Random Photo Drop

Orthodera ministralis – Australian Green Mantis
Melbourne, Australia
photograph © Alex Wild 2006

A young mantis cleans pollen grains from her foreleg by running the leg through her mouthparts.

DR Congo army working with rebels

From BBC News Africa…
(Image from BBC News)

The Democratic Republic of Congo army is collaborating with rebels to mine gold and tin, instead of fighting them, says lobby group Global Witness.

Its researchers found that the two groups operated their own mines and even traded with each other.

The army, with the UN, is supposed to be undertaking a huge operation against the FDLR rebels, accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

The FDLR presence in DR Congo lies at the heart of years of recent unrest.

Rwanda has twice sent troops into DR Congo, saying it wants to stop FDLR attacks on its territory.

The Congolese defence ministry refused to comment on the allegations but deputy Mines Minister Victor Kasongo told the BBC that action would be taken if the allegations are proven.

He said the army should have no role in the extraction of minerals.

The DR Congo government has promised to wipe out the FDLR and its operations are being backed by UN peacekeepers.

But Global Witness says there are frequent reports of Congolese soldiers selling weapons and uniforms to the mainly Hutu FDLR.

“This complicity extends to the exploitation of minerals,” said the group’s director, Patrick Alley.

“Our researchers visited areas where the FARDC [DR Congo army] and the FDLR were operating side by side, each controlling their own territories, trading in minerals from ‘their’ respective mines without interfering with each other’s activities. They depend on this mutual support to continue their trade,” he said…

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