Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Rebels from an outlawed political-religious group attacked Kinshasa’s central prison on Wednesday, breaking out their leader and about 50 other prisoners, the Congolese government said. “Followers of the Bundu Dia Kongo (BDK) attacked Makala prison at dawn and broke out around 50 prisoners including …
Read More »Bitter legacy: 20 years on, Kinshasa recalls Kabila ‘liberation’
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Two decades after Kinshasa gave itself up willingly to rebel commander Laurent-Desire Kabila, his son Joseph remains at the helm of this vast, conflict-ravaged nation although his rule is mired in political crisis. Back in 1997, the country then known as Zaire was struggling …
Read More »EBOLA: The remoteness of the DRC outbreak will help contain the spread
Ebola in DR Congo’s isolated far north a logistical challenge Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | An Ebola outbreak in a remote region in DR Congo’s far north poses a logistical challenge for doctors and aid workers although the sheer remoteness could help limit its spread. The latest outbreak of …
Read More »Ebola in DRC
Ebola epidemic declared in northeast DR Congo, three dead: WHO Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The first Ebola outbreak since the crisis in West Africa that killed 11,300 people has been declared in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said Friday, after the virus caused three …
Read More »Kabila under pressure, names new government under power-sharing deal
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Congolese President Joseph Kabila named an expanded new government on Tuesday, with almost all his old team retained, as part of power-sharing deal to end a crisis over his wish to remain in power. The presidential list of 60 ministers, read out on television, …
Read More »RWANDA: Bralirwa revenues grow
But profits decline over declining sales, high costs By Susan Babijja Bralirwa, the biggest brewing company in Rwanda registered annual revenue growth of 5.6% despite a decline in sale volumes, according to its financial performance figures announced recently. According to the results, the firm’s revenue for the period ended December …
Read More »Black rhinos: They are back!
Black rhinos from South Africa relocated to Akagera park Finally, 10 eastern black rhinos have been relocated to the Akagera National Park in Rwanda from South Africa. Rhinos disappeared from the park about 10 years ago. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said the May 2 relocation of the rhinos was …
Read More »Rwanda, DRC to explore oil in Lake Kivu
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a five-year joint exploration agreement for oil under Lake Kivu. The agreement follows a similar one between Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli and Congolese President Joseph Kabila in 2016. The two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore the …
Read More »Murders touch off riots in DR Congo’s gold-rich northeast
Kisangani, DR Congo | AFP | Protesters angered by a string of unsolved murders threw up roadblocks and mobbed government offices in three days of riots in the restive gold-rich Ituri region of Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said Monday. The trouble erupted Saturday in the town of Mahagi …
Read More »SPECIAL FEATURE: DR Congo, home to a tenth of the world’s languages
There are 450 languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | “I haven’t once spoken my mother tongue Kilokele in the 62 years I’ve lived in Kinshasa. None of my nine children speak it,” says Charles Tongohala. Tongohala’s native tongue is one of 450 spoken …
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