North Kivu concern -General Nkunda's offensive

[Supercilious]

As many of you may know, in the eastern Congolese province of North Kivu, general Laurent Nkunda, a charismatic rebel leader (from the Tutsi minority) is planing to change the corrupt Congolese government of president Kabila. Such a turmoil can have a major influence on commodities markets.



http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4920ZI.html

GOMA, Congo (Reuters) - Congolese Tutsi rebel chief Laurent Nkunda has no immediate plans to wage war outside his eastern stronghold, his spokesman said on Friday, as the army dismissed a threat by him to "liberate the people of Congo".

In comments to the BBC and Radio France International, Nkunda on Thursday reiterated his view that a peace process signed in January with Democratic Republic of Congo's government was over. He urged Congolese to "stand up for their liberty".

"We are going to liberate the people of Congo," the BBC quoted Nkunda as saying.
[...]
"But as far as (Nkunda's) larger vision goes, I'm not sure it's achievable," he said. Nkunda told the BBC on Thursday he was renaming his rebel group the Movement for the Total Liberation of Congo.

Nkunda has led a rebellion in North Kivu since 2004 in defence of Congo's minority Tutsi ethnic community. He says Tutsis are threatened by Rwandan Hutu rebels he says are backed by Kabila's government army.

Now on a completely unrelated topic let's not forget about the November Elections in the US:

[phirang]

Re: North Kivu concern -General Nkunda's offensive

As many of you may know, in the eastern Congolese province of North Kivu, general Laurent Nkunda, a charismatic rebel leader (from the Tutsi minority) is planing to change the corrupt Congolese government of president Kabila. Such a turmoil can have a major influence on commodities markets.


http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE4920ZI.html

Now on a completely unrelated topic let's not forget about the November Elections in the US:

Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Zambia is complicit in this!

Thing is, the mines may still operate but instead pay off these new guerillas rather than the regime. Disruptions, perhaps, but I'd be surprised if the export of metals decreased meaningfully.

What they COULD do is knock out the domestic smelters and infrastructure...

[phirang]

Re: North Kivu concern -General Nkunda's offensive

I applaud congo's mining minister, though: he stuck it to the mining co's that were making 120% irr's off their backs, shipping trucks full of 40% Cu/Co concentrate to the highways and railways east and paying a pittance to the "state".

DRC is now focusing on exporting value-added metal versus minerals, and that's why they're vulnerable. Mobuto's old dams are barely functional, and power lines are being torn down to get at the copper(the miners have hired goons to protect the power lines, though).

Gold mines in DRC can still work quite well, though: many gold mines have airstrips and fly out bullion. So long as they can get their acid and supplies, who cares, right?

I am still laughing at Lundin and Katanga, etc: now do they realize why no bank would finance them!??

p.s: amusing to see what concession freeport and lundin will make in their tenke project... lesson from this: never, never, ever underestimate the natives! They read bloomberg and FT, too!

[Supercilious]

Re: North Kivu concern -General Nkunda's offensive

Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Zambia is complicit in this!

I don;t know about Zambia but Rwanda looks like a sure bet. Nkunda has RPF written all over his uniform.

A lot of people see Chinese money behind Kabila. Now if we are talking about Rwanda, let's not forget that Paul Kagame started his carrier in military intelligence, in Mouseveni's National Resistance Army. He was not slated to become RPF leader, but Fred Rwingyema died in the RPF invasion of Rwanda in 1990, and Paul Kagame had to interrupt his "military" studies at Fort Leavenworth and rush home fast to become the RPF military leader...the rest is history.

A young charismatic leader (Laurent Nkunda) shows up in eastern Kongo, with a message of hope and change... because the current leadership in Kinsasha is considered too expensive and not good for business.;)

[phirang]

Re: North Kivu concern -General Nkunda's offensive

I don;t know about Zambia but Rwanda looks like a sure bet. Nkunda has RPF written all over his uniform.

A lot of people see Chinese money behind Kabila. Now if we are talking about Rwanda, let's not forget that Paul Kagame started his carrier in military intelligence, in Mouseveni's National Resistance Army. He was not slated to become RPF leader, but Fred Rwingyema died in the RPF invasion of Rwanda in 1990, and Paul Kagame had to interrupt his "military" studies at Fort Leavenworth and rush home fast to become the RPF military leader...the rest is history.

A young charismatic leader (Laurent Nkunda) shows up in eastern Kongo, with a message of hope and change... because the current leadership in Kinsasha is considered too expensive and not good for business.;)

Well, hopefully people realize the relative stability found in Eritrea and decide to shift money there...