Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo

The war beginning in 1998 that pitted the armies of Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola against those of Uganda and Rwanda induced the largest humanitarian disaster since World War II, with an estimated four million Congolese lives lost.

July 30th marks Congo’s first national elections since 1965, but true peace and democracy remain elusive goals. The population continues to be caught in a deadly whirlpool fueled by weapons transfers, infrastructure breakdown, ineffective leadership, and insecurity.

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele traveled through Congo in June and July to cover one of the most under-reported conflicts in the world today.

Mvemba's video report on coltan's role in Congo's civil war is featured this week on "Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria" View 1 minute preview of In Focus video here. Check listings for local air times here.

The Toll of Small Arms
Op-Chart by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele and Rachel Stohl
featured in The New York Times September 5, 2006

Click here to read.

Interviews with Mvemba on the recent elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This week on Foreign Exchange: Mvemba Phezo Dizolele discusses the elections in Congo with Fareed Zakaria.
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“Congo’s Election: The Battle for Kinshasa,” by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, World Politics Watch, Sept. 23, 2006.
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Podcast interview with Mvemba Dizolele
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Mvemba interviewed on Radio Canada’s Dimanche Magazine, July 30th (in French)
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Pacifica Radio’s “Africa Meets Africa"-- Suzette Gardner discusses Independent Journalism and the state of affairs in the Congo with Independent Journalist Mvemba Dizolele. 07.30.06
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Mvemba featured on Voice of America’s Straight Talk Africa, July 26th discussing the Democratization of Africa

Mvemba interviewed on Voice of America from the Congo: Democratic Republic of Congo to Hold Free Elections in Two Weeks By Douglas Mpuga. Washington, DC. 17 July 2006
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Featured live from Kinshasa on Voice of America’s “Reporter’s Roundtable”. July 13th, 2006.

Past articles by Mvemba Dizolele:


Click here

Photos from the DRC

Bukavu

Coltan Mines

Lake Albert

Click here to see
full DRC photo Gallery

Mvemba Phezo Dizolele

Clich here for his bio

Useful Links


Congo Elections:

Congo Planet: latest news about the Congo
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Preliminary Statement of The Carter Center on the Democratic Republic of Congo July 30, 2006, Elections
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“Polls close in Congo's elections” from BBC World News
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Escaping the Conflict Trap: Promoting Good Governance in the Congo. International Crisis Group: Africa Report N°114, 20 July 2006
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About the Conflict in the DRC:

IRC Mortality Study from DR Congo; 3.9 Million Have Died: 38,000 Die per Month.
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Q&A: DRC conflict. From BBC news.
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Kevin Sites’ journalism and video coverage of the Congo you don’t see in the news.
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Killing Them Softly: Has Foreign Aid to Rwanda And Uganda Contributed to the Humanitarian Tragedy In the DRC? Timothy B. Reid, Africa Policy Journal, Spring 2006.
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Small Arms:

United Nations Small Arms Review Conference
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The International Action Network on Small Arms
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The Control Arms campaign is asking governments to toughen up controls on the arms trade. For more information:
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Coltan and Conflict:

The Congo Conflict. By Johann Hari, for the Hamilton Spectator. May 13, 2006
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Congo, Coltan, Conflict, by Benjamin Todd. A Policy and Management Paper for the Heinz School Review
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