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Tag: DR Congo

  • Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak

    Authorities declare new Ebola outbreak

    Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have declared an Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province, with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that the outbreak is concentrated in the Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province, in the south-central region of the country.

    To rapidly scale up the response, an advance team from the country’s Ministry of Health and the global UN health body, WHO, has been deployed.

    Symptoms of the rare, but severe, and often fatal illness, include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhaging.

    Samples tested on September 3 at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as the Ebola Zaire strain.

    A national Rapid Response Team assisted by WHO experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, as well as case management, has been deployed to Kasai province.

    Communication experts have also been deployed to reach communities and help them understand how to protect themselves.

    Additionally, WHO is delivering two tonnes of essential supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies.

    The area is difficult to reach and at least a day’s drive from the provincial capital Tshikapa, with few air links.

    “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said.

    “Banking on the country’s long-standing expertise in controlling viral disease outbreaks, we’re working closely with the health authorities to quickly scale up key response measures to end the outbreak as soon as possible.”

    WHO said case numbers are likely to increase as transmission is ongoing.

    The country has a stockpile of treatments, as well as 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine already prepositioned in the capital city Kinshasa.

    The stockpile will be quickly moved to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers, according  to  WHO .

    The DRC’s last outbreak affected the northwestern Equateur province in April 2022.

    It was brought under control in under three months, thanks to the robust efforts of the health authorities.

    In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008.

    In the country overall, there have been 15 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976.

  • UN condemns deadly attack on worshippers

    UN condemns deadly attack on worshippers

    The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, has strongly condemned an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on civilians.

    MONUSCO, in a statement on Monday, said the attack occurred on Saturday and Sunday night.

    Elements of the ADF, an Islamic State-affiliated insurgent group that originated in neighbouring Uganda, carried out the attack in Komanda town, Irumu territory, Ituri province.

    At least 49 civilians were killed, including nine children. Several other people were injured and abducted, and shops and homes were set on fire.

    Most of the victims were reportedly worshippers killed with bladed weapons during a night vigil at a church.

    The incident comes after ADF attacks earlier in the month killed 82 civilians in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which MONUSCO condemned on July 23.

    The group had committed grave human rights violations against civilians since its founding in 1995 and had been under UN sanctions since June 2014.

    MONUSCO expressed “deep outrage at these heinous acts of violence, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and infringements on human rights.”

    The peacekeeping mission also extended condolences to the bereaved families.

    It urged Congolese authorities to investigate the killings, and reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s call for all foreign armed groups to lay down their weapons unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.

    “These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law,” Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Protection and Operations and Acting Head of MONUSCO, said.

    She added that the Mission “will continue to work tirelessly alongside the Congolese authorities to protect the population in line with its mandate.”

    MONUSCO is supporting local authorities in their response by organising burials and providing medical care to the wounded.

    The peacekeeping mission is also intensifying security efforts in and around the city of Komanda.

    The Mission is committed to working with Congolese authorities and communities “to help prevent future attacks, protect civilians, reduce tensions, and contribute to the stabilisation of areas affected by armed violence.”

  • Wan-Bissaka gets first DR Congo call-up

    Wan-Bissaka gets first DR Congo call-up

    West Ham United star Aaron Wan-Bissaka has received his first call-up to the DR Congo senior national team.

    The defender is included in the African nation’s 26-man squad for next month’s international friendlies against Mali and Madagascar.

    Born in Croydon, Wan-Bissaka had featured for England at youth levels as well as the DR Congo U20 side in 2015.

    The former Crystal Palace star received his first England call-up under Gareth Southgate in September 2019, however, withdrew from the squad due to a back injury and never made a senior appearance for the Three Lions.

    DR Congo, whose last World Cup appearance was in 1974 currently top Group B of the African qualifiers, one point ahead of Senegal after six matches.

  • Mysterious disease kills more than 50 people in DR Congo

    Mysterious disease kills more than 50 people in DR Congo

    More than 50 people have died from an unknown disease in northwest Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) local authorities reported on Monday.

    Actualite news portal reported that over 943 cases of fever of unknown origin have been identified in Basankusu in the DRC’s Equateur Province since Feb. 9, with 52 fatalities.

    Given the number of identified cases and deaths, the mortality rate stands at 5.5 per cent, according to Actualite news reported.

    Those affected experience symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, joint pain and others, the news portal said.

    According to the report about 55 per cent of the people affected by the disease tested positive for malaria.

    The report added that the possibility of another Ebola outbreak has been ruled out.

  • EU condemns M23 invasion in DR Congo

    EU condemns M23 invasion in DR Congo

    The European Union (EU) on Sunday strongly condemned  the invasion of a territory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by M23 rebel forces.

    The EU ‘s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Mr Anouar El Anouni, made the  condemnation at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

    According to the bloc’s spokesperson,  the continued advance of the M23 is an unacceptable violation of agreed ceasefire, and it further deepens the disastrous humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC.

    “We also discussed the issue on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council, which is the monthly meeting of the foreign ministers of the 27 member states.

    “The member states condemned the escalation of the  crisis, and expressed their readiness to take measures against those that endanger peace and stability in the DRC,’’ he said.

    He further said that the bloc’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), was already  dealing with the issue.

    “The PSC  is using all tools at its disposal to hold accountable those that are responsible for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in DRC.

    “We are concerned about the matter, and we are discussing it among  all 27 EU member-states, ” he said.

    The M23 rebel group is involved in armed cconflict with government forces in North Kivu district of DRC.

    Backed by Rwandan troops,  the M23 rebels recently invaded the city of Goma in eastern DRC, and have taken control of the city.

    The rebels  raised the prospect of further expansion of territory under their control.

    The DRC’s government has described the invasion  as  a declaration of war by Rwanda.

    Goma, a regional hub of over two million people, is on the DRC’s border with Rwanda.

  • Humanitarian crisis worsens in DR Congo – UN warns

    Humanitarian crisis worsens in DR Congo – UN warns

    United Nations agencies on Friday called for an end to the violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as fighting between government forces and the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group expands.

    The rebels have already seized the provincial capital, Goma, and reports indicate that they are closing in on the key city of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province.

    The hostilities are occurring in a mineral-rich region that has been volatile for decades amid a proliferation of armed groups, which has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes over the years and seek safety in displacement camps.

    UN humanitarians warn that the situation continues to worsen for civilians likely trapped by days of intense fighting in and around Goma, which has a population of over one million.

    Displacement camps on the city’s outskirts, previously hosting more than 300,000 people, are emptying out as people flee the violence. Medical services are overwhelmed by the number of injured, both civilians and military personnel.

    The World Food Programme (WFP) said water and food are running low, and the next 24 hours are crucial.

    “People are really running out of food, clean water, medical supplies and that’s a big concern. So, the supply chain has really been strangled at the moment,”  WFP Spokesperson Shelley Thakral said.

    Several WFP warehouses have been looted and teams are taking stock of what they will need to procure locally and transfer by road to ensure they have provisions once operations resume in the critically affected areas.

    WFP’s priority is keeping its staff and their dependents safe, and only critical staff remain in the area who are getting ready to resume operations as soon security permits.

    Meanwhile, the human rights crisis also continues to deepen in the east.

    At least two sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been bombed, causing civilian casualties, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported.

    Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said OHCHR documented summary executions of at least 12 people by the M23 between 26 and 28 January.

    The office has also documented cases of conflict-related sexual violence by the army and allied Wazalendo fighters in Kalehe territory, located in South Kivu.

    It is also verifying reports that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gangrape.

  • UN relocates staff from DR Congo over security concerns

    UN relocates staff from DR Congo over security concerns

    The United Nations is set to temporarily relocate non-essential staff from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, amidst heightened security concerns in the region.

    This is contained in a statement on Saturday by the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO.

    This move, undertaken by the UN body, aims to ensure the safety of staff while maintaining uninterrupted operations in the country.

    The relocation of administrative staff and others in North Kivu is a response to the deteriorating security situation and intensifying hostilities involving the non-State armed group M23, which has been fighting against the Congolese government.

    According to MONUSCO, the precautionary measure safeguards staff safety while ensuring the UN’s vital operations in the region remain uninterrupted.

    The UN has reaffirmed its commitment to providing humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in North Kivu, despite the challenges posed by the security situation.

    “This transfer does not affect the UN’s unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in North Kivu,” MONUSCO said.

    MONUSCO noted that the area had experienced a resurgence of non-State armed groups in the past, and clashes between the M23 and Congolese government troops had intensified in recent times.

    “Sadly, combatants from M23 have killed the military governor of North Kivu, and some 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu since the beginning of this year alone, as reported by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

    “Essential UN personnel are remaining on the ground, sustaining critical operations such as food distribution, medical assistance, shelter, and protection for vulnerable communities,” MONUSCO said.

    The UN is working closely with humanitarian partners and national authorities to ensure lifesaving assistance reaches those most in need and prevent any threat against civilians.

    The temporary relocation of staff will be reassessed based on the evolution of the security situation, with the aim of fully restoring the presence as soon as conditions allow.

    “The United Nations reaffirms its deep commitment to the people of North Kivu,” the UN mission said.

    Also, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for an immediate end to the fighting, noting that the conflict has taken a devastating toll on the Congolese and the entire region.

    On Friday, the UN agency’s chief of office in Goma, Abdoulaye Barry, said that the situation is becoming increasingly unsafe for both civilians and aid teams.

  • Over 120 killed in failed DR Congo jailbreak

    Over 120 killed in failed DR Congo jailbreak

    At least 129 people have been killed during an attempted prison escape in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani said 24 prisoners had died of bullet wounds after warning shots were fired in the early hours of Monday morning.

    Most of the others died from suffocation as a result of a crush during the breakout at Makala Prison.

    Despite reports of mass casualties emerging on Monday, the government had initially said that only two people had died.

    On Monday, people living near the prison spoke about hearing gunshots but attempts by journalists to reach the site were thwarted by police officers who had blocked access to the area.

    “There were gunshots from 01:00 or 02:00 in the morning, and until around 05:00,” Daddi Soso, who lives close to the prison, told the AFP news agency.

    “There were deaths and there are people who fled,” he said, adding that the security forces were taking bodies away.

    Graphic videos being shared from inside the prison on Monday, but not verified by the BBC, showed lifeless bodies on the floor as well as people shouting for help amid a crush.

    Mr Shabani posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, around 24 hours after the attempted breakout, acknowledging the extent of the incident and the death toll.

    He added that almost 60 others were severely injured and had been taken to hospital.

    “This is also an opportunity to commend all the security services, the national police, and the army, who responded quickly and were able to contain the situation, preventing the escape,” he said.

    “It should be noted that there were indeed damages, including loss of life, injuries and especially material damage at the central prison.

    “Unfortunately, the administration and registry offices caught fire. These are urgent situations that we are currently addressing,” he said.

    Rights groups have called for an international investigation into what happened.

    Makala Prison, dating from the 1950s, has a capacity of 1,500 prisoners, but more than 14,000 inmates were being held there, AFP reports. (BBC)

     

  • Soldiers foil attempted coup d’état in DR Congo

    Soldiers foil attempted coup d’état in DR Congo

    The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) armed forces repelled an attempted coup d’etat involving Congolese and foreign fighters on Sunday morning, a DRC army spokesman said in a televised address.

    “An attempted coup d’etat has been put down by the defence and security forces. The attempt involved foreigners and Congolese.

    “These foreigners and Congolese have been put out of action, including their leader,” spokesman Sylvain Ekenge said.

    He did not specify whether this meant they had been detained or killed.

    Tina Salama, a spokeswoman for President Felix Tshisekedi, also confirmed to Reuters that the presidential palace had been attacked on Sunday morning but the army had retaken control.

    Earlier, two guards and an assailant were killed in an attack on the nearby home of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament who is tipped to become speaker, Kamerhe’s spokesman and the Japanese ambassador said in posts on X.

    The United States embassy issued a security alert on Sunday warning of “ongoing activity by DRC security elements” and reports of gunfire in the area.

    A Facebook page appearing to belong to Christian Malanga, a politician based in the United States, posted a live-streamed video in which he appeared to be leading the attack.

    “We, the militants, are tired. We cannot drag on with Tshisekedi and Kamerhe, they have done too many stupid things in this country,” he said in Lingala in the video, which has not been independently verified by Reuters.

    Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term as president in December, but has yet to name a government, six weeks after appointing a prime minister.

    Kamerhe was a candidate for speaker of parliament in an election that had been scheduled for Saturday but was delayed by Tshisekedi.

  • DBN Gogo emerges Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artiste for March

    DBN Gogo emerges Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artiste for March

    South African Disc Jockey and music producer, Mandisa Radebe, professionally known as “DBN Gogo”, has been announced as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa artiste for the month of March.

    Monica Kemoli-Savanne, Spotify’s Artiste and Label Partnerships Manager for East Africa, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    Kemoli-Savanne said DBN Gogo was the only artiste in Africa so far to hold the EQUAL Africa ambassadorship twice, describing the development as a testament to her blossoming career.

    She noted that DBN Gogo’s year on Spotify just got even more interesting, first announced as part of mint’s Artistes to watch for 2024 alongside Uncle Waffles, HoneyLuv, and others, to now EQUAL Africa’s March Ambassador.

    “Spotify has added more than 6,900 women artistes to EQUAL playlists and supported over 1,000 ambassadors in their home countries including South Africa where the March ambassador DBN Gogo is from.

    “This support has ranged from editorial to partnerships and marketing.

    “How we show up on the continent for women and how we tell their stories is a priority for us, and artistes such as DBN Gogo are presenting positive narratives locally and to the world through EQUAL Africa,” she said.

    According to Kemoli-Savanne, EQUAL artistes received 1.3 billion editorial streams within their first month of joining the programme.

    She said, in total, the EQUAL hub had generated more than 31 billion editorial streams across 1 billion listening hours.

    She said that in 2023 alone, more than 14.8 million artiste discoveries were made through EQUAL playlists, and EQUAL artistses received over 11,800 total editorial playlists add.

    ln her response, DBN Gogo said: “Being a part of the EQUAL Africa programme is something I am truly grateful for.

    “Being recognised and celebrated as one of the many women pioneering in South Africa music is an honour.

    “The industry being male-dominated just exists as a fact in my world, not a barrier to entry. I have set my own standard.”

    Revealing the African artistes she grew up listening to, DBN Gogo said “I grew up listening to all the South Africa greats, Boom Shaka, Thebe, Jimmy Dludlu, Malaika.

    “The influence of kwaito and Afro-pop is quite heavy in the present dance and Amapiano genre.”

    Also, describing her music style, she said: “My style is quite diverse, I wouldn’t say it is one thing. A mixture of Amapiano, 3 step with Gqom as well. I like to experiment.”