BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Cojeski DRC - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Cojeski DRC
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://cojeskidrcongo.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Cojeski DRC
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260511T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260511T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T111150
CREATED:20260511T102404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260511T102404Z
UID:26686-1778486400-1778518800@cojeskidrcongo.org
SUMMARY:What do think about our fellow young people in Wazalendo Local Defense Force in DRC
DESCRIPTION:On Friday May 15th\, 2026 we shall attend a public Conference here in Kinshasa under the Theme ” Entre défense du terroir et autorité de l’État : Le défi des Wazalendo. Rejoignez le débat” which means ” Between the defense of the territory and authority of the state: Challenges of Wazalendo\, join the debate”. \nBackground information \nWazalendo is the name attributed to all local armed groups in DRCongo which are opposed to the presence of Rwandan Army in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo\, Wazalendo means “Patriots”\, they are composed of young people who generally want to defend their land against foreign aggression\, most of whom have never been to school or did not go far with studies. They are playing a big role and in actual sense every Congolese who defends his land in one way or the other is a Muzalendo\, some did not take guns but they are in advocacy\, some are creating awareness among local population\, some are communicators\, some are in research\, some are in education……….. \nIn this case the Conference will focus on those who took guns and who are on front-line fighting against Rwandan Troops\, much as they are brave and have greatly posed a serious threat to Rwanda\, they have also committed various human rights violations against vulnerable Civilians such as extra-judiciary killings\, looting\, rape\, torture and other inhuman treatment\, and in some cases they impose heavy taxes to poor communities\, take their agriculture produce and animals by force and loot the Minerals among other crimes. Generally Wazalendo operate in areas where the state is either absent or it is not functional\, in many cases they are the state and make their own laws based on better offer. \nWe do highly regret these behavior which contradicts what they stand for and which pushes them far away from the intention to protect the local population\, however we observe that the big responsibility lies on the state which does not exist in many parts of the country\, leaving a very big place without the presence of the state is one among the factors\, we also observe the failure of the current Government to respond to the basic needs of Wazalendo as they are fighting and strongly condemn various actors who criminalize the Wazalendo instead of supporting them and offering them the necessary trainings in terms of capacity building. Wazalendo remain civilians who have guns and the real solution is the withdraw of Rwandan Forces on the DRC Territory then Wazalendo will also melt down. \nPOSITION \nWe need to come close to Wazalendo\, work with them in order to improve the situation of local population\, train them\, extend support to them and propose them other alternatives in order to cover their basic needs beyond the use of guns\, intimidation and acts of violence against local population. Let us avoid the tendancy to criminalize them and instead involve them as make them work for the change they want to see. \n 
URL:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/event/what-do-think-about-our-fellow-young-people-in-wazalendo-local-defense-force-in-drc/
CATEGORIES:Campaigns,Conference,Meetings,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Wazalendo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260517T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260517T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T111150
CREATED:20260517T110600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260517T110600Z
UID:26701-1779004800-1779037200@cojeskidrcongo.org
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:Engaging the audience on issues around Wazalendo\, they should be trained and supported but not criminalized because of human rights violations. Find more here ” https://cojeskidrcongo.org/forming-a-consessus-on-issues-around-wazalendo-during-a-conference-organized-by-dypol-in-partnership-with-friedrich-ebert-stiftung/   \nComing events \nWednesday May 20th\, 2026 we shall have a training on Refugee Durable Solutions which will take place at Kalamu Division Offices in Kinshasa. \nOn Saturday May 23 visit to IDPs around Kinshasa\, \nTuesday May 26th 2026 Commemorating the forced deportation of Angelo Habomuremye a Rwandan refugee Human Rights Activist picked in Goma DRC. \nMay 28th\, 2026 attending a meeting at the United Nations Offices in Kinshasa and a Day of Actions for Women’s Health Rights in DRCongo. \n  \n 
URL:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/event/26701/
CATEGORIES:Campaigns,Conference,Meetings,Trainings,Urgent Action,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Conf-Three-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260529T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260529T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T111150
CREATED:20260529T160735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T160754Z
UID:26724-1780041600-1780074000@cojeskidrcongo.org
SUMMARY:Events that are important
DESCRIPTION:Yesterday Thursday May 28th\, 2028\, one of our colleagues attended a Conference which was organized by UN Women in Kinshasa about Women Leadership where she brought on table issues affecting vulnerable women in DRC\, and wondered if we should continue counting the numbers of women victims of Sexual and Gender Based Violence or we should focus now on actions to end this ugly reality through women economic empowerment. \n \nOn Friday May 29th\, 2026  \nOne of our members participated in a meeting organized by the Thematic of Transitional Justice of UN Human Rights Offices in Kinshasa\, \nToday Friday also we held a meeting with a representative from ACODEFEM Association and discussed about partnership to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in DRC\, \nAlso staff members held a meeting to finalize their plan for the activity on Saturday May 30th\, 2026 with IDPs in Mongafula. \nOn Saturday May 30th\, 2026 we shall participate in a meeting of the Civil Society to discuss about the position of the Civil Society in relation to the current debate about the change of the Constitution. While we do understand and respect the different views of different actors\, we believe that change or not the constitution may not be yet our major priority and we shall make our voice heard on issues affecting young people and the war in the eastern part of the country which are our priorities.  \nMonday June 1st\, 2026 we shall participate in activities commemorating the brutal assassination of Floribert Chebeya in Kinshasa\, which are being organized by la Voix de Sans Voix (VSV)\,
URL:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/event/events-that-are-important/
CATEGORIES:Campaigns,Conference,Meetings,Urgent Action,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Conf-One-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260610T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260610T170000
DTSTAMP:20260619T111150
CREATED:20260610T075736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T075759Z
UID:26783-1781078400-1781110800@cojeskidrcongo.org
SUMMARY:Various events where we shall participate in this week
DESCRIPTION:The BCNUDH (United Nations Human Rights) meeting bringing together Civil Society Organizations on Thursday June 11th\, 2026 at 2pm\, \nPublic Conference on the current debate about the change of DRC Constitution\, this Thursday June 11th\, 2026\, and the need to engage actors on peace and security in both Kivu Provinces\, \nMeetings with officers from CNR (Refugee Commission) on the issue around World Refugee Day\, especially activities which are being planned\, this Wednesday June 10th\, 2026\, \nWorkshop on the situation of Internally Displaced Persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the absence of a national legal frame\, this Friday June 12th\, 2026\, organized by a partner\, \nCommemorating World Refugee Day in Kinshasa: Public Dialogue on Wednesday June 24th\, 2026 we are the main organizers\, \nWednesday June 17th\, 2026 Conference on the current situation of Gender Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a partner organization\,
URL:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/event/various-events-where-we-shall-participate-in-this-week/
CATEGORIES:Campaigns,Conference,Meetings,Trainings,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cojeskidrcongo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/3.jpeg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR