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Radio Okapi: DRC National Radio Initiative – OTI supports Fondation Hirondelle in its collaborative effort with the United Nations Mission in the Congo (MONUC) to broaden the effect of their national radio initiative, Radio Okapi. The station’s local language (Lingala, Swahili, Tshiluba, Kikongo) provides the population with balanced information as the peace process advances, ensuring that Congolese are informed on progress made in the normalization of political and social affairs. Giving Voice to the Children of Congo (GVCC): Sisi Watoto (We, the Children) – Through this Search for Common Ground radio program, OTI enhances awareness of issues pertaining to affected youth and former child soldiers by broadcasting programs on youth-related issues and how young people can seek solutions to the violence that affects them and their communities. GVCC strengthens the role that youth play in the development of their communities and enhances their contribution to national dialogues relevant to the peace process. Country SituationSECURITY On Saturday May 1, Rwandan President Paul Kagame threatened to send his army into the DRC if the Interamhamwe - Hutus based in the DRC who were involved in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda - continue to attack Rwanda from DRC territory. On May 16, the United Nations Mission in Congo (MONUC) and later the United Nations Security Council denounced the presence of Rwandan soldiers in eastern DRC. Rwanda denied that they had sent soldiers back into the DRC since their departure in September 2003, but after a group of Rwandan soldiers reportedly kept MONUC from conducting surveillance in an area of the province of North Kivu, Rwanda’s denials lost credibility. On May 26 in the town of Bukavu, South Kivu Province, supporters of the old military commander in the region and of the political party Rassamblement Congolais pour la Democratie – Goma (RCD-G), marched into Bukavu claiming that they were there to protect the Banyamulenge population (ethnic Tutsi from a plateau area in Kivu Provinces) from attacks by non-Banyamulenge. There were no substantiated reports of attacks against Banyamulenge in the region. The troops led by Colonol Jules Mutebutsi and General Nbuza engaged the forces of the current regional military commander General Felix Mbuza Mabe. The clashes led to the death of twenty-seven people, including seven civilians, and left many wounded. Criticisms started to mount against MONUC for not stopping the forces from entering Bukavu. The situation poses a threat to the progress of the political transition. POLITICAL TRANSITION The eleven provincial Governors were appointed on May 16 by the transitional government. These appointments have been one of the most controversial issues to face the transitional government given that governor positions wield a significant amount of control over their territory. The appointments are as follows:
MLC(Mouvement de Libération du Congo) PPRD(Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie) RCD-Goma(Rassemblement congolais pour la DémocratieGoma) RCD-ML(RCD-Mouvement de liberation) RCD-N(RCD-National) While there were no immediate protests to the appointments, a week later unrest in Bukavu began. There was speculation that the unrest in Bukavu may serve as a means to reinstalling a governor loyal to the RCD-G. DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION AND REINTEGRATION (DDR) National DDR continues to be inoperable but activities in support of the process are being funded and initiated by individual donors and through the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme. Progress was made in the Ituri region of Province Orientale, northeastern Congo on May 14 when representatives of the seven armed militia groups operating in the region signed an agreement with the government to disarm and participate in the political transition. The militia leaders who participated in the Kinshasa meeting (and consequently the agreement) were from the Parti pour l’Unité et la Sauvegarde de l’Intégrité du Congo (PUSIC); the Union des Patriotes Congolais (UPC) faction led by Thomas Lubanga; the UPC faction of Floribert Kisembo; the Front des Nationalistes Intégristes (FNI)s; the Union des Congolais pour la Démocratie-Forces Armées du People Congolais (FAPC); Forces de Résistance Patriotique de l’Ituri (FRPI); and Forces Populaires pour la Démocratie au Congo {FPDC). The agreement, facilitated by MONUC, marked one of the most visible signs of progress towards peace since fighting broke out in the region in early 2003. This was also the beginning of the return of national authority over the Ituri region, governed by the Ituri Interim Administration while the transitional government was being finalized and security in Ituri established. The agreement also provides the opportunity for the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants in the Ituri region. Since the signing of the agreement, representatives returned to Ituri and have upheld the agreement’s provisions. During the week of May 18, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) transported approximately 220 former Congolese combatants from the eastern town of Kindu, Maniema Province, to their home communities, under a special project funded by the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (MDRP). The activity was supported by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) agency Commission Nationale de Démobilisation et de Réinsertion (CONADER), which is in charge of executing the newly adopted National Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration program (DDR). USAID/OTI HighlightsA. Narrative Summary1. Synergie d'Education Communautaire et d'Appui à la transition (SE*CA) Current Activities The SE*CA project is now operating with close to a full staff complement in all locations. SE*CA brought in a consultant to work with the Master Trainers (MT) to finalize the Congolese adaptation of the Youth Education and Skills (YES) curriculum. At the same time, the MTs visited communities along the Kisangani – Lubutu; Kisangani – Buta; and Kisangani – Bafwasende routes to begin sensitizing them on the SE*CA program, assisting them in forming implementation committees, and developing ideas for sub-grants to the communities. Once identified, the Community Implementation Committees (CIC) will select the local Learning Facilitators (LF) and participants for YES training program. Additionally, the CICs will facilitate community decision-making on community projects through the SE*CA subgrants mechanism. To date, six activities in support of community rehabilitation and sensitization through media were presented for final consideration and approval.
At the end of the month SE*CA held its first of a series of quarterly National Staff Meetings in Kisangani. The majority of SE*CA staff attended; representing field office and/or presence areas in Kinshasa, Kisangani, Bunia, and Kindu. By all accounts, the seminar was a great success in that it contributed to a better understanding of the project goals and objectives and the ways and means to attain them. Additionally, this month the consultant responsible implementing the baseline study arrived and is currently preparing the field work for this activity which will assure proper monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the program. The media program has been elaborating its implementation plan in support of the overall program strategy and identifying possible partnerships for sensitization campaigns with media institutions and non-governmental organizations nationwide and specifically in Kisangani, Bunia, and Kindu. Activity Highlights SE*CA officially launched its program in Kisangani, Orientale Province with a ceremony attended by the acting Governor of Province Orientale, representatives of the Kisangani City Hall and of communities in Orientale province, and representatives international and national humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations. The launching displayed the new SE*CA logo, received wide media coverage, and served to inform partners and the community about the SE*CA program. **********2. Fondation Hirondelle: Radio Okapi And Partner Radio Network Current Activities Consolidation of the logistical and legal steps necessary to implement the Partner Radio Network (PRN) was the primary activity this month. Fondation Hirondelle worked with a Congolese lawyer to finalize contracts with the partner radios. Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SE*CA and Fondation Hirondelle, was drafted to clarify roles and responsibilities of each party involved in the project. Chemonics, with Fondation Hirondelle’s input, initiated the procurement of the radio equipment necessary for the project. **********3. Search for Common Ground: Giving A Voice To The Children Of Congo (GVCC) Current Activities For two days the team visited the Lubarika camp in the district of Uvira in the eastern province of South Kivu where they collected information on Mayi Mayi child soldiers who are ready for demobilization. The Mayi Mayi Officer-in-Charge was also interviewed on the demobilization of child soldiers and particularly about the delicate issue of re-enrollment of child soldiers in the armed groups, a common practice to inflate conscription numbers for salary collection purposes. GVCC journalists collected information from former Mayi Mayi child soldiers at the AVREO transit center in Uvira. One recurring concern for the children is their security when living back with their families. The information collected here will be used to create additional programming. During the last week of April and the first three weeks of May, programs were broadcast on the following themes:
Sisi Watoto sponsored a meeting between the parents of the ten youth reporters who produce the program. Sisi Watoto maintains regular contact with the parents in order to assure that their children’s hobby is not affecting their family life, their private life (as they are becoming local celebrities), and their studies. At the end of this last meeting, the parents reiterated their trust in our work and stressed the positive effect on their children. They particularly appreciate the trainings that the children receive and requested that during the dry season school holidays, the children benefit from more capacity-building in journalism techniques and in editing. Sisi Watoto responded by preparing to provide trainings on these skills to the staff. On May 13, Sisi Watoto organized a workshop with stakeholders and partners on the development of a radio soap opera to accompany the DDR process. An editorial committee was created, which will work in close collaboration with the writers in the development of themes for the soap opera. During the first meeting of the editorial team, on May 22, the team identified the five subjects for the first episodes and is beginning production of the twelve episodes for the pilot project. Sisi Watoto is currently strengthening its monitoring and evaluation system. Currently, Sisi Watoto has mailboxes around the city of Bukavu where people can leave their comments about the program. A university lecturer has been contracted to design a standard format for the analysis of the letters received. Old and new letters will then be analyzed according to these methods. Additionally, questionnaires have been developed for the listening clubs, and follow-up questionnaires will be conducted in a month. An independent consultant will conduct an evaluation of the entire Sisi Watoto project starting on May 28. Next Steps/Immediate Priorities
For further information, please contact:
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