From: Office of Terje Rod-Larsen < Subject: IPI Regional Insights - August 2012 Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:30:12 +0000 INTERNATIONAL PEACE INSTITUTE IPI Regional Insights August 2012 The International Peace Institute's (IPI) Regional Insights covers select regional and thematic developments based on information from a variety of sources. It draws on the research of IPI experts and is provided exclusively to major donors and members. Each monthly issue covers challenges and opportunities related to international peace, security, and development. Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): International and regional actors are focused on stopping the last four months of renewed M23 rebel fighting in eastern DRC. Responding to the United Nations' Group of Experts report alleging Rwandan support of the M23 rebels, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany stopped aid to Rwanda. These actions put pressure on Rwanda to be a responsible regional actor. Similarly, the eleven countries of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region are considering options, including a possible new neutral military force to counter the M23 rebels. Experts are skeptical that such a force will emerge, given the existing UN mission in the DRC. There are reports of secret Kinshasa-Kigali talks underway, which generate concern of an another attempt to absorb rebels into the Congolese military as was done in 2009, and repeating the mistake of producing parallel chains of command in Congolese security forces and preserving Rwandan influence in the mineral-rich eastern DRC. Somalia: Somalia is facing UN Security Council benchmarks this month in its transition to permanent federal institutions. A provisional constitution was adopted August 1st. Negotiations are ongoing regarding a new provisional parliament, from which a speaker and president are to be selected, if the benchmarks are to be met. While security still challenges the forces of