Topic: Jason Stearns
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Catching up on Congo elections
Guest blogger Jason Stearns recaps some of the recent developments leading up to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's elections, scheduled for next month.
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Hundreds of Congo's registered voters may be fake
A report on Congo's voter register found that a large number of voters showed up twice in the system, but it's unclear whether anything will be done to correct this ahead of the November election.
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19,000 candidates registered for Congo's legislative elections
The large number of candidates – for only 500 seats – will make for a more competitive election than in the past.
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Has the UN Congo mission tried too hard to be impartial?
In its efforts to improve its relationship with the Congolese government, the UN mission in Congo has not stepped in to address abuses during the voter registration process.
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As Congo subdues some armed groups, new ones emerge
Congolese President Kabila said his government has managed to gain control of eastern Congo's armed groups, but the emergence of new armed groups undermines his success.
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Congo's voter registration numbers don't add up
A report from International Crisis Group found that voter registration numbers in eastern Congo included fake voters, children, foreigners, and voters registered multiple times. [Editor's note: Due to an editing error, the headline and subheadline named the wrong country. It has been corrected.]
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How the US-Ugandan strategy of chasing the LRA backfires
While the Ugandan and US strategy of chasing the brutal Lord's Resistance Army leader, Joseph Kony, has produced some attrition, it has also generated a massive recruitment campaign by the LRA.
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Opinion: US policy on Congo conflict minerals well-intentioned, but misguided
An NGO worker in Congo says of the Dodd-Frank legislation: 'The motivation behind the law is very good – to impose transparency. But the implementation has been the problem.'
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Congo election season in full swing, along with electoral problems
The Congo election season is fully underway, but voter registration fraud, delays in the legislative elections, and vote buying are just a few of things disrupting the election.
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Military shake-ups could worsen Congo's mass rape problem
Shuffling and regrouping among Congo's troops is creating a volatile environment that encourages violence and potentially mass rape, as shown in the rape of at least 120 women in early June.
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African food prices: When they rise, why, who they impact the most
Rising food prices can prompt political and urban unrest. The potential for that is elevated in Kinshasa, the continent's third largest city.
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Congo mining reform is making progress, but oversight is still lacking
Guest blogger Jason Stearns explains further his assertion last week that Congo mining industry reform deserves 'cautious optimism.'
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Is the UN mission in Congo conceding too much to the government?
The UN peacekeeping mission in Congo wants to remain in a good position for working with Congo's government, but it may be ceding some of its leverage in its effort to stay on good terms.
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Small but positive signs of progress with Congo's 'conflict minerals'
Recent actions taken against Congo's 'conflict mineral' trade by companies and the international community signal that although progress is slow, it is happening.
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Violence in Congo: What do we see when we take a step back?
Guest blogger Jason Stearns writes that taking a moment to look at news from the Congo in its historical context gives us a better perspective on bad news, such as last week's rape statistics.
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Shocking Congo rape statistics show husbands - not just soldiers, rebels - perpetuate the problem
More than 400,000 women were raped in a 12-month period in 2006-07, according to a new study.
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War crimes trials of Rwandan FDLR militia leaders could set precedent
The trials of two former leaders of the FDLR militia group that has terrorized eastern Congo for more than 15 years may set a precedent for prosecuting diaspora leaders of armed groups.
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Congo's preparation for elections lags, both in planning and funds
Congo is only seven months away from elections, but the parliament is still considering changes to the electoral law and donor support is far less than requested.
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'Naming and shaming' may not be enough to halt conflict mining in Congo
While 'naming and shaming' tactics are gaining momentum in the fight against Congo's conflict minerals, they won't be enough if the trade just shifts to India and China.
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Was there a coup attempt in the DRC this weekend?
Armed men attacked the residence of Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila on Sunday – but that's about all anyone can agree on.
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Congo is more than rape and minerals
There are political dynamics and logic underlying the brutality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that journalists need to explain.
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Congo may be poorer than Egypt, but that's not enough to turn Kinshasa into Cairo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has disaffected youth and poverty, but political networks there are not strong enough to sustain large protests against a government that would likely use force.
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Congo's army reaches breakthrough with Kivus' rebel group
Congo's national army and the Forces Républicaines Fédéralistes reached a breakthrough in peace negotiations this week, which could improve the situation for civilians in the region.
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Amid rumors of rebel groups unifying in Congo, countries in region discuss joint military action
According to documents obtained by guest blogger Jason Stearns, some of Africa's Great Lakes countries are discussing yet another round of military intervention in the eastern part of Congo.
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OPINION: Congo conflict minerals legislation needs to go further
The proposed legislation regulating US trade in Congo's conflict minerals lacks the specificity and oversight to fully tie the hands of US companies trading in conflict minerals.
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