In each issue of Mining & Business, our partner Afrikarabia takes a look in the rear-view mirror at the most important news of the past few weeks. Let’s unroll the feed from his Twitter account @afrikarabia.
The security situation in the East continues to deteriorate. The M23 rebels have withdrawn from two of their positions in Rutshuru, but continue to advance toward Masisi. Meanwhile, regional and international diplomacy struggled to ease the tension.
December 13, 2022 – At least 450,000 people have been displaced since the clashes between #FARDC and #M23 began in #Rutshuru territory since March 2022. 240,000 of these displaced are in #Nyiragongo territory. Over 58% are children under 18, according to @UNOCHA_DRC
December 16, 2022 – In #Washington, Evariste #Ndayishimiye, president of the #EAC announces that he has “returned the conclusions of yesterday’s exchanges to President #Tshisekedi” and “expects the #M23 to begin disengaging its forces.”
December 16, 2022 – From #Washington, U.S. diplomatic chief Anthony #Blinken once again reminded #Rwanda to “use its influence” on #M23 to “support the #Luanda agreement and find a way out of the conflict in eastern DRC.”
December 16, 2022 – Clashes reported this Friday around #Bwiza and #Kitchanga. The #M23 and #FARDC are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Monusco’s mandate is renewed and the big political maneuvers for the December 2023 elections are becoming clearer.
December 16, 2022 – @moise_katumbi announces his presidential candidacy and leaves the Sacred Union of the Nation #USN. The boss of Ensemble pour la République officially recorded his break with President #Tshisekedi whose record he considers “very bad” and “chaotic”.
20 December 2022 – The #UN Security Council has just unanimously adopted: the renewal of the mandate of @MONUSCO for 1 year, as well as the lifting of the notification procedure for supplies of equipment and military assistance for the #DRC.
December 21, 2022 – End of #notification regime regarding the purchase of #arms: “I think it’s a symbolic victory for the Congolese government, but I don’t think it will change the military balance of power on the ground” according to @PierreBoisselet of the Congo Study Group #GEC.
December 21, 2022 – #Elections: voter registration will begin this December 24 for the first 10 provinces and is scheduled to end on March 17 for the remaining provinces (including #Ituri and #North_Kivu under siege).
December 23, 2022 – Kenyan soldiers of the #EAC East African regional force announced that they had taken control of #Kibumba this Friday, December 23, after the #M23 left.
December 28, 2022 – After the departure of @Ensemble_MK from the Sacred Union, the Minister of Transport (Cherubin #Okende), Planning (Christian #Mwando), as well as the Deputy Minister of Health (Veronique #Kilumba Nkulu), resign from the government. The 3 other Katumbist ministers are lining up behind F. #Tshisekedi, like Christophe Lutundula (Foreign Affairs).
Big clean-up in the entourage of Félix Tshisekedi at the Presidency, and political mercato for the December elections.
January 15, 2023 – Fortunat #Biselele was dismissed as private adviser to President Felix #Tshisekedi (he had been heard on Friday by the ANR). He is replaced by Kahumbu #Mandungu Bula, former executive coordinator of the #Banana port project.
January 16, 2023 – Jean-Claude #Kabongo is no longer on the list of advisors to the @Presidency_RDC. Arrived in 2019, along with @VitalKamerhe1, then director of cabinet, he was the main interlocutor of foreign companies on investment.
January 16, 2023 – Alexis #Kayembe special advisor on infrastructure has been removed from the @Presidency_RDC cabinet. He was in charge of the #Tshilejelu road renovation program, which is accumulating delays and suspicions of mismanagement.
January 23, 2023 – #Presidential: Denis #Mukwege expects a mobilization of the base: “I heard (…) and I know that together we can solve the issues that arise in the DRC. But if the base does not get organized, we will still be victims of what we experienced in 2018.” The famous doctor still maintains the suspense on his candidacy.
January 23, 2023 – The @cenirdc announces to extend by 25 days the operations of voter registration in 10 provinces in the west of the country. The organization of the election is already behind schedule.
January 24, 2023 – Delly #Sesanga announces his candidacy for the December presidential election with his party L’Envol.
January 27, 2023 – The very Kabilist Evariste #Boshab leaves the official @pprd, founds his own party (Alliance pour les Actions Citoyennes-AAC), and joins the Sacred Union #USN of Felix #Tshisekedi.
For 4 days, the Congo lived to the rhythm of Pope Francis’ visit to Kinshasa… and his shocking speeches!
January 31, 2023 – #Pope Francis: “After #political colonialism, economic colonialism: this country, largely #poverished does not manage to take sufficient advantage of its immense resources. The whole world closes its eyes, ears and mouth”.
January 31, 2023 – #PopeFrancis: “Take your hands off the DRC, take your hands off Africa! Stop smothering Africa. It is not a mine to be exploited or a land to be robbed. Let Africa be the protagonist of its destiny”.
February 1, 2023 – #PopeFrancis: We must “promote #free, #transparent and #credible elections. Extend more participation in the peace process to women, youth and marginalized groups.”
After the papal visit, the war in the east is back in the spotlight as the M23 threatens the supply routes to the city of Goma.
February 2, 2023 – In #Masisi, #M23 continues to advance with the capture of #Kilolirwe. The hills of #Kilolirwe are 30 km from the #Sake lock and the road axis to #Goma.
February 4, 2023 – EAC summit in #Bujumbura demands: immediate ceasefire by all parties, deployment of new regional force troops, and withdrawal of armed groups “including foreigners.”
February 7 – Felix #Tshisekedi denounces #Rwanda at the #Indaba mining conference in South Africa: “A bellicose neighbor obsessed with our wealth, but clumsy in its method of accessing it, preferring war to a peaceful framework of fruitful win-win exchanges.”
February 9 Clashes between #M23 and #FARDC are concentrated north of #Kingi, less than 10 km from #Sake. Significant population movements are reported towards #Goma and #Minova. The first displaced people from #Sake arrived on the outskirts of #Goma this Thursday afternoon.