Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday voted to dismiss Economy Minister Jean-Marie Kalumba from his post. The minister is blamed for the soaring price of basic goods and mismanagement of the fishing industry, among other issues. Appointed to this post last year by President Félix Tshisekedi, the …
Read More »Pakistan soldiers killed in helicopter crash in DR Congo
The Pakistani military released the identities of six soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The helicopter crashed while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in North Kivu province. The Pakistani soldiers were identified as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, Maj Saad Nomani, Maj Faizan Ali, Naib …
Read More »DR Congo: M23 rebels deny shooting down UN helicopter
The M23 rebel group has denied shooting down a UN helicopter that crashed on Sunday while carrying peacekeepers on a reconnaissance mission in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the BBC reports. According to the rebel group, the Congolese army is responsible for the attack because it shot down the UN …
Read More »Cameroon: more than 25 cholera deaths in one week
Health officials in Cameroon say 29 people have died from cholera in one week as more than 300 cases of the disease have been registered in the south-west of the country. The governor of the affected region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, said the outbreak had been caused by a lack of …
Read More »Central African Republic: local elections postponed for lack of funds
Authorities in the Central African Republic have said they will delay the country’s local elections scheduled for September 11, citing a lack of funds, AFP news agency reports. The head of the electoral authority, Mathias Barthelemy Morouba, said the elections will not take place as planned: “We have got behind …
Read More »Cameroon: authorities ban shisha smoking
Authorities in Cameroon have banned the smoking of shisha pipes, arguing that it poses a health risk to the mostly young people who use it in bars and at home. Cameroon’s Ministry of Health has banned smoking shisha, a typical mixture of tobacco, molasses, glycerin and flavorings. Doctors say there …
Read More »Gabonese react after announcement of Ali Bongo’s candidacy
The announcement of President Ali Bongo last Saturday during the commemoration of the 54th anniversary of his party did not leave the Gabonese indifferent. Ali Bongo said in particular that in 2023 he will be there. A way of saying that he will be a candidate for the presidential election …
Read More »DR Congo: at least 75 dead in a train accident
The number of people known to have died in a train accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 75. The train derailed and fell into a ditch in the south-eastern village of Buyofwe on Thursday. It was a freight service but carried hundreds of stowaways. The information …
Read More »Security: Ukraine withdraws peacekeepers from DR Congo
Ukraine is to withdraw all of its forces from UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and Europe so they can be redeployed to fight invading Russian troops at home. Its biggest mission was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where about 250 Ukrainian troops had been serving. They will soon leave …
Read More »DR Congo: militiamen kill 18 civilians inside a church
Militiamen have killed 18 civilians who had sought refuge in a church compound in eastern Congo, a witness and a local human rights groups said on Wednesday. The attack took place early on Tuesday in Banyali Kilo, a district in the conflict-riven Ituri province, as the victims slept in church …
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