Christoph N. Vogel
Researcher, advisor, scholar and investigator. Hiphop and cooking aficionado. Kujenga amani lazima kuelewa vita.
- Yes. Read that.
- Last week, the US brokered a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda. As in many previous agreement, the dismantling of the FDLR figures prominently. If you like to dive deeper into why that may prove complicated, have a look at my recent essay about the group…
- Right on time for Labour Day, my latest piece of work which investigates the interplay of violent conflict, economic governance and the politics of conflict in eastern Congo through the prism of the FDLR’s “nonconventional logistics”. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- A true intellectual treat and privilege to participate in this timely workshop convened by @alondra.bsky.social @tcarayannis.bsky.social and Marie-Thérèse Png last week under Albert Einstein’s perennial sights at IAS.
- New report on how the outsourcing of warfare has become an ever more dominant feature of conflict in eastern Congo — with its very own protracted logics but not entirely unlike other theatres of contemporary wars. Read on and download below. www.ebuteli.org/publications...
- Right on time for Labour Day, my latest piece of work which investigates the interplay of violent conflict, economic governance and the politics of conflict in eastern Congo through the prism of the FDLR’s “nonconventional logistics”. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
- Timely piece. Open Doors, some type of a messianic misinformation outlet, has also been instrumental in propagating the 12 February fake massacre of Christians reported from eastern Congo’s Beni area. Happy Easter everyone!
- On this day in 2017, Michael J. Sharp and Zaida Catalán were assassinated while investigating war crimes in Congo’s Kasai region. Most people behind this political murder enjoy impunity until today, just as much as others involved in killings in the region for over three decades.
- #Germany perfectly aligning with global trends in tonight’s post-election TV shows. Election winners (except one…🌹) agitating in favour of breaking existing international and national law, losers timidly defending it.
- Germany — Today is a good day to vote against Nazis, and anyone abetting or supporting them.
- “[…] Against this backdrop, the current escalation seems increasingly reminiscent of the turmoil and regional conflagration of the 1990s.” Written a year ago, where are we now? newleftreview.org/sidecar/post... @newleftreview.bsky.social
- This morning, M23 entered #Bukavu and took control of key locations including the governor’s residence and Ruzizi 1 border crossing. Amidst broader confusion, M23 entry had been erroneously reported since Friday night owing to inconclusive videos circulating on social media.
- Evolutions around Bukavu, including the capture of Kavumu airport around Friday noon, have inspired more people to leave the area, many headed to Bujumbura. There, hundreds of Congolese who have entered legally are currently rounded up for unclear reasons.
- Since last week, the possibility of an M23 move into Bukavu had led to negotiations in which civil society and church representatives had lobbied the military to avoid any major urban fighting similar to Goma on 28 and 29 January.
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View full threadIn parallel, heavy gunfire was reported inside Uvira this morning and the situation along the RN5 stretch leading northwards towards Kamanyola and Bukavu remains tense. One of Bukavu’s most appreciated police commanders was killed by militia while retreating.
- Yesterday, I briefed the European Parliament on the escalating crisis in eastern Congo. The session can be streamed here: multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstream...
- Version française de notre analyse, avec @judithverweijen.bsky.social, du focus parfois exclusif et malsain sur les ressources naturelles dans la couverture de l’escalade des conflits dans l’est du Congo. www.jeuneafrique.com/1657155/poli...
- Mainstream discourse on conflict in eastern #Congo overemphasizes the role of natural resources. This precludes a more solid and thorough analysis overall. @judithverweijen.bsky.social and I explain how and why 👇🏼
- Most reporting on the M23 crisis in DR Congo is using mistaken framings, suggesting the conflict is purely driven by a desire to plunder the region’s rich mineral resources. Opinion from @judithverweijen.bsky.social and @ethuin.bsky.social: ⬇️
- Heureux d’avoir contribué au dernier article de la toujours excellente @justinebrabant.bsky.social
- Just deleted my previous tweet citing an RFI-reported OCHA number of 3000 killed in #Goma last week. I am told this number may not be wrong but also that the current state of oversight does neither allow to confirm or infirm this count.
- Early afternoon in #Goma, M23 secured control over the city’s international airport (not operating since two days but the scene of protracted fighting) and began deploying more consistently downtown amidst further retreat of Congolese troops. Shooting considerably decreased.
- So tonight I am not sharing any updates on #Goma because anything I followed up on in the last few hours I wasn’t able to verify or triangulate beyond reasonable doubt. Except perhaps that there is much less shooting in town tonight than during the day, and very little internet.
- This morning, #Goma emerges in limbo with an unclear, highly dynamic situation. A wealth of footage circulates (mostly unverified), showing either M23 and Rwandan forces on one side, and FARDC and wazalendo on the other. Skirmishes are underway in various parts of town.
- The risk of urban fighting in #Goma that many were afraid of is at least partly materialising, notably downtown around Quartier Volcans (near Rwanda border) and Himbi (further west in town. Sustained SALW fire in various other locations. Several instances of looting too.
- M23 troops further advancing towards downtown #Goma tonight, including airport. Many FARDC fleeing and/or in surrender talks, but heavy fighting (involving wazalendo?) in some areas, no sight of European contractors.
- Reports on M23 troops entering northern #Goma in parallel to ongoing Security Council meeting. Here, stills from Bénédiction fuel station in Monigi, 2.5km from Goma airport. Tonight could be decisive, eyes on eastern #Congo
- Fighting resumed this morning around Goma (shelling in Rusayo and combats between Monigi and Kibati). Goma airport has been closed by government authorities for the time being. Latest AFC (M23) communiqué declares “closure of airspace” over Goma.
- Regular operations at #Goma airport are disturbed and UN evacuation flights appear to have been paused in the morning but there are occasional landings/starts including at least one commercial and one military aircraft (as of 14h local time).
- Yesterday night’s fighting west of Goma left at least 3 SADC peacekeepers dead (informal sources say more, incl. perhaps UN peacekeepers too) and dozens wounded. A UN APC was destroyed. North of Goma, M23 made a move into the city’s outskirts, but seem to have retreated again. 1/2
- Amidst the clashes, consistent reports suggests that Pacifique Ntawunguka aka Omega, military leader of the FDLR would have been killed somewhere between Shove, Rusayo and Mugunga. Meanwhile UN personnel is partly been evacuated from Goma. 2/2
- After last week’s heavy clashes in southern Masisi (including confrontation between two foreign armies on Congolese soil) with M23 taking Minova and other places, clashes resumed around Goma in the past two days. 1/2
- SADC and UN troops deployed heavily on the sides of the Congolese army west of Goma in Mubambiro, Nzulo and Kasengezi while M23 pushed from Sake area and Ngwiro peninsula. North Kivu military governor was shot in so far unclear circumstances, then eventually died while being emergency-airlifted 2/2
- Whatever goes through your mind, @mellomusicgroup.bsky.social never fails. open.spotify.com/track/0QM5BN...
- I spoke to @spiegel.de on why conflicts in eastern Congo are so intractable and why the current escalation is highly worrying and needs a serious reckoning with the underlying, often under-appreciated political drivers.
- There is many ways to disapprove of Elon’s fascist becoming but if Tesla ever designs a rice cooker, think of me.
- Meanwhile, M23 have taken Masisi town without much resistance.
