central Africa

A pastor identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo as Zagabe Chiluza surprises the web by marrying four girls, all virgins, on the same day, local media reported. According to local media, the man of God still relies on the Bible to prove that polygamy is not a sin. “I …

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has identified more 100 people who came into contact with a new case of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, local media reported. The WHO says those identified are being monitored for symptoms and vaccinations will begin in the coming …

Long queues have been witnessed at petrol station in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, as the city struggles with fuel shortages, the BBC reports. Fuel prices have not changed, but only limited amounts are being sold per day. The shortage started to bite on Monday although the authorities …

An eight-carriage cargo train derailed as it was traveling from the Lualaba to Kasaï province, in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the BBC reports. Clementine Lutanda, a local administrator from the Lubudi neighborhood where the train began its journey, told the BBC that the crash left seven people dead and …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …