Mayhem in the mountains. How violent conflict on the hauts plateaux of South Kivu escalated

This report analyses the history and causes of the escalation of violence on the Hauts Plateaux, a mountainous area located in South Kivu Province, eastern Congo. It argues that this violence can be ascribed to four mechanisms. The first is discourses of ‘ethnic conflict’ and ‘autochthony’. Yet the tendency to see all violence as linked to ethnicity is problematic as it obscures other drivers of conflict and violence and leads to attributing collective responsibility, revenge violence and the blurring of boundaries between armed groups and civilians. The second mechanism is the security dilemma. In part due the perceived partiality of the Congolese army, the presence of armed groups considered ‘ethnic’ prompts counter-mobilization. The third mechanism is militarization, or the tendency of local, national and regional politico-military elites to resort to force to win disputes. The fourth mechanism is the multilayered nature of dynamics of conflict and violence, as local, provincial, national and regional developments alike shape the crisis on the Plateaux. Stemming the violence requires addressing all four mechanisms. However, stabilization initiatives neither account for militarization nor the multiplicity of drivers for conflict and violence. To tackle the crisis, interventions need to acknowledge the role of political-military elites at all levels, including national and regional dynamics

Mental health, stigma and the quality of life of people affected by neglected tropical diseases of the skin in Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a sex-disaggregated analysis

Background: Worldwide, persons affected by skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) may experience stigma and discrimination, which could lead to impaired societal functioning and poor mental wellbeing. Evidence of comorbidity of NTDs and mental health conditions is dominated by Leprosy, largely lacking in post-conflict areas, and rarely disaggregated by sex. Methods: This cross-sectional survey is the first to explore depression, anxiety, stigma, and quality of life amongst people affected by Lymphatic Filariasis, Buruli Ulcer, Onchocerciasis or Leprosy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After a census through active case identification, the survey was completed by 118 persons (response rate 94.4%). Results: In total, 58.3% of men and 80.0% of women screened positive for major depressive disorder (PHQ-9). Symptoms indicative of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7) were displayed by 54.8% of men and 62.2% of women. Being female, having a disability, experiencing stigma and lower physical quality of life were predictors of depression. Anxiety was predicted by age, physical quality of life, disability (for men only) and environmental quality of life (for women only). Conclusions: Integrated, intersectoral and gender-sensitive initiatives are needed to respond to the many biopsychosocial challenges that persons affected face

An Introduction to the African Commodity Trade Database, 1730-2010

The African Commodity Trade Database (ACTD) aims to stimulate and deepen research on African and global economic history. The database provides export and import series at product level for more than two and a half centuries of African trade (1730-2010). This article introduces potential users to some of the major questions that can be explored with African commodity trade data, as well as the sources, structure and limitations of the dataset. The current version of the ACTD is downloadable from the data repository of the African Economic History Network (www.aehnetwork.org/data-research) and will be regularly updated with new data

Applicabilité de la théorie de perception de Kevin Lynch à un paysage minier de ville du tiers monde. ,

peer reviewe

An Introduction to the African Commodity Trade Database, 1730-2010

The African Commodity Trade Database (ACTD) aims to stimulate and deepen research on African and global economic history. The database provides export and import series at product level for more than two and a half centuries of African trade (1730-2010). This article introduces potential users to some of the major questions that can be explored with African commodity trade data, as well as the sources, structure and limitations of the dataset. The current version of the ACTD is downloadable from the data repository of the African Economic History Network (www.aehnetwork.org/data-research) and will be regularly updated with new data