Efforts to End LRA Falter
Efforts to end the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, show further signs of slowing, at a time when they are urgently needed. While LRA violence is increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the group’s leader Joseph Kony and the majority of his fighters are now in Congo likely regrouping and reorganizing, efforts to apprehend the LRA senior leadership, protect civilians, and promote the defection of its fighters continue to falter. Here’s a sketch of some recent developments ...
South Sudan Prepares for Independence
On July 9, South Sudan becomes independent after decades of war with the north. Heavy fighting has broken out anew, but South Sudanese are pausing to celebrate a day many thought would never come ...
Preparations in Full Swing, South Sudan Readies for Independence
JUBA, South Sudan – South Sudan’s capital is getting a fresh coat of paint. With just days to go until the world’s newest nation is born, citizens here are doing a bit of nesting. Women were sweeping the street. Men have been painting walls and repairing potholes. All eyes will be on South Sudan this Saturday, July 9, and everyone wants to make sure that the country puts its best foot forward ...
The Congo Connection between Slavery and Conflict Minerals
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been plagued by a history of widespread violence, often fueled by a deadly scramble for the state’s natural resources. In eastern Congo today, the mines have become a source of not only conflict minerals, but also a source of human slavery. Last week Free the Slaves, a partner organization of Enough, released The Congo Report: Slavery in Conflict Minerals, which documents slavery in and around Congo’s mines. Research teams from Free the Slaves and two local Congolese groups conducted surveys and community consultations in the Kivu Provinces of eastern Congo to determine the ...
South Sudan: A Nation Born into War
Why would the regime in Khartoum decide to escalate right before the South’s independence? There are tactical and strategic reasons. Tactically, the regime is bullying for a better negotiating position on where borders will be drawn and how oil revenues will be shared, with billions of dollars at stake. Regime officials are probing, attempting to ascertain whether deploying a total strategy aimed at setting the South, border areas, and Darfur on fire will draw any reaction beyond rhetorical concern from the international community. Strategically, the regime is doing what it does best: ruling by arson ...
Media Backgrounder in Anticipation of South Sudan Independence
As South Sudan’s Independence Day on July 9th approaches, the international community is focusing on the birth of its newest nation. Media outlets from around the world are covering this historical event. As a tool for journalists who do not have extensive background knowledge on the subject, the Enough Project has created this brief contextual overview on South Sudan and its related issues ...
Unique Chance for South Sudan to Herald Women’s Rights
On July 9th, South Sudan will declare its independence, becoming Africa's newest nation. The challenges it faces are many. 50 years of war and conflict have seriously undermined the capacity of institutions at all levels to provide justice. Scores of cases of human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence have remained uninvestigated, unprosecuted or unpunished. Conflict-related sexual violence is one of history's greatest silences. In South Sudan as elsewhere, it brings stigmatization and rejection, diseases and reproductive health issues, psychological trauma and unwanted pregnancies, and damages the entire social fabric. It has held communities hostage by preventing women from ...
When Rape Becomes a Game
"He's like the kid at the playground, who decides to take the ball, call it his, and go home when things aren't going his way. If he can't win, no one can play." When thinking about the most recent case of mass rape in eastern Congo -- carried out yet again by an aggrieved former rebel commander hiding behind the Congolese military and leading a patchwork of troops composed of former rebel groups -- I can't get the analogy out of my head. However, instead of a self-entitled commander taking his ball and going home, he takes his men and ...
America’s Sudan Sanctions Should Forbid All Dealings With Bashir’s Patrons
In this guest blog post, lawyer James Bair explains what the current U.S. sanctions toward Khartoum do and don't do, pointing out some significant loopholes that should be closed to make doing business with the government of President Bashir even more difficult and U.S. efforts more impactful ...
Chicagoland Groups to Walk for Peace in Sudan’s Darfur Region
On July 9, the historic day that South Sudan becomes an independent nation separate from the rest of Sudan, Youth United for Darfur -- the Chicagoland coalition of high schools and colleges working together for peace and education for the people of Darfur -- will hold its inaugural Walk with Darfur. The walk will take place on Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, in conjunction with the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois’ celebration of the independence of South Sudan ...
