Media in Armed Conflicts
Following his humanitarian and journalistic work in Rwanda and the DRC, Olivier joined the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in Ivory Coast/Cote d’Ivoire, where he supported the process of demobilization and the reintegration of former combatants and other community self-defense armed groups involved in the war of liberation, which led to the resignation President Gbagbo. His talk will cover his experience as an investigative and journalistic researcher, the struggle of African journalists for freedom of speech and freedom of the press, the Rwandan genocide, and the post-genocide crimes that occurred in Rwanda and DR-Congo. He will also discuss weaponization and rebel recruitment in DR Congo, Unity and Reconciliation efforts, Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts, and the strengths and weakness of the United Nations under the Right to Protect restrictions. Please watch in advance his co-production documentary A Must Reconciliation at https://vimeo.com/56338109 .
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Speaker Bio
Ndikumana Olivier is a professionally trained journalist from Rwanda. After witnessing numerous murders and wide-spread humanitarian chaos during the Rwandan genocide, he committed himself to helping rebuild Rwanda, which was nearly destroyed by the genocide and the anger which characterized the post-genocide period. In support of peace and reconciliation, he assisted and led several journalistic investigations of issues related to the genocide and associated armed conflicts in the DRC, including the use of child soldiers in rebel militias. He also participated in and documented initiatives to foster peace, security, and political development, including unity and reconciliation efforts. These included the Transitional Justice and Gacaca-Traditional Court movement in Rwanda.