USAID/OTI Democratic Republic of Congo Field Report
June 2002
Program Description
Program Goals and Objectives
USAID/OTI's goals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are to support the country's transition from war to peace and lay the groundwork for an eventual transition to democracy and the country's reunification. Isolation of key population centers has constrained civil society's role in this transition. To alleviate this constraint, OTI is developing and implementing a national, multi-faceted, communication strategy that fosters exchanges across the country focusing on dialogue, conflict prevention, and engaging average Congolese in debates of national importance.
USAID/OTI is undertaking the following activities to achieve these goals:
- Radio Okapi: DRC National Radio Initiative
OTI will support Fondation Hirondelle and the United Nation's Mission in the Congo (MONUC) to enhance coverage of the newly established national radio initiative, Radio Okapi. This will increase public availability of and access to balanced information. This aspect of OTI's program will expand Radio Okapi's broadcast capability to ten locations instead of the eight original broadcast sites, and add four new relay stations to assure continuous all day short wave and FM broadcasts. The station's local language radio programs will disseminate information about humanitarian assistance, the peace process, and demobilization and reintegration, while engaging Congolese countrywide in debates of national importance.
- Small Grants' Initiative
This component of OTI's program will provide strategic grants to encourage support of the Lusaka Peace Accords and the results of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. OTI-sponsored activities will provide opportunities for civil society organizations to enhance their outreach and participation in the peace process, develop skills needed for advocacy, and connect to like-minded organizations throughout the country. The initiative will offer direct support to both national and local groups in the form of material and/or technical support. Through support of the peace process, this initiative aims to promote stability, connectivity and ultimately play a key facilitative role in the reunification of the DRC.
Country Situation
Transitional Constitution
On 5 June, leaders of the Congolese government (GDRC) and the opposition party Mouvement de Liberation du Congo (MLC) met in the western port city of Matadi to draft a new constitution and establish a transitional government for the country. The talks are part of the accord reached between the MLC and GDRC at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue held in Sun City, South Africa. Hoping to reach an agreement before the Congolese Independence Day, 30 June, the parties reportedly made significant progress on key issues related to establishing a transitional government. The talks stalled, however, over questions of power sharing and control of the armed forces.
MLC leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is supposed to take over as Prime Minister of the country as part of the Sun City agreement, opposed the GDRC's plan to put control of the army in the hands of the President. Bemba has proposed giving control of the armed forces to a military council, comprised of the president, Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament. The GDRC has rejected the proposal, saying it would cause confusion and chaos. Bemba has refused to go to Kinshasa from his base in the northern town of Gbadolite to take over the post of Prime Minister until an agreement is reached.
Tshisekedi Tour
Etienne Tshisekedi, head of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and a key opposition figure in the DRC, visited eastern Congo and Kigali in late June. The tour of areas controlled by Rwandan-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) was aimed at building public support for a pact signed between the UDPS and the RCD. Tshisekedi, who for the past 20 years has been the most visible Congolese opposition leader, visited several RCD-controlled towns, including Goma, Bukavu, and Kisangani. Both the UDPS and RCD rejected the agreement reached at Sun City, and have called for a new round of peace talks.
Kisangani
According to a UN investigator, during a mutiny in Kisangani, which started on 14 May 2002, RCD-Goma rebels killed more than 150 people. Asma Jahangir, the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, conducted a five-day fact-finding mission to the DRC and concluded that RCD-Goma rebels conducted summary executions around the city, targeting civilians as well as soldiers. RCD-Goma disputed Jahangir's claims, saying that 41 people were killed after being caught in the crossfire between warring soldiers.
Continuing Fighting
MONUC, humanitarian organizations and local NGOs throughout the eastern provinces reported numerous instances of heavy fighting and troop movements in June. MONUC announced on 10 June that it would begin an investigation into the alleged killing of up to 500 people during clashes between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups in the northeastern province of Ituri. Meanwhile, in early June, members of dissident RCD commander Patrique Masanzu's forces clashed in heavy fighting with RCD troops in South Kivu. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has vowed to crush Masanzu's forces after the commander deserted RCD-Goma in January. Additional fighting was also reported in southeast and south central DRC.
HIGHLIGHTS
Narrative Summary
During June, OTI's Acting Country Representative, Kury Cobham, undertook a second tour of the country. Ms. Cobham continues to manage the office start-up, focussing on the establishment of the headquarters office in Kinshasa. With the assistance of OTI/Washington, progress is being made on the identification and selection of office personnel as well as on other matters such as staff housing, office space and various procurement actions.
In addition to the administrative progress of OTI's renewed presence in the DRC, work continues on developing a program strategy. To address the problems of isolation throughout the country, OTI is developing a multi-faceted communications strategy. Last month's TDY by OTI's Senior Media Advisor, John Langlois, aided in the development of the program strategy.
Furthermore, OTI programmatic activities are gaining momentum:
1. Radio Okapi
Of the ten radio stations to open as part of the national radio network, Kalemie joined Kinshasa, Goma, and Kisangani as fully operational radio sites in June. Fondation Hirondelle and MONUC are expected to open the next station in Gbadolite, Equateur Province.
2. Small Grants' Initiative
OTI has identified a potential partner to implement its Small Grants' Initiative. Negotiations are ongoing with the hope of finalizing the cooperative agreement by 1 August 2002.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
The Small Grants Initiative is scheduled to begin in mid-August.
Pending visits are expected in the coming months by member(s) of the Africa Team; Administrative OTI Bullpen, and OTI's Program Development Team.
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