Africa

New Study Shows 420,000 Raped Each Year in DR Congo

by Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

A victim of the New Years rape in Fizu, South Kivu with her son; Photo courtesy of USA Today
A victim of the New Years rape in Fizu, South Kivu with her son; Photo courtesy of Pete Muller, AP

Democratic Republic of Congo– An upcoming report in the American Journal of Public Health has revealed that more than 420,000 women are raped annually in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  This number is significantly higher than those being reported by other organizations, like the UN, who previously estimated a figure closer to 16,000 annually.  However, the AJPH study is based on a 2007 nation-wide survey that also found 1.7 million women in the DRC will be raped at some point in their lives and an additional 3 million will be raped by an intimate partner.  The report, which will be released this June, reads “Not only is sexual violence more generalized than previously thought, but our findings suggest that future policies and programs should focus on abuse within families[.]”

Previously, an accurate accounting of rape in the DRC has been made difficult by the instability of the region.  The DRC is still suffering the effects of the civil war that officially ended in 2003.  Since that time, rebel factions have terrorized civilian populations in an effort to gain control of mineral deposits located primarily in the east.  Rape has become a common weapon and while some men and boys are victims, women are the primary target.  Tony Gambino, the Congo mission director for United States Agency for International Development (USAID), told ABC News, “The worst violence is done by armed boys and men, many of whom are in the Congolese military.”

A number of factors play into the lack of accountability for the crime.  Throughout most of the country, women who are raped are disowned by their families and try to hide the rape rather than speak about it.  Tia Palermo, a co-author of the AJPH study, told ABC News, “There is stigma, shame and impunity so why bother reporting a rape if nothing is going to happen. We know from other conflict regions that less than half of rape victims report their abuse.”  Additionally, even when perpetrators are arrested for rape it is likely they will receive light sentences or simply escape from jail, as a March report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated.  As Gambino told ABC, “Because officials can be paid off, even a small fish can get out of prison for $5 in the Congo.”

While the February conviction of Lt. Col. Kibibi Mutuare and 10 of the soldiers under his command for the rape of dozens of women in a small South Kivu village over New Years brought 49 women to court to testify, many believe the perception of women in the DRC needs to change.  Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, said, “The DRC cannot move ahead without the full inclusion of women politically . . . . economically, through agriculture and beyond, and socially, through a robust civil society movement. . . .Investing in women is not only the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do.”

For more information, please see;

NYTNotes From a Young American in Congo: The Stigma of Rape– 6 May, 2011

USA Today420K Congolese Women are Raped Each Year– 11 May, 2011

SF ChronicleCongo Rape Problem More Widespread Than Thought, Study Shows– 12 May, 2011

ABC NewsNearly Every Minute a Woman is Raped in the Congo– 13 May, 2011

VOA NewsCurbing DC’s Gender-based Violence– 13 May, 2011

Former Rwandan Army General Found Guilty for Coordinating Genocide

By Eric C. Sigmund
Managing Editor of News

ARUSHA, Tanzania – The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Tuesday sentenced former Rwandan army chief General Augustin Bizimungu to 30 years in prison for organizing and ordering the 1994 genocide in Rwanda which left approximately 800,000 people dead.  The Court found Bizimungu guilty of six counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, extermination, rape and other violations of international law.

Bizimungu Sentenced to 30 Years Role in 1994 Genocide
Bizimungu Sentenced to 30 Years for Role in 1994 Genocide (Photo Courtesy of CBS News)

Bizimungu, who fled to Angola after the atrocities in Rwanda, was arrested in 2002 and detained by the tribunal until formally charged with leading the genocide in 2004.  The conclusion of the nine year trial marks a critical step towards reconciliation for Rwanda.

The 100-day genocide resulted in the murder of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and Tutsi sympathizers at the hands of the country’s Hutu majority.   Bizimungu, who labeled the Tutsis “cockroaches,” had ordered their extermination and expulsion from the country.  In addition to the dead, over one million people are said to have fled the country during the genocide.

Rwandan Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga welcomed the decision and commented that “it is a big sentence, even if many people think he deserved the highest.”

While most observers are satisfied with the result, some commentators remained concerned about the slow pace of justice.  Rwanda’s Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama, commented that the process was too expensive and time consuming.  “You had massive resources put at the disposal of the court and the amount of work….leaves a lot to be desired,” expressed Karugarama.  According to reporters, the total cost of the tribunal is estimated around $1 billion dollars.  Mr. Karugarama further noted that the mandate of the tribunal should have been extended to allow for compensation to victims.

Addressing these concerns, Chief Prosecutor Hassan Jallow stressed that the tribunal process is complex and was slowed by the fact that the tribunal was not located in the same country where the crimes were committed or where the witnesses reside.

Some critics, including Karugarama, have proposed that remaining military officers be tried in Rwanda’s domestic Gacaca courts.  The Gacaca court process is much more informal, notes Karugarama, ensuring a speedy trial.   According to Mr. Karugarama “One of the reasons why we allowed the Rwandans to prosecute these serving military officers is because I think it has a better impact on efforts towards reconciliation if the Rwandans themselves are seen to prosecute their own people.”   Since 2002 more than 1.5 million people have been tried in the Gacaca courts, resulting in the conviction of 40,000 people.  Human rights groups however, have questioned the fairness of these trials, noting that more informal procedures could undermine the legal process.

Despite his criticism of the tribunal, Justice Minister Karugarama concluded that “It is very important to us that [the ICTR] has set an international precedent on the crime of genocide.”

Two other senior military officers François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye and Innocent Sagahutu were also found guilty for participating in the genocide.  Each was sentenced to 20 years in prison.  The Bizimungu trial is the 59th trial completed by the ICTR since 1994.

For more information, please see:

BBC Africa – Rwanda Genocide: Did Bizimungu Trial Take too Long? – 17 May, 2011

CBS World News – Rwandan Genocide Architect Given 30 yrs in Prison – 17 May, 2011

CNN – Former Rwandan Army Chief Gets 30 years for Genocide – 17 May, 2011

Mirror UK – Brutal Former Army Chief Jailed over 1994 Rwanda Genocide – 17 May, 2011

U.S. Ambassador alleges that Qaddafi soldiers given Viagra and ordered to rape

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

TRIPOLI, Libya – In a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice raised the issue of Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi issuing Viagra to troops, a claim that was first reported by British tabloids.

One diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that when Rice raised the issue in the meeting, no one responded.

The reports underscore Qaddafi’s campaign of sexual violence used to silence and terrorize communities that have supported rebels.

One diplomat said that Rice “spoke of reports of soldiers getting Viagra and raping [and] of Qaddafi’s soldiers targeting children, and other atrocities.” Some diplomats questioned Rice’s allegations, saying that she did not offer any proof of the allegations.

An April 24 article in the New York Times spoke of an electrician who fled Libya for Tunisia and who had heard rumors that “loyalist forces had orders to kill everyone in the city, and that soldiers had been given Viagra and explicit orders to rape.”

The British tabloids that broke the Viagra stories also spoke of children as young as eight who have been raped in front of their families.

Michael Mahrt, of Save the Children, said, “Children told us they have witnessed horrendous scenes. They described things happening to other children but they may have actually happened to them and they are just too upset to talk about it – it’s a coping mechanism.”

On the same day of the Security Council meeting, CBS News Correspondent Lara Logan, who suffered a brutal sexual assault in Cairo in February that lasted nearly forty minutes, returned to work and spoke for the first time of her attack, noting that when it comes to sexual violence in areas of armed conflict, victims have only their word.

In countries such as Libya and Egypt, rape is heavily stigmatized, and those who have been assaulted or raped often do not come forward.

Margot Wallstrom, the U.N. special representative on sexual violence during armed conflict, who was appointed last year by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement last week highlighting that reports of rape in Libya have been “brutally silenced.”

It would constitute a war crime if it is true that Qaddafi’s troops are being encouraged by their commanders to engage in rape.

Libya is already under investigation by the International Criminal Court for Qaddafi and his regime’s suppression and crackdown of anti-government protesters.

For more information, please see:

New York Magazine – U.S. Ambassador Alleges Qaddafi Issuing Troops Viagra – 29 April 2011

AFP – Viagra allegations raised amid Libya divisions at UN – 28 April 2011

New York Times – CBS Reporter Recounts a ‘Merciless’ Assault – 28 April 2011

Reuters – U.S. says Gaddafi troops raping, issued Viagra: envoys – 28 April 2011

Daily Mail – Fuelled ‘by Viagra’, Gaddafi’s troops use rape as a weapon of war with children as young as EIGHT among the victims – 25 April 2011

New York Times – Berber Rebels in Libya’s West Face Long Odds Against Qaddafi – 24 April 2011

U.N. team arrives in Tripoli to investigate alleged human rights abuses

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

TRIPOLI, Libya – A United Nations team appointed to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in Libya has arrived in Tripoli.

The team, selected by the United Nations Human Rights Council, will travel to prisons, hospitals, and certain regions where suspected human rights abuses have occurred to determine the scope of atrocities that took place in the wake of Moammar Qaddafi’s suppression of and violence against government protestors in February.

The U.N. recommended an inquiry into alleged abuses in Libya in February, when a resolution was unanimously adopted in a special session held in Geneva. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, urging the Libyan government to take action to hold perpetrators of abuses accountable, said at the time, “Although reports are still patchy and hard to verify, one thing is painfully clear; in brazen and continuing breach of international law, the crackdown in Libya of peaceful demonstrations is escalating alarmingly with reported mass killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of protestors.”

The team is being led by Cherif Bassiouni, an Egyptian legal expert, who indicated that his team would engage the Libyan government to assist with the investigation. The government has said it will cooperate. Bassiouni said his team planned to ask the government about “the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and civilian areas, civilian casualties, torture and the use of mercenaries.” Bassiouni also intends to raise the issue of foreign journalists being held in Libya. He said he has even given the Libyan government “a list of all the foreign journalists who are in detention.”

In the last week, reports have emerged that Qaddafi’s forces are indiscriminately shelling the city of Misrata, and that three people in Misrata were killed by missiles.

In addition to the U.N., Western governments and some Arab states have accused Qaddafi of ordering his forces to kill hundreds of civilians who protested his four-decade rule.

Libyan officials have denied killing civilians, saying instead that they have been forced to act against al Qaeda sympathizers trying to seize control of the country.

In addition to Bassiouni, the other members of the team include Asma Khader, a Jordanian-Palestinian lawyer and human rights advocate, and Philippe Kirsch, a Canadian lawyer who was the International Criminal Court’s first president.

Khader said the team would look into sexual crimes, including the case of Libyan woman Eman al-Obaidi who became well known after accusing militiamen of gang-raping her.

The team is expected to present their findings in June.

In addition to this investigation, the UN Security Council has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Libya on possible charges of war crimes.

For more information, please see:

BBC – UN team to start probe of human rights abuses – 27 April 2011

Reuters – U.N. investigators in Libya to probe rights abuses – 27 April 2011

Reuters – UN rights investigators to start probe in Libya – 8 April 2011

UN News Centre – UN rights council recommends suspending Libya, orders inquiry into abuses – 25 February 2011

Chad Votes as Opposition Calls for Boycott

By Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

President Deby has been in power for over 20 years; Photo courtesy of the AFP
President Deby has been in power for over 20 years; Photo courtesy of the AFP

N’DJAMENA, Chad– On Monday, Chad held presidential elections amid cries of voter fraud and an organized boycott by several opposition candidates.  Though the results won’t be announced for another week, incumbent president Idriss Deby is almost certain to win after many of the candidates pulled themselves from the race.  Deby faced just two opponents in the election after the withdrawal, a lawyer, Nadji Madou, and a former agriculture minister, Albert Pahimi Padackey, both relatively unknown and not expected to win.

Opposition leaders Abdelkader Wadal Kamougue, Ngarledjy Yorongar and Saleh Kebzabo have stated the elections are fraudulent due to the sale of voter cards.  The cards, left over from a February legislative poll, could be found for sale before the election in the capital city markets.  Since the cards were not designed for Monday’s election they are not official election material and use of them would constitute fraud.  The opposition leaders called upon Deby to print new cards but were ignored.  In calling for the boycott, Kamougue said, “We cannot possibly sanction this masquerade.”  While the reaction of some was split, voter Djibrine Ibet, said “There is no point in voting in an election whose result is known in advance in any case. . .What hope is there when the party in power refuses to print new election cards because they are afraid of losing?”

On Saturday, Kamougue, Yorongar and Kebzabo held a rally with over 1,000 people in attendance.  During the rally, a statement was read that appealed to the voters; “To vote on April 25 is to commit suicide. It is to self-destruct. . .[This is an a]ppeal to the people of Chad not to vote on April 25.”  Some voters told reporters on election day that the fraudulent polls amounted to robbery.  Monday’s election has long been under suspicion after some results from the February legislative vote were invalidated due to ‘irregularities’.  In addition, this most recent election was delayed for three weeks and as voters turned out on Monday, witnesses in the capital of N’Djamena said that polling stations opened late and were lacking voting materials.

Deby has been in control of Chad since 1990 when he took power from Hissene Habre in a military coup.  Since then he has been elected to four terms and resisted multiple coup attempts by rebels.  The rebels entered the capital in 2008 before being forced from the city with the help of French military forces.  Since then, Deby has reached a peace agreement with Sudan and the rebel groups that were located primarily in the Darfur region of Sudan that borders Chad.

Deby has brought changes to Chad, which consistently ranks as one of the world’s poorest countries, but some doubt the change is positive.  In 2003, a 4 billion dollar pipeline was completed which allowed Chad to start producing oil.  The World bank funded this project on the condition that the profits be used to build up impoverished Chadians.  The agreement has since been abandoned after it was found that the government used the money elsewhere.

In response to the boycott, Deby called upon the 4.8 eligible voters in Chad to “fulfill their civic duty” and further stated that the only reason his opponents withdrew was because they knew they had no chance of winning.  Speaking out against the vote, a coalition of rebel groups joined the boycott, calling Deby the “Sultan of Chad”.

For more information, please see;

BBC- Chad Opposition Boycotts Presidential Election25 April, 2011

ReutersChad Leader Poised to Win Vote Boycotted By Rivals25 April, 2011

ICChad President Set for Re-election as Rivals Boycott25 April, 2011

AFPVoting Begins in Chad Presidential Election24 April, 2011

AFPChad Votes as Opposition Boycotts Poll25 April, 2011

VOAChad President Expected to Win  Opposition-Boycotted Election23 April, 2011