Hope for Africa

Today, CNN reported that Congolese transitional President Joseph Kabila watched their investigation of systematic rapes perpetrated by the military and police. According to the article, Kabila, who had a daughter, watched the report several times, visibly shaken. For the women of the region, I pray that his declarations to stop this most heinous form of ethnic cleansing aren't mere election year words.

Amanda, who first told me about the story earlier today, initially thought the article spoke about Darfur. So much wishful thinking. With the second-largest rebel group refusing the peace deal there, and not without some good reasons for doing so, I'm doubtful that we'll see much good news from Darfur in the near future. Still, hope springs.