Here at Enough, we often swap emails with interesting articles and feature stories that we come across in our favorite publications and on our favorite websites. We wanted to share some of these stories with you as part of our effort to keep you up to date on what you need to know in the world of anti-genocide and crimes against humanity work.
Despite the current conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, people from both nations have voiced frustration with their leaders and a desire for peace via Twitter. IRIN covered this social media trend in the article “Sudan-South Sudan: All we are tweeting is give peace a chance,” which includes tweets from the discussion #NewSudans.
Bloomberg reporter Michael Kavanagh reports from Goma about how clashes in eastern Congo are preventing conflict-free mineral exports. The current fighting began last month, when soldiers loyal to former general Bosco Ntaganda deserted the army amid speculation of his arrest. Kavanagh spoke with several North Kivu mining sector officials who said the current violence is not only derailing conflict-free supply chain projects in the works, but is also shifting Congo’s tin and coltan trade to more secure provinces.
Voice of America reported on the meeting this week between Africa’s two female presidents, Malawi’s President Joyce Banda and Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The two leaders discussed how to best collaborate in promoting women’s issues throughout the continent.
The continued fighting between Sudan and South Sudan, which has displaced tens of thousands of people, poses serious danger to children on both sides. Save the Children estimates that up to 60 percent of the displaced are children, who are at risk of being pulled into the conflict as child soldiers. The Guardian’s Global Development blog discusses this and other risks that displaced children in both countries face.
The Public Affairs Officer for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo, or MONUSCO, Matthew Brubacher, who has been studying the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, for years, sat down with VOA Correspondent Gabe Joselow for a brief interview to discuss the LRA’s operations, command structure, and internal communications. Listen to the interview, which also touches on Joseph Kony’s use of spiritualism in the recruitment and retention of LRA members.