WASHINGTON, May 17 2013 (IPS) - With casualties in the long-running conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now surpassing every conflict since World War II, U.S. policymakers and advocates are stepping up campaigns to raise awareness and push legislation aimed at encouraging new negotiations, assisting in government reforms, and pressuring the neighbouring countries that have propped up the DRC’s government.

Some advocates say the situation today could be better than at any time in recent years for a durable peace process.

Peace has a better chance to take root in eastern Congo now than at any time since the cycle of conflict began in the early to mid-1990s. This report analyzes the factors that contribute to the unique role the U.N. special envoy Mary Robinson can play in establishing a more comprehensive and inclusive peace process that addresses the core drivers of violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

London, 16 May 2013 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is treating survivors of an attack on Mpeti in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The village, which is home to around one thousand people, was attacked by men armed with bayonets, machetes and wooden clubs on Tuesday morning.

Among the three wounded being treated at Mweso hospital some 40 km away are two young children, one of whom was orphaned in the attack. The mother and 18 month old baby brother of the other child were also killed.

05/16/2013 16:07 GMT

GOMA (RDCongo), 16 mai 2013 (AFP) - Quarante personnes, dont 8 soldats congolais, ont été tuées dans des affrontements entre l'armée et un groupe de miliciens Maï-Maï, dans la province du Nord-Kivu (est de la République démocratique du Congo, RDC), a-t-on appris jeudi de source officielle.

Ces affrontements se sont produits mercredi à l'aube dans la ville de Beni, à environ 250 kilomètres au nord de Goma, capitale provinciale du Nord-Kivu.

05/16/2013 16:57 GMT

GOMA, DR Congo, May 16, 2013 (AFP) - Violent clashes between rebels and soldiers in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have left 40 people dead, government and military officials said Thursday.

Fighting broke out between Mai-Mai militia and government troops on Wednesday in the town of Beni, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, Colonel Richard Bisamaza said.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende told a press conference that 32 militia fighters were killed as well as eight soldiers.

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Les réfugiés congolais fuyant l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo seront accueillis dans nouveau camp de réfugiés à Kavumu, en province de Cankuzo. Ce « village » a été inauguré ce mercredi 15 mai par le Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés (HCR) est d'une capacité de 13 000 réfugiés. Le nouveau camp devrait en accueillir 5 000 d'ici la fin 2013.

Faits saillants:

• La réponse au choléra dans le secteur de l’Eau, hygiène et assainissement confrontée à une insuffisance de financement.
• Territoire de Moba : Mouvements de population et problèmes de protection sur fond d’activisme des groupes dits d’autodéfense et des Mayi-Mayi.
• Risque de flambée des cas de choléra suite à la coupure d’eau à Kalemie du 6 au 25 mai.

Au moins cinq nouveaux groupes armés nationaux ont été créés en l’espace d’une année à Bashali aux environs de la cité de Kitshanga dans le territoire de Masisi. Ces groupes contrôlent chacun deux ou trois villages. Les principaux groupes créés au cours de la dernière année sont :

Nyatura Noheri

Nyatura Ngwiti

Nyatura Kipema

Les M26

Les forces des patriotes congolais (FPC).

SUBMITTED BY RAVI KUMAR ON WED, 05/15/2013 - 11:39

A documentary shows the importance of sports in uniting conflict-affected communities

“When I joined the rebels, I was 12 years old. I went there because we didn’t have enough food at home,” says Ismael Bikomati in Scoring for Peace, a documentary seeking to spread the message of peace globally.