Ovi magazine; Tuesday July 4th, 2023

The articles, the opinions, the stories, the poems, the thoughts, the reviews, the photos, the paintings and the cartoons Ovi magazine covers for Tuesday July 4th, 2023

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Democratic Republic of Congo: Sky Getting Darker by Rene Wadlow

The armed conflict in the eastern area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) on the frontier with Rwanda seems to be growing worse and is impacting in a negative way the lives of people.  The current fighting adds to the insecurity of the area and has virtually stopped cross-frontier activities largely done by women small traders.  As a result, the price of existing food supplies has increased greatly, and shortages are to be feared.

The current armed conflict is among a Tutsi-led militia, Movement du 23 mars (M23), the forces of the RDC government and different ethnic militias.  The President of the RDC, Felix Tshisehed sponsored the creation of local militias to help government soldiers, but the government does not control these militias.  The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO) which has been in the RDC since 1989 is the largest U.N. peacekeeping force with some 15,000 members. 

Continue reading HERE!

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The Sacrament of Summer #poem & #painting by Nikos Laios

“We break the bread
And drink the wine 
To the sacrament of summer:
The beginning of long hot summer days,
Love, laughter, oiled brown skin,”

Continue reading HERE!

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Fika bonding! #61 #cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas

For more Fika bonding! HERE!

For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!

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Ovi magazine; Wednesday November 23rd, 2022

The articles, the opinions, the stories, the poems and the cartoons Ovi magazine covers for Wednesday November 23rd 2022

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Dark Clouds Over Eastern Congo by Rene Wadlow

As if there were not already enough tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), there is a renewal of fighting since mid-October in the province of North Kivu, Goma being the central city.  The current armed conflict is between a Tutsi-led militia, M23, and the forces of the RDC government.  The government estimates that some 200,000 people have been displaced.  The President of the RDC, Felix Tshisekedi, has called for the creation of local militias to help the government soldiers.  The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) which has been in the RDC since 1999 and is the largest U.N. peacekeeping force of some 15,000 members, has been unable to halt the fighting and is increasingly criticized by the local population.

The RDC government accuses Rwanda of being the backers of the M23, accusations which Rwanda denies.  In response, the Rwanda government accuses the DRC of supporting an anti-Rwanda armed militia, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Hutu-led militia.  Both the Tutsi and the Hutu are in the RDC since the 1993 genocide fighting in Rwanda.  The current fighting adds to the insecurity of the area.  The fighting has also largely stopped cross-frontier commercial activities, largely done by women small traders.  As a result, the price of existing food supplies has increased greatly, and shortages are to be feared.

Continue reading HERE!

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The Coast #poem & #painting by Nikos Laios

“A squall battered
The coast at night
And the trees branches
Brushed against
The cottages,
And the fishing boats
Were safely moored
In the bay.”

Continue reading HERE

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Mika Toxica #41 #cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas

For more Mika Toxica HERE!

For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!

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Ovi magazine; Monday August 22nd, 2022

The articles, the opinions, the stories, the poems and the cartoons Ovi magazine covers for Monday August 22nd, 2022

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Democratic Republic of Congo: Increasing Tensions and Danger of Violence by Rene Wadlow

Despite the presence of some 14,000 United Nations peacekeepers (Monusco) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), instability continues to grow, especially in the North Kivu area at the frontiers with Rwanda and Uganda.

Recently, there have been violent demonstrations against the U.N. forces accused by some of an unwillingness to fight actively against anti-government armed militias especially Le Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) in North Kivu.  The governmental authorities of the RDC have accused the government of Rwanda of giving support to the M23.  Rwandan army personnel are said to be active in raids along with M23 troops.  There have been reports by both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch making the same accusations based on interviews with witnesses and victims.  Tensions between the governments of RDC and Rwanda are growing, and there is a danger of a spillover impact with people using violence on their own.  The RDC government has been  creating its own armed militias in North Kivu but with little control over their activities.

Continue reading HERE!

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Under The stars #poem by Nikos Laios

“I found your searching eyes,
You were restless like a trembling dove, 
We held each other tenderly,
We lay under a canopy of stars”

Continue reading HERE!

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Ghostin’ #043 #Cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas

For more Ghostin’ HERE!

For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!

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