RAID participating in Congo Season 6-16th May, London

The Frontline Club in London launches the Congo Season with a series of
discussions, screenings and photojournalism events starting from
6th-16th of May entitled ʻDemystifying the Congoʼ.



The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has witnessed one of the worldʼs worst
ongoing humanitarian crises, where as many as 5.4 million people may have died
since 1998.



The Frontline Club is organizing a series of expert panels, photojournalism
presentations and selected documentaries with speakers drawn from within
Congo, the journalistic world, the NGO community and academia. The series will
examine possible solutions for DRC, will look at the issues of conflict, gender
based violence, resources and the role of the international community.



Tue 6th May, 7.30pm - Discussion: Demystifying the Congo



Moderated by Michela Wrong – columnist and author
Marcus Bleasdale - photojournalist.
Dino Mahatani – Former Reuters correspondent, previously based in DRC, and
former west and central Africa correspondent for the Financial Times.
Jason Stearns – former senior analyst for the international crisis group for
Central Africa and author of a forthcoming book on the Congo.
Mulegwa Zihindula – spokesman for Kabila during 2002-2004. Now based in
London.



Wed 7th May, 7.30pm - Photojournalism presentation:
One Hundred Years of Darkness, by Marcus Bleasdale



Marcus Bleasdale has now spent eight years covering the brutal conflict within
the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the work was published in
his book One Hundred Years of Darkness. His work focusing on the people in
Eastern Congoʼs mining towns, where militia groups and government forces
battle on a daily basis for control of the mineral-rich areas where they can exploit
gold, coltan, cassiterite and diamonds.

Sun 11th May, 4.30pm - Screening: The Greatest Silence – Rape in
the Congo
Followed by Q&A with Sarah Hughes (UK Director of IRC) and others tbc
2



In the DRC there are tens of thousands of women who have been systematically
kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias
and the Congolese army. The world knows nothing of these women. Their stories
have never been told. They suffer and die in silence. In The Greatest Silence:
Rape in the Congo these brave women finally speak.



Mon 12th May, 7.30pm – Double Bill Screening: The UN in Congo
Followed by Q&A with James Brabazon and Aidan Hartley
(Unreported World) and James Oliver and Raphael Rowe
(Panorama)



The UN's Dirty War (Unreported World)
Unreported World travels to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, and
uncovers evidence that UN troops are supporting Congolese government forces
even as they carry out indiscriminate attacks, sometimes against civilian targets.
Mission Impossible (BBC Panorama)
The UN polices conflicts around the world. But is it up to policing itself?
Documents leaked to a joint Panorama/BBC World Service investigation reveal
why the UN's department tasked with rooting out corruption has been called a
"combat zone" and found not fit for purpose.



Thu 15th May, 7.30pm – Discussion: Lifting the Curse
Are Congoʼs natural resources to be found at the root of the nations problems or
do they offer a key to its future development?



What role have resources played in the conflict? What role have international
corporations played? Have the NGOʼs got it right - are the numbing statistics
accurate? Where have the vast mineral profits gone?



Will the countryʼs huge deposits of precious minerals be used to rebuild the
countryʼs infrastructure or will it be business as usual?



Moderated by Richard Dowden director of the Royal African Society.
Muzong Kodi - is a research fellow at the Royal Institute for International Affairs.
Tricia Feeney - is the Executive Director for Rights & Accountability in
Development (RAID)
Aloys Tegera - is the director of the Pole Institute in Goma
Caty Clement - Sits on the UN panel of experts on resources for Congo



All Frontline Events are followed by a Q&A with the audience and are filmed and
broadcast on www.frontlineclub.com.
For more information or interview arrangements with any of the speakers please
call 0207 479 8943.