South Africa Deploys 2,900 Troops to Eastern DRC to Address Decades-long Conflicts

South Africa Deploys 2,900 Troops to Eastern DRC to Address Decades-long Conflicts

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa authorizes the deployment of 2,900 members of the South African National Defense Force to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The move aims to address decades-long conflicts between rival armed groups over land and resources, resulting in significant casualties and displacements. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirms a budget allocation of over two billion rand for this deployment until December 15th.

February 14, 2024 34

Africa

UN Security Council worried over rising violence in the Congo

The United Nations Security Council is concerned about the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Clashes have intensified recently between the M23 rebels and the country’s army. The M23 is one of dozens of armed groups that have long plagued the country’s mineral-rich east, battling for control of land there. Guyana ambassador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.

February 13, 2024 33

Africa

‘We miners die a lot.’ Appalling conditions and poverty wages: the lives of cobalt miners in the DRC

Labourers load sacks of cobalt onto bicycles at Mutoshi mine in July 2021. Roy Maconachie Roy Maconachie, University of Bath It was a cool, dusty morning in July 2021, when I first visited the Kamilombe cobalt mine in Lualaba Province in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Situated just outside Kapata on the south-west outskirts of Kolwezi, a mining town that has historically served as an important centre for copper and […]

January 31, 2024 15

Namibia

SADC Council of Ministers meets over cholera outbreak

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held an extraordinary meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers on Monday to discuss the cholera outbreak being experienced in several member states. Speaking during the virtual meeting, Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Téte António, said the meeting sought to take collective and coordinated action to prevent and control cholera in the region. “In our meeting today we seek to […]

January 30, 2024 5

Africa

Blinken sees growing partner in Angola on Africa democracy tour

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday will explore greater coordination with emerging regional partner Angola, capping a tour of Africa to champion US-friendly democracies as global crises mount. After years of estrangement with Washington during the Cold War, Angola has seen growing common ground with the United States including by working together to address violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Blinken arrived late Wednesday in the oil-rich […]

January 25, 2024 7

Africa

DR Congo’s election – the key to Félix Tshisekedi’s victory

By Albert Kasanda, Czech Academy of Sciences On Sunday 31 December 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced the preliminary results of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s presidential election held on 20 December. The incumbent president, Félix Tshisékédi, was declared the winner with 73.34% of the votes cast, while Moise Katumbi was credited with 18.03% and Martin Fayulu with 5.33%. There have been calls to cancel the elections […]

January 18, 2024 24

Africa

DRC court confirms Felix Tshisekedi’s poll victory

The Constitutional Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected two challenges to the results of last month's contested presidential election. The court said incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi had indeed received 73% of the vote. The validation, according to the BBC, comes despite independent observers reporting widespread irregularities during the 20 December vote.

January 10, 2024 26

Africa

Hand counting and delays in DRC elections amid fraud claims

In the Democratic Republic of the Cong votes are being counted by hand in parts of the capital city, Kinshasa, in a general election marred by delays and claims of fraud. The BBC reports that for the first time since 2006, voting has been extended to a second day in some parts of the country.

December 21, 2023 40

Africa

DRC takes measures for transparent elections

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have pledged that internet access will not be cut off at any point during Wednesday's elections. The announcement, according to the BBC, comes as social media users express fear of both blackouts and vote rigging. More than 40 million voters are casting their ballots on Wednesday to elect a president from 19 candidates.

December 20, 2023 11