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) launched an assault on the site of a Chinese construction company in South Kordofan. The governor of South Kordofan Ahmed Haroun announced the following day that 14 out of the 29 Chinese workers kidnapped by rebels from the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) have been freed following an operation conducted by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). China plans to work with South Sudan to safely retrieve the other workers.

At least seventy-six people, most of whom are elderly, women and children, have been killed in South Sudan’s Warrap State. Several others are reported to have sustained multiple injuries. Hundreds of cattle are also reported to have been stolen. Alison Manani Magaya, South Sudan’s interior minister, accused Khartoum of arming the militia responsible for the attack.

Mitt Romney on Tuesday accused the Sudanese government of committing atrocities throughout the country and vowed to hold it accountable.

WFP has released a report stating that up to 500,000 more refugees could flee into South Sudan from South Kordofan and Blue Nile states if Khartoum does not allow more aid into the area.

DRC

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisedeki continues to condemn the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections. He called for his party members who won seats to boycott parliaments, and he also called on his supported for a general strike on Monday in Kinshasa to protest his house arrest. However, the strike was met with mixed success. In cities like Mbuji-Mayi and Kananga, the strike was well followed and shops were closed. However in the capital city of Kinshasa, life continued as normal. One Kinshasa resident said, “If we strike, what will we eat? We Congolese survive from day to day, to strike would kill us.” In addition, the police continue to use tear gas and violence to disperse opposition supporters.  

The electoral commission has finally announced the results of the parliamentary poll, where 18,000 candidates competed for 500 seats. According to the BBC, the results gave the ruling People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy and its allies an absolute majority of about 260 seats in National Assembly, while the opposition party took about 110 seats. Check out Jason Stearn’s analysis of the resultshere. 

The SEC is expected to finally publish the rules for section 1508 of Dodd-Frank on February 15^th which requires companies track the use of conflict minerals in the production of consumer products. 

The United National Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has committed $9.1 million to the DRC to fight off cholera, which continues to plague the country. 22,000 people have been affected by cholera in the past year, and over 500 people have died. The disease has broad impacts on communities, including agricultural livelihoods, school attendance and the general well-being of families. 

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) announced they have a new strategy to defeat Congo militia groups.The new US envoy to the Great Lakes region, Ambassador Barrie Walkley, met with Rwandan officials earlier this week to discuss strategies to defeat militia groups including the FDLR and LRA. He said, “I will concern myself with the region application issues as the FDLR, LRA, conflict minerals, security sector reform, the problems with armed groups in the region and violence again women. Issues of that sort will be my responsibility.” This new strategy hopes to maintain peace and security in the region, however MONUSCO has been met with widespread criticism in the past so how effective this move truly will be remains unclear. 

African analysts and activists continue to be disappointed with President Obama, as policy towards sub-Saharan Africa continues to be a very low priority.In last week’s State of the Union address make no mention of the region whatsoever. Though Congolese Americans campaigned vigorously for Obama in 2008 and rallies for healthcare legislation, many are now disillusioned with American policy towards Africa.

The education and policy update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org 

Advocacy Coordinator: Maria Thomson advocacy@standnow.org

 Weekly Education Update 

1/13-1/19

DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria

DRC

The implications of the UN Group of Experts report on the DRC continue to come to light. One-time NBA star Dikembe Mutombo, a Congolese native, has been implicated in a $10 million deal to sell 1,045 pounds of gold from eastern DRC to a Houston oil executive. 

DRC’s Catholic Church accused Kabila’s government of “treachery, lies and terror” and has urged the electoral commission to fix the flaws in November’s elections or resign. As an extremely influential player in an overwhelming Christian country, this move is seen by many as a big step for justice. The Catholic bishop’s council said in a statement last Thursday, “We cannot build a state in a culture of treachery, lies and terror, of militarization and the flagrant violation of the freedom of expression.” The archbishop of Kinshasa Laurent Monsengwo also called on the Congolese population to initiate a campaign of disobedience until the election results are annulled. The full results of the parliamentary elections, which were due on Friday, have been postponed until the end of this week. 

For almost a decade, concerns have been raised by human rights groups about the fate of Congolese who are refused asylum in the United Kingdom and return back home to the DRC. A recent report by Justice First called “Unsafe Return” highlights the fact that upon return Congolese are facing arrest, imprisonment, ill treatment and even torture. Many returnees had been imprisoned in the secret services prison of Kin Mazière. One refused asylum seeker was removed from the UK last March and when he arrived back in Kinshasa he was detained, taken to the secret services prison and tortured for three weeks. Another torture victim said, "The government in Congo views Congolese people deported back home from the UK as enemies. The guards who beat me kept saying to me: ‘You are a spy, give us information, why are you doing this to your country?’ I am in a lot of pain from the torture but I’m too scared to go to hospital in case someone recognizes me and I get taken back to detention.” This constitutes a massive human rights violation that must be addressed by the international community, especially in the wake of the controversial November elections. The likelihood that the use of torture has increased post-elections for opposition party supporters is high. 

As a result of the financial crisis, governments attempting to curb deficits have decreased their contributions to the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other disease-fighting organizations. These cuts have very real implications; the Global Fund will not make any new grants in the new two years because of a decline in funding. This means that the 28,000 HIV-positive people who were meant to start life-saving ARV treatment by 2014 will not have access to drugs due to budget shortfalls. The US, Spain, Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland and Italy are among donor nations that have failed to commit to life-saving treatments around the world. 

Rwanda has arrested four generals, accusing them of being engaged in business transactions with civilians in the mineral-rich east of the DRC. A diplomat told Reuters that this arrest was linked to the publication of the UN Group of Experts report, and this is the most high-profile military arrests since 2010. 

Sudan, South Sudan

South Sudan will later this month participate in the 18th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled from 23 – 30 January in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Ahmed Haroun, the governor of Sudan’s conflict hit state of South Kordofan, has warned international aid agencies that they will be immediately expelled if they attempt to overstep their mandate.

Heavy fighting erupted last week between Sudan’s army (SAF) and rebels in the border state of South Kordofan amid reports of civilians being killed in aerial bombardment. They started when SAF launched an offensive attack on the rebels-controlled villages of Buram and Tess, south of the state’s capital Kadugli and north of the borders with South Sudan. 16 villagers were killed and 26 wounded during the attack.

At least 55 are reported dead, 52 injured and 40 children abducted in Wek and Patuet payams [districts] following a retaliatory attack launched by youth of the Murle ethnic group on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed concern over the ongoing cycle of retaliatory attacks against the Lou-Nuer community by the rival Murle community in Jonglei state following the withdrawal of the Lou-Nuer from Pibor county two weeks ago.

Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday dismissed U.N. and U.S. concerns about a mounting humanitarian crisis in two Sudanese border states, saying the situation there was "normal."

Jonglei state governor, Kuol Manyang Juuk, said on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 that at least forty-six people were killed and seven wounded in Duk county following an attack late on Monday, January 16, 2012, by members of the Murle ethnic group.

The United States ambassador called the aid blockade imposed by Sudan “unconscionable and unacceptable,” claiming that 500,000 displaced people face famine if substantial international aid does not begin to flow by March. 

Syria 

The Arab League observatory mission which began a month ago is due to come to an end today, however League leaders are presently considering an extension to the mission for another month in consequence of continuing violence within the country. The League is now in the process of compiling the observer’s information and creating the mission’s report about conditions in Syria; Some 600 Syrians have been killed since the Arab League mission arrived. 

Reuters reported on Thursday, via a Britain based opposition group, that 18 civilians had been killed on Thursday along with two Syrian Army officers killed in an ambush by opposition fighters. BBC News reported over 30 civilians had been killed earlier in the week, primarily in Homs, Hama and Idlib province. Further, eight civilians traveling in a minibus were killed in a roadside bombing, but responsibility for the attack remains unclear.

A ceasefire has been declared Thursday in the Syrian town of Zabadani between opposition fighters and Syrian security forces. Zabadani, under the control of the opposition, had become the site of fierce clashes throughout the past weeks but the deal now struck between the Syrian Defense Minister and local opposition leaders will pull both security forces and opposition fighters from the streets of the town.

Syrian Kurds have announced that they plan to hold a conference in the near future to address the disparate objectives of the Syrian Kurdish community and diaspora. Syrian kurds are concerned that as a minority group, that should violence in the country escalate, that Kurdish populations will be isolated and their interests subjugated.

On Sunday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad offered amnesty to those involved in protest and opposition activities, however violence and the targeting of opposition figures continues unabated throughout the country and some 35,000 people are estimated to remain jailed. In response to ongoing violence, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon said “Today, I say again to President Assad of Syria: Stop the violence. Stop killing your people.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Wednesday that he would veto any proposed military intervention in the UN Security Council in Syria, and further stated that aiding the Syrian opposition could lead to “a very big war that will cause suffering not only to countries in the region, but also to states far beyond its boundaries”, and responded to criticisms that Russia continued to conduct trade with the Syrian government.

The education update is produced every Thursday to update STAND members and the advocacy community about developments with regards to genocide and crimes against humanity.  For more information contact the following:

Education Coordinator: Sean Langberg education@standnow.org 

Sudan Education Coordiator: Emma Smith esmith@standnow.org

DRC Education Coordinator: Siobhan Kelley skelley@standnow.org

Emerging Crises Education Coordinator: Tom Dolzall tdolzall@standnow.org