Olivia Caeymaex's blog

North Kivu province is split into two administrative regions. The Petit Nord in the south and the Grand Nord in the north. Most of the violence that you read about in North Kivu happens in the Petit Nord, where the poorly integrated Congolese army, the FDLR, and other militias prey upon civilians. I traveled recently to Grand Nord to better understand the security situation there and the threats facing civilians.  Read More »

In Bukavu, South Kivu, I attended a conference on the protection of witnesses and victims in cases of sexual violence, an issue in eastern Congo that raises more than one concern.  Read More »

The combination of years of conflict, natural disasters, and resource-rich land that is at once a boon and a driver of violence might lead one to believe that this region of Congo is cursed.

I regularly interact with Congolese people who roll their eyes when I suggest they report a crime to the police or the army. Impunity has divided the population and the security apparatus; all that is left is skepticism and distrust. The investigation into the murder of businessman Albert Prigogine has taken on national significance and generated international press. But even in this spotlight, will justice be done?