The purpose of this study is to predict and evaluate whether the participation of the churches in the South Kivu region during the period 1996-2006 in rebuilding broken intercommunity relations and addressing problems of conflict has made any tangible contribution to final outcomes of the political crisis that led to the elections in the DRC in 2006 elections. The study submits the collected data composed of religious, archival documents drawn from the church participation in armed-conflict problem resolution, religious essays and interview response data to careful analysis in order to distil an appropriate practical theological framework methodology for the investigation. A qualitative approach was used in collecting data because the practical theological methodology applied by previous studies in this field endorses this approach as the most appropriate methodology for this type of research study. In its application of the practical theological framework, the study adopted a collaborative approach as opposed to participation involving only churches. The following findings and conclusions have emerged from the analysis of the data collected for the five subtopics - regional politics, social responsibility, peace and reconciliation, insecurity, and cultural transformation - which constitute Chapter Five: Findings and Conclusion. 1. Regional politics The churches' response to the political bungling that characterised the period 1996-2006 was initially confined to verbal criticism devoid of concrete efforts which finally matured into practical theological implementation measures that addressed the intercommunity relations rebuilding and reconstruction of collapsed socio-economic and political structures 2. Social responsibility The churches' successful collaboration with local and human rights international bodies led to resolution of many conflict problems and the provision of many social services for the victims of the conflicts. 3. Peace and reconciliation The study reveals that the churches' efforts towards peace and reconciliation through various church functions in disseminating their moral messages proved very effective in addressing problems and encouraging peace between conflicting political platfonns. 4. Insecurity Church organisations, particularly the Catholic Church, cooperated with the Security Council to enhance security measures in the areas affected by the anned conflicts and the churches became places of refuge for internally displaced persons, where the traumatized received spiritual support. The churches' messages of peace influenced some soldiers to renounce anned violence and to become re-integrated into civilian life. 5. Cultural transfonnation. The church's messages on morality and peace were instrumental in shaping the cultural direction of the inhabitants of South Kivu and succeeded in creating the culture of nonviolent resistance advocated by Ghandi. The study reveals that the churches' efforts towards peace and reconciliation through various church functions in disseminating their moral messages proved very effective in addressing problems and encouraging peace between conflicting political platfonns. resistance advocated by Ghandi. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

This thesis explores the phenomenon of illegal natural resource exploitation in conflict zones and the application of international criminal law, particularly the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to combat the roblem. Contemporary African conflicts, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict explored as a case study herein, have become increasingly distinguishable by the tight connection between war and various forms of illegal natural resource exploitation, particularly targeting valuable and precious mineral resources. With their incidence being highest in Africa, wars funded by illegally exploited natural resources have gradually become one of the greatest threats to regional peace and human security on the African continent. The Congo conflict clearly demonstrated the problematic nature and impact of illegal natural resource exploitation and the widespread human, economic and political costs associated with this phenomenon. This thesis is based on the initial assumption that the quest by conflict actors to profit from war through illegal natural resource exploitation activities is at the centre of the commission of serious human rights violations as well as the complexity and longevity of African conflicts. Developments in international criminal law, culminating in the adoption of the Rome Statute and the establishment of the International Criminal Court, have given impetus to the argument that any group of conflict actors should be subjected to the individual criminal responsibility regime of this legal framework. A further underlying assumption of this thesis is therefore that international criminal law can constrain the acts and conduct defined in this thesis as illegal natural resource exploitation activities since they constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute framework. However, despite illustrating the illegal resource exploitation activities of various state and non-state actors, this thesis is confined to an application of the Rome Statute based international criminal liability regime against members of armed rebel groups involved in such acts. In exploring these issues, this work examines international criminal law institutions and the relevance of international criminal justice in addressing particular phenomena prevalent during African armed conflicts. It further provides the stage to assess the potential of international criminal law in safeguarding natural resources for the benefit of African societies perennially exposed to the depredations of natural resource financed warfare. / Microsoft� Office Word 2007 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in

The Cercopithecus mitis radiation has significant phenotypic and ecological diversity, making it a great candidate for evolutionary genetic studies. This study represents the first genetic survey of C. mitis from well provenanced wild populations, including C. mitis heymansi from the TL2 landscape, an area of remote tropical forest between the Tshuapa, Lomami, and Lualaba rivers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tissue samples were collected from 7 male blue monkeys, DNA was extracted and surveyed at 919 bp of the Testis-Specific Protein Y-chromosome (TSPY), and added to a larger dataset including other C. mitis and C. albogularis specimens. Evolutionary analyses suggests TL2 C. mitis shared recent genetic contact with C. albogularis at the headwaters of the Congo River than with conspecifics to the northeast, indicating the Congo River is a significant biogeographic barrier to C. mitis and sheds new light on their genetic heritage, taxonomic assignment, and conservation status. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The basic problem in this study is to determine whether the electoral management body (EMB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is sufficiently independent and whether it complies with most of the criteria of an ideal independent EMB in order to conduct free and fair elections in the promotion of democracy in the DRC. However, an ideal type of an independent EMB is not easily realizable but Ghana’s electoral commission (EC) is widely regarded as a model of an independent EMB in Africa. Therefore, this study uses the EC as a workable ideal type of independent EMB that informs this study in assessing the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)’s level of independence. The study discovered that while the formal legal framework guarantee the independence of the CENI, it lacks practical independence due to certain factors which include the mode of appointment and composition of the body, the unstable security of tenure of its members, the negative influence of the judiciary, executive and the parliament over the functioning of the CENI, and the lack of adequate funding. The study argues that the composition of the CENI has to be depoliticized; its members should enjoy a strong security of tenure and the issue of political parties funding should be effective and handled by the CENI in order to enhance political competitiveness in the electoral process. An adequate funding should be timely realized so that the CENI carries out its work with autonomy. The judiciary, the parliament and the executive should support the growth of democracy in the DRC by allowing the CENI to work without the interference of any quarter. / African Centre for Arts, Culture and Heritage Studies / M.A. (African Politics)

This study examines the implementation and enforcement of the right to environment in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and compares it with the situation in South Africa. To date, there is no legislation in the DRC that gives effect to this right, and the gap between the guaranteed right and the reality remains significant. Guidance may be found in the South African model for implementing and enforcing environmental right(s) which is sustained by an array of legislation. While the priorities on the agenda of political leaders in the DRC lack real willingness to deal with this matter, parliament must be pressured to pass legislation that gives effect to the right to environment and to improve the current framework of environmental regulation. It is imperative to create awareness in government and at grassroots level for the protection of the environment as a human right. / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

This study examines the implementation and enforcement of the right to environment in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and compares it with the situation in South Africa. To date, there is no legislation in the DRC that gives effect to this right, and the gap between the guaranteed right and the reality remains significant. Guidance may be found in the South African model for implementing and enforcing environmental right(s) which is sustained by an array of legislation. While the priorities on the agenda of political leaders in the DRC lack real willingness to deal with this matter, parliament must be pressured to pass legislation that gives effect to the right to environment and to improve the current framework of environmental regulation. It is imperative to create awareness in government and at grassroots level for the protection of the environment as a human right. / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

La tâche de cette thèse consiste à cerner la crise du journalisme dans un contexte propre aux pays confrontés à des crises profondes, particulièrement celui de l’espace médiatique congolais. La période de transition politique – qui s’est déroulée entre 1990 et 2006 – a été privilégiée, en raison de son ouverture au pluralisme médiatique et du foisonnement des médias dans un État marqué jadis par un quasi-monopole étatique sur le secteur.<p>Partant de l’argument selon lequel le journalisme congolais s’exerce dans un environnement de crise – celle-ci étant comprise comme un lieu d’inversion des valeurs et, par conséquent, favorable à la transgression des normes –, notre thèse se structure autour de trois hypothèses. Premièrement, serait-il moralement, mieux éthiquement acceptable, pour les journalistes, de transgresser les règles de leur profession, étant donné qu’ils évoluent dans un environnement de crise ?Dans l’affirmative, au nom de quels principes et de quelle éthique ces pratiques transgressives seraient-elles justifiées ?Deuxièmement, ces pratiques, pour autant qu’elles sont susceptibles d’être légitimées au nom d’une certaine éthique, seraient-elles préjudiciables à la qualité de l’information ?<p>Pour répondre à ces interrogations, notre démarche vise, d’abord, à circonscrire la crise congolaise ;puis à identifier, grâce à une approche empirique, les pratiques journalistiques ;enfin, à mesurer les retombées de ces pratiques sur l’information livrée au public. / Doctorat en Information et communication / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

La présente étude s’inscrit dans le cadre de la recherche d’une meilleure compréhension de l’analyse de la valorisation des PFNL des plateaux Batéké en périphérie de Kinshasa en vue d’envisager un mode d’exploitation qui garantisse la conservation et l’utilisation durable et d’apporter les éléments indispensables à la gestion des PFNL. Les enquêtes par sondages sur une base de 280 ménages ont été renforcées par 22 entretiens par focus group. Des observations directes sur le terrain, des enquêtes socioéconomiques, ethnoécologiques sur les stratégies d’exploitation des PFNL, l’étude de la filière PFNL et les études d’impacts d’activités d’exploitation des PFNL ont été conduites entre juin 2005 et novembre 2006 dans 7 villages de Plateaux de Batéké: Mbankana, Dumi, Mampu, Mutiene, Kinzono, Inzolo et 4ème Cité CADIM à plus de 140 km à l’Est de la ville Kinshasa.<p>L’étude de la valorisation des PFNL des Plateaux de Batéké a montré que 169 espèces de PFNL appartenant à 65 familles des plantes sont valorisées. Cinq espèces de PFNL sont les plus exploitées dans la zone d’étude. Il s’agit de Pteridium sp, du vin indigène (de palmier à huile et de raphia), de Dioscorea praehensilis, de Talinum triangulare et du rotin. La détermination des facteurs explicatifs du choix de l’exploitation des PFNL les plus exploités dans la zone a été estimé par la régression multiple modèle Probit. Ce modèle a l’avantage d’inclure dans sa structure mathématique, la dépendance mutuelle et des informations sur la pertinence des variables explicatives présentes dans le modèle final. La consommation du Pteridium sp. par le ménage, son prix de vente, sa disponibilité dans les écosystèmes, la distance à parcourir par rapport aux lieux de prélèvement, le statut matrimonial du chef de ménage, la distance par rapport au marché et l’appartenance à une structure locale sont des facteurs explicatifs déterminant dans le choix de l’exploitation du Pteridium sp. Pour l’exploitation du vin indigène, la distance par rapport aux lieux de prélèvement, la taille de ménage, les connaissances endogènes sur le vin indigène, la distance par rapport au marché et le revenu en sont des facteurs explicatifs. Le revenu issu de la vente, les connaissances endogènes, le prix de vente et la consommation sont des facteurs explicatifs déterminants pour l’exploitation de Dioscorea praehensilis. Pour Talinum triangulare, le revenu issu de la vente, la consommation, la distance par rapport au lieu de prélèvement, le prix de vente et les connaissances endogènes en sont les facteurs déterminants. Pour le rotin, la consommation, le prix de vente, les connaissances endogènes et la disponibilité en rotins dans les écosystèmes en sont les déterminants. Les PFNL vendus sur les marchés et points de ventes des Plateaux de Batéké proviennent des jachères forestières, des forêt-galeries et des savanes. Le coût total moyen d’exploitation d’un kg du PFNL est estimé à 0,08 $ US pour le Pteridium sp. 0,05 $ US pour le vin indigène, 0,05 $ US pour le Dioscorea praehensilis, 0,05 $ US pour le Talinum triangulare et à 0,20 $ US pour le rotin. Un exploitant villageois réalise par journée de travail, un revenu moyen de près de 2 $ US pour le Pteridium sp, 9 $ US pour le vin indigène, 1 $ US pour le Dioscorea praehensilis, 0,26 $ US pour le Talinum triangulare et près de 4 $ US pour le rotin. Hormis la valeur socio-économique que la valorisation des PFNL apporte à l’écosystème, certains méfaits sur la durabilité des écosystèmes sont occasionnés. Enfin, cette étude démontre qu’il y a des interactions entre les paysans enquêtés et leurs milieux. La définition d’une politique raisonnée de valorisation des PFNL intégrée à l’approche interdisciplinaire du développement durable reste incontournable pour la zone d’étude. <p><p><p>The present study aims to improve the understanding of the valorisation of the NTFP of the Batéké Highlands situated in the periphery of Kinshasa in order to develop an exploitation mode that guarantees the conservation and a sustainable use and to provide the necessary elements to the management of the NTFP. The investigations by polls on a basis of 280 households have been reinforced by 22 interviews by means of focus groups. Direct observations in situ, socio-economic and ethno-ecological analyses of the exploitation of the NTFP, an analysis of the NTFP processing pathway and an impact study of the exploitation of the NTFP have been carried out between June 2005 and November 2006 in 7 villages of the Batéké Highlands: Mbankana, Dumi, Mampu, Muti-mutiene, Kinzono, Inzolo and 4th City CADIM situated at more than 140 km to the East of Kinshasa. The study of the valorisation of the NTFP of the Batéké Highlands showed that 169 species of NTFP belonging to 65 plant families are valorised. Five species of NTFP are the most exploited in the study area: Pteridium sp, indigenous wine (of palm oil and raffia), Dioscorea praehensilis, Talinum triangulare and rattan. The determination of the factors of the choice of the most exploited NTFP have been estimated by multiple regression and the Probit model. This model has the advantage to include mutual dependence in its mathematical structure as well as information on the relevance of the explanatory variables in the final model. The consumption of Pteridium sp. by household, its selling price, its availability in the ecosystems, the distance to the places of collection, the matrimonial status of the household chief, the distance to the market and the adherence to a local structure are the explanatory factors determining the choice of Pteridium sp. For the exploitation of the indigenous wine, the distance to the places of collection, the size of household, endogenous knowledge on the indigenous wine, the distance to the market and the income are the explanatory factors. The income generated by the sale, endogenous knowledge, the selling price and the consumption rate are the explanatory factors for Dioscorea praehensilis. For Talinum triangulare, the income generated by the sale, the consumption, the distance to the place of collection, the selling price and endogenous knowledge are the determining factors. For rattan, the consumption, the selling price, endogenous knowledge and the availability of rattan in the ecosystems are the determinants of the choice. The NTFP sold on the markets and points of sales of the Batéké Highlands are collected in forest fallow lands, forest-galleries and savannas. The overall average cost of exploitation of one kg of NTFP is estimated at 0.08 $ US for Pteridium sp. at 0.05 $ US for indigenous wine, at 0.05 $ US for Dioscorea praehensilis, at 0.05 $ US for Talinum triangulare and at 0.20 $ US for rattan. A local collector obtains per working day an average income of about 2 $ US for Pteridium sp, 9 $US for the indigenous wine, 1 $ US for Dioscorea praehensilis, 0.26 $ US for Talinum triangulare and about 4 $ US for rattan. Besides the socioeconomic value that the valorisation of the NTFP brings to the ecosystem, some bad practices for the durability of the ecosystems are observed. Finally, this study demonstrates that there are close interactions between the peasants questioned and their environment. The development of a reasonable policy of valorisation of the NTFP integrated with an interdisciplinary approach of sustainable development remains crucial for our study site.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the early 1960s, when the majority of African countries gained independence from colonial powers, the continent has been in turmoil. Conflicts have been extensive, and detrimental to economic, political and above all, social development. Today, Africa is under more pressure than ever to find solutions for these conflicts. The situation is complicated by the complex and difficult challenges brought on by a rapidly globalising world. Also conflicts have often been characterised by internal, as well as regional proportions. Coupled with this, the threats facing Southern Africa are of such a nature that they transcend national boundaries, and have a tendency to effect entire regions as opposed to individual states. Thus threats no longer endanger states, but rather their people. fn view of this, conflict resolution requires a regional approach as well, in order to ensure a viable and lasting solution. This thesis attempts to evaluate the contribution of regional co-operation to conflict resolution in Southern Africa. Two concepts imperative to this evaluation are regionalism and security. Both are examined and juxtaposed. The author determines that the concepts have changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War period, and that new regionalism and new security approaches need to be considered in addressing conflicts, since traditional interpretations have become obsolete, particularly in the developing world. Furthermore, an examination of the international, regional and sub-regional organisations, concerned with conflict management on the continent, is carried out. The United Nations and the Southern African Development Community, together with their efforts in Southern Africa analysed. The author takes the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a case study, and concludes that the persisting conflict has ensued precisely because regional co-operation was inadequate. The states and leaders involved did not take into account the regional dimensions of the conflict, and also ignored threats to human security. Regional co-operation was at a minimal, and involvement has until now been predominantly unilateral and statist, marked by personal interests, and not those of the population. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die vroeë sestigerjare, toe die meerderheid Afrikalande onafhankliheid van koloniale magte verkry het, was die kontinent in onrus gehul. Dit was omvattende konflik - konflik wat nadelig was vir ekonomiese, politieke en veral sosiale ontwikkeling. Vandag, meer as ooit tevore, is Afrika onder druk om oplossings te vind vir hierdie konflikte. Die situasie word gekompliseer deur die uitdagings gestel deur 'n vinnig globaliserende wêreld. Die konflik word dikwels deur interne sowel as streeksafmetings gekenmerk. Hiermee saam is die bedreigings wat op Suidelike Afrika 'n invloed het van so 'n aard dat dit nasionale grense ignoreer en die geneigdheid het om totale streke, in teenstelling met individuele state, te beïnvloed. Hierdie bedreigings stel dus nie state in gevaar nie, maar eerder hul mense. Om 'n lewensvatbare en blywende effek te hê, benodig konflikoplossing dus ook 'n streeksbenadering aan te neem. Hierdie tesis poog om die bydrae van streekssamewerking, ten einde konflikoplossing in Suidelike Afrika te bewerkstellig, te evalueer. Beide word ondersoek en in verband gebring. Die skrywer bevind dat die konsepte drasties verander het sedert die einde van die Koue Oorlog tydperk, en dat nuwe regionalisme en nuwe sekuriteit benaderings oorweeg moet word, aangesien tradisionele interpretasies verouderd, veral in die ontwikkelende wêreld, is. Verder word internasionale, regionale en sub-regionale organisasies wat gemoeid is met konflikhantering op die kontinent, ook ondersoek. Die Verenigde Nasies en die Suidelike Afrika Ontwikkelings Gemeenskap (SADe), tesame met hul pogings in Suidelike Africa, word geanaliseer. Die skrywer maak gebruik van die konflik in die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo as gevallestudie, en kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat konflik ontstaan het juis omdat regionale samewerking nooit werklik gerealiseer het nie. Die betrokke state en leiers het nie die streeksdimensies van die konflik in ag geneem nie, en ook menslike sekuriteit bedreigings ignoreer. Regionale samewerking was beperk tot In minimum, en betrokkenheid was tot nou toe oorwegend eensydig en staats georienteerd, en gekenmerk deur persoonlike belange, en nie dié van die bevolking nie.