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ECI News

ECI News May 20, 2016

On May 19–21, 2016, the 2nd annual Saveur du Kivu will take place with great Congolese and international fanfare in Bukavu, DRC. Hosted by the Government of South Kivu, Saveur du Kivu is organized in collaboration with the National Coffee Office (ONC), Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), On the Ground (OTG), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), CRS Coffee Lands, USAID and TWIN. Supply chain workshops with representatives from grower organizations, government, international NGOs, and buyers will also take place with an objective of supporting the reemergence of a sustainable specialty coffee industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“If we allow Joseph Kabila to remain in power, he’s going to become a president for life. He’s going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing and that will lead to chaos.” — Francis Kalombo 

Elections
Arrest warrant issued for Congo opposition leader – Aaron Ross, Reuters – read

Congo’s Political Crisis Stokes Fears of Widespread Violence – Richard Lardner, AP– read

DRC opposition leaders urge U.S. sanctions on Kabila – Jonathan Landay, Reuters –read

Britain mulls EU sanctions on DR Congo ‘repression’: envoy – AFP – read

Economy
Congo targets airtime touts as central bank props Franc – Thomas Wilson, Bloomberg – read

Congo to seek up to $500 million in budget support from World Bank – Aaron Ross, Reuters – read

Plans Underway to Revamp Tazara Railway – The East African – read

Peace
ICC prosecutors urge 25 years’ jail for DR Congo militia chief – AFP – read

Special Advisor for Children’s Issues travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – US Department of State – read

Conflict
CBS exclusive: Family of American security contractor jailed in Congo pleads for his freedom – Margaret Brennan, CBS – read

Collective punishment in Congo – Habibou Bangré, IRIN – read

U.N. experts accuse Congo general of aiding attacks on civilians – Michelle Nichols, Reuters – read

Africa’s biggest Gorilla in critical decline, activists say – Jeffrey Young, Voice of America – read

Joseph Kony’s former bodyguards are now helping U.S. troops hunt him – Kevin Maurer, The Daily Beast – read

Health
DRC: MSF responds to a particularly deadly outbreak of malaria in the north east of the country – Medicine Sans Frontiers – read

ECI in the news
Eastern Congo Initiative: Eradicating poverty – Taylor Resteghini, Borgen Project –read

Partners
DRC’s ‘rape surgeon’ calls for ‘radical change’ in political system – Ken Karuri, Press Agencies – watch

Statement: Dr. Mukwege on Beni massacres- Panzi Foundation – read

Report
This year in the Great Lakes – Jason K. Stearns & Yolande Bouka, Rift Valley Institute – read

Opinion
Silence on abuses in Africa is complicity – Dirke Köpp, Deutshe Welle – read

Other DRC News
Hailey Gates and Her Escapades on ‘States of Undress’ – Stacey Anderson, New York Times – read