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Category: Democratic republic Of Congo

Democratic Republic Congo Must Guarantee ‘Space’ for Opposition Ahead of Vote: UN

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KINSHASA:  The United Nations on Sunday called on the Democratic Republic of Congo to respect its citizens’ civil liberties as the political climate has turned tense ahead of key elections next year. “Political space must be guaranteed, space for the opposition, space for civil society, for the defenders of human rights,” Martin Kobler, head of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO in… Read More

Stop ignoring massacres in Africa

Jennifer Fierberg, , , , , , , , , , , ,
By: Jennifer  Fierberg We live in a world filled with terrorist attacks. So much so that they become the noise of the nightly news that most Westerners ignore. Simply watching the nightly news or scanning social media for a few minutes will typically reveal the horrors of terrorism in all corners of the world. However, why do some attacks garner… Read More

U.S. diplomat arrested with pro-democracy activists in Congo

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Security forces in Democratic Republic of Congo arrested a U.S. diplomat along with pro-democracy activists, journalists and musicians on Sunday following a news conference in the capital Kinshasa, a government spokesman and witnesses said. The event was held by activists from Congo, Senegal and Burkina Faso at a cultural center and was attended by around 20 journalists and observers. Around a dozen soldiers,… Read More

Ban Ki-Moon Admits Failure in DRC

Jennifer Fierberg, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
By Jennifer Fierberg Predicts Period of Instability in the Great Lakes Region Just days ago, Senator Russell Feingold, the U.S. special envoy working to stabilize Africa’s Great Lakes region, announced he will give his final speech in this position. His press release stated the following, “On February 24, Senator Feingold will give his final speech as U.S. special envoy at... Read More

U.S. envoy urges Congo to set date for presidential election

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By Aaron Ross KINSHASA (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo should promptly set a date for a presidential election in 2016, a senior U.S. envoy said on Monday, increasing international pressure on President Joseph Kabila to step down at the polls next year. Last month, street protests killed 42 people and forced lawmakers to drop an electoral reform bill the… Read More

Congo delays vote on electoral law, West urges revisions

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Democratic Republic of Congo’s Senate has delayed until Friday a vote on changes to the electoral law after calls from Western powers to withdraw or alter the proposed bill, which has sparked days of violent protests. The new legislation calls for a census before elections due next year. President Joseph Kabila’s allies say the move is necessary to update voter… Read More

DR Congo unrest: Catholic church backs protests

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The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has thrown its weight behind protests against President Joseph Kabila extending his rule. It called on people to peacefully oppose his move to delay presidential elections until a census is held. At least 11 people have so far been been killed in the protests. It is the worst unrest in the… Read More

U.N., Congo attack Burundi rebels ahead of drive against Rwandan FDLR

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United Nations and Congolese troops launched strikes on Monday against remnants of a Burundian rebel group based in the rugged borderlands of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a U.N. military spokesman said. The strikes targeted the National Liberation Forces (FNL), but a U.N. diplomat said they were mainly aimed at clearing the way for an offensive against another group, Democratic Forces… Read More

Rwanda Militia Commander ‘Tired Of War’

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The commander of one of the Rwandan militia hiding out in the eastern Congolese mountains has told Sky News his men will not disarm without guarantees for their safety. Colonel Bonheur – as he called himself but which is almost certainly not his real name – said his band of soldiers would be forced to continue fighting unless a political… Read More

Ebola outbreak: DR Congo confirms first cases

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Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have identified cases of Ebola in the country’s north-west. They are the first reported cases outside West Africa since the outbreak there began. So far 1,427 people have died from the virus – more than in any other Ebola outbreak. The number of cases now stands at 2,615. The speed and… Read More