Kris Berwouts

The last time I communicated directly with Victoire Ingabire, on October 13th 2010, she sounded tense and tired. After an absence of more than 16 years, she had come back to Rwanda in January to participate in the presidential elections

Read the rest of Lady in Pink: Victoire Ingabire faces her judges in appeal – By Kris Berwouts »

I don’t know much about nightlife. Not in Belgium, not in Africa. Least of all do I know about nightlife in Rumonge, Burundi. But last week I was hanging around there with a pal from Belgium and we wanted to

Read the rest of Saturday Night Fever by the lake: on youth and life in Burundi – By Kris Berwouts »

On Thursday November 15th ‘M23’ – the rebellion movement which was created earlier this year – launched a major attack on the city of Goma which, after a quieter day on Friday, culminated in a very stressful weekend. The question

Read the rest of Goma falls to the M23: a tale of war, rebellion and dreadful peace agreements – By Kris Berwouts »

I spent the last twenty days of June in the Congo. Most of that time, I visited people and communities at grass root level. In brief, I went to Fizi – Baraka – Uvira – Bukavu – Kalehe – Minova

Read the rest of DRC: Fizi to Goma via Bukavu (then Kinshasa) – Kris Berwouts goes on the road in Congo »

On July 1st 2012 Burundi celebrates 50 years of independence from Belgium. The country is situated in a complex region with a violent recent past where political and social differences became polarised and interconnected with those of neighbouring countries. In

Read the rest of Burundi’s 50 years of independence: “The old demons aren’t dead, but at least they’re sleeping” – By Kris Berwouts »

The elections of November 28th 2011 in the DR Congo took place with many and under strict control of the government. The non-acceptance of the official results of both the presidential and parliamentary elections means that there is still political

Read the rest of DRC beyond the elections- ‘If Mugabe is the only invitee who turns up in person at your party, you have a problem’ – By Kris Berwouts »

In October 2006, after a run off with former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, incumbent President Joseph Kabila won the first elections the country has organised since 1960 to become the first Head of State of the Third Republic. The first legislature

Read the rest of Congo votes again: Consolidating democracy or deepening the confusion? – By Kris Berwouts »