congo watch

• Nkunda promised to withdraw troops to allow for humanitarian corridors, and that apparently happened on two fronts on Wednesday.
• Read a letter (in English) from local Congolese groups (some of whose members I have interviewed) to the Security Council, pleading that the council help them. "We don't know which saint to pray to; we are condemned to death by all this violence and displacement. We have been abandoned."
• At least 28,000 people have no access to aid.
• As Anthony Gambino points out, there is no reason that the Security Council shouldn't be sending 3,000 more troops to North Kivu right away. He also notes that the U.S. apparently seems to be opposing this effort. There is NO GOOD REASON for the U.S. to oppose authorizing sending those troops in; none of them will be American troops.
• The front lines are a mess.

Charlie Rose's show on Thursday night will be about the Congo, and my friend and fellow researcher Severine is one of those interviewed. Set your DVR or watch it online; it will be very informative.