With human rights abuses, two genocides and war crimes, is it time now for the DRC to join the Commonwealth?

About the Book

This book will highlight the hidden atrocities that happened in the Congo as there is a deliberate media blackout on the horrible situation endured by people from the Congo since the era of King Leopold II who was the owner of the Congo called "Congo Free State" until today. This book aims to draw attention to the Congo crisis, so the world community, the UN, the EU, NATO, IMF, World Bank, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, all western governments, NGOs, Civil Society, Voluntary Sector should now focus and take decisive actions to tackle the culture of impunity following massive violations of fundamental human rights with two genocides, one during King Leopold II which claimed 20 million of indigenous Congolese and a second and ongoing genocide which has already claimed more than 12 million innocent Congolese deaths. Raising awareness about these atrocities on how to mobilize the world community to come to the rescue of the DRC's stabilization as the Author believes that as a geopolitical strategy, the DRC would make much needed progress on defending human rights, democracy and the rule of law as a Commonwealth country, therefore the book has made a valid case for the DRC to join the Commonwealth

About the Author

Jean-Roger Kaseki is the first Councillor of Congolese origin elected in the United Kingdom in the 2010 Council Elections. He is a prominent member of the British Labour Party and a peacemaker, tireless campaigner for Islington North Community in London. As an expert and adviser to the British Labour Party on the Congo, he has worked with Labour Leaders such as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as British Prime Ministers, advising both Prime Ministers on how to end the war in the DRC, support a peace-process, support the first and the second democratic elections in the DRC since its independence for the sake of DRC’s stabilization after decades of instability and insecurity. Councillor Kaseki was also advising Labour Leader Ed Miliband MP on the Congo. Jean-Roger has been instrumental on advising the then Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn MP (current Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) for more British engagement with the Congo to stabilize this war-torn country. He also advised the former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP to help end the war and support the peace-process for stabilization of the DRC, and as a consequence, David was the first UK Foreign Secretary to travel to the DRC accompanied by the French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, to broker peace in eastern DRC between warring parties and to stop escalation of violence in eastern DRC Jean-Roger has initiated Congolese for Labour, which is an affiliated organization to the Labour Party, with the aims to mobilize support for the Labour Party within the Congolese community in the UK, and he has worked with David Miliband MP through the Movement for Change. David is a staunch supporter of Congolese for Labour. As an Internationalist, Jean-Roger is a member of President Obama’s campaign and political organization called: “Organizing for America”, which is now called: “Organizing for Action”, with the aims to campaign and support President Obama’s agenda. He has managed to influence the US Government’s policy toward the DRC as President Obama is now more engaged in supporting stabilization of the Congo which remains a fragile state. As an academic and a PhD Researcher in politics and human rights, Jean-Roger is an Associate at the Human Rights & Social Justice Research Institute at London Metropolitan University and has launched the campaign for the DRC to join the Commonwealth of Nations, so the country could make much needed progress on improving its human rights, democracy, the rule of law and development. As a Human Right Campaigner in the UK and the DR Congo, Jean-Roger has worked tirelessly for human rights in the DRC to be discussed and highlighted at major international gatherings around the world and has lobbied the UK Government to do more in tackling human rights abuses in the DRC to achieve stabilization. He believes that the DRC’s vast mineral wealth could make this country a powerhouse in Africa if this vast mineral wealth is used sustainably, preventing the illegal exploitation of these minerals fuelling conflicts. He also believes in the role the International Community should continue to play to stabilize the DRC. The book was written 10 years ago.