Current Events on the Democratic Republic of Congo

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/world/africa/04congo.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo&st=cse&scp=3
Frenzy of Rape in Congo Reveals U.N. Weakness - October 3rd 2010

In this article, it discusses that there have been mass rapes by Rwandan rebels and rebel groups in the Congolese army in the DRC.  For example, it explained about rebels raping at least 200 women for three days starting from July 30th, 2010, and unfortunately, the U.N. peacekeepers had not taken any action.  Essentially, the peacekeeping force still seems to be "failing at its most elemental task: protecting civilians" (Gettleman).  The U.N. peacekeepers, at first, were not fully aware that the Congolese Army has been stationing in different villages convincing men to join the army and raping women. The reason why the U.N. peackeepers have not been able to protect all the civilians is the lack of communication to the villages; there is no cellphone services or electricity to let people know what is happening in each village.  Even though these villages do not have cellphone services, why have they not addressed other ways to effectively communicate or access information in the villages?  During King Leopold's time period, the white men would barge into homes, pulling out women and children; similar to now, the Congolese army and rebels would go into the homes without permission and rape the women.  Unfortunately, there is still a lack of equality between men and women, for there is no women soldiers in the force; therefore, women do not feel empowered to fight against these attacks.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/05/congo.rapes.arrest/index.html?iref=allsearch
Alleged leader of Congo militia linked to rapes is arrested - October 6th

This article specifically discussed about an armed rebel group accused of "committing mass rapes" and that they were arrested Tuesday morning (October 5th).  Then, the U.N. proposed an investiagation on the mass rapes that have been committed by the Congolese rebel groups, for the U.N. peacemaking force has been failing to provide protection to the civilians.  Between July 30th and August 2nd, at least an estimate of 300 civilians had been raped in the Walikale region of North Kivu province.  One of the reasons why these rebels would attack innocent civilians are to punish the locals who did not support their views or considered them as traitors. Even though the U.N. is issuing an investigation, there is not enough resources to pinpoint all of these attacks.