Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩🇺🇳 DRC army and UN launch Operation Springbok as M23 threatens key towns
DRC government troops and United Nations peacekeepers launched a joint operation aimed at reinforcing security around the capital of the North Kivu province, Goma.
The city as well as Sake face threats from several armed groups, including from the M23 rebels. Group which Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting.
United Nations experts concluded in a report that Rwanda backs the M23, although Kigali denies the claim.
The UN's Force commander emphasised his forces commitment to helping the Congolese troops.
The new joint operation, named Springbok, has established several fresh defensive positions, with UN armored vehicles and heavily armed troops seen deployed in the hilly terrain near Sake.
#DRC #UN
@africaintel
DRC government troops and United Nations peacekeepers launched a joint operation aimed at reinforcing security around the capital of the North Kivu province, Goma.
The city as well as Sake face threats from several armed groups, including from the M23 rebels. Group which Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting.
United Nations experts concluded in a report that Rwanda backs the M23, although Kigali denies the claim.
The UN's Force commander emphasised his forces commitment to helping the Congolese troops.
The new joint operation, named Springbok, has established several fresh defensive positions, with UN armored vehicles and heavily armed troops seen deployed in the hilly terrain near Sake.
#DRC #UN
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
Bellum Acta - Intel, Urgent News and Archives
🇨🇩🇺🇳 DRC army and UN launch Operation Springbok as M23 threatens key towns DRC government troops and United Nations peacekeepers launched a joint operation aimed at reinforcing security around the capital of the North Kivu province, Goma. The city as well…
🇨🇩 Rebel fighting cuts power lines to DR Congo city of Goma
The main power lines to the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been cut due to an escalation in rebel fighting nearby, leaving hospitals and water systems without power.
Virunga National Park, which operates the network that supplies about 80% of Goma's electricity, said on Monday that clashes between Congo's army and the M23 rebels had severed the main power lines to Goma, a city of over 2 million people and the capital of North Kivu province.
A spokesperson for the park said on Tuesday that engineers had managed to access the site to begin repairing the main line, but that bombing continued around them.
#DRC
@africaintel
The main power lines to the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been cut due to an escalation in rebel fighting nearby, leaving hospitals and water systems without power.
Virunga National Park, which operates the network that supplies about 80% of Goma's electricity, said on Monday that clashes between Congo's army and the M23 rebels had severed the main power lines to Goma, a city of over 2 million people and the capital of North Kivu province.
A spokesperson for the park said on Tuesday that engineers had managed to access the site to begin repairing the main line, but that bombing continued around them.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from War Noir
Democratic Republic of #Congo (#DRC) 🇨🇩: 'March 23 Movement' (#M23) captured weapons from Congolese Army (#FARDC).
#Serbian 🇷🇸 RBG 40mm/6 M11 grenade launcher, #Bulgarian 🇧🇬 MG-1M machine guns and SVD sniper rifle & AKM rifles with #Israeli 🇮🇱 FAB accessories can be seen.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1728439754419470755
#Serbian 🇷🇸 RBG 40mm/6 M11 grenade launcher, #Bulgarian 🇧🇬 MG-1M machine guns and SVD sniper rifle & AKM rifles with #Israeli 🇮🇱 FAB accessories can be seen.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1728439754419470755
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇺🇳🇨🇩 The UN prepares the early departure from DRC
The UN Security Council is expected to launch on Tuesday an early but gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from the DR Congo from the end of 2023, as requested by Kinshasa.
Despite this situation in the east, the Congolese government has been calling for months for an "accelerated" withdrawal of Blue helmets, from the end of 2023 and not the end of 2024. It considers the UN force ineffective in protecting civilians against armed groups and militias that have been raging for three decades in eastern DRC.
Several members of the Council, notably the United States, have expressed doubts in recent months about the fact that the Congolese forces are ready to replace MONUSCO to ensure the security of the population.
From May 2024, MONUSCO will only be present in North Kivu and Ituri. From July 1, its workforce will be reduced by some 2,350 people.
#UN #DRC
@africaintel
The UN Security Council is expected to launch on Tuesday an early but gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from the DR Congo from the end of 2023, as requested by Kinshasa.
Despite this situation in the east, the Congolese government has been calling for months for an "accelerated" withdrawal of Blue helmets, from the end of 2023 and not the end of 2024. It considers the UN force ineffective in protecting civilians against armed groups and militias that have been raging for three decades in eastern DRC.
Several members of the Council, notably the United States, have expressed doubts in recent months about the fact that the Congolese forces are ready to replace MONUSCO to ensure the security of the population.
From May 2024, MONUSCO will only be present in North Kivu and Ituri. From July 1, its workforce will be reduced by some 2,350 people.
#UN #DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩 DR Congo's opposition leader Katumbi promises to 'liberate the country'
Two weeks before the Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls, the opposition leader Moise Katumbi has broadened his campaigns in a bid to win.
While campaigning in the capital Kinshasa, Katumbi promised to "liberate the country" by giving jobs to young people and lowering the US dollar rate.
A wealthy businessman and owner of the famous "Tout Puissant Mazembe" soccer club, Moïse Katumbi is the former governor (2007-2015) of the mining province of Katanga, the country's economic powerhouse.
#DRC
@africaintel
Two weeks before the Democratic Republic of Congo goes to the polls, the opposition leader Moise Katumbi has broadened his campaigns in a bid to win.
While campaigning in the capital Kinshasa, Katumbi promised to "liberate the country" by giving jobs to young people and lowering the US dollar rate.
A wealthy businessman and owner of the famous "Tout Puissant Mazembe" soccer club, Moïse Katumbi is the former governor (2007-2015) of the mining province of Katanga, the country's economic powerhouse.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩 DR Congo opposition candidate suspends presidential campaign after violence
One of the main opposition candidates for Congo's presidential election next week, Moise Katumbi, suspended part of his campaign on Wednesday after violent clashes at one of his election rallies.
Live rounds were fired and several people were injured as Katumbi addressed supporters in the coastal town of Moanda on Tuesday.
The provincial government said in a statement that Katumbi's guards fired warning shots after the crowd grew rowdy, stoking tension and jostling. The police used tear gas to restore order.
Several people were injured, including a police officer who was seriously hurt, and investigations into the incident are ongoing, the statement said.
"In order to avoid further provocation, I have decided to temporarily suspend my meeting with citizens in the cities of Kananga and Tshikapa," Katumbi said.
#DRC
@africaintel
One of the main opposition candidates for Congo's presidential election next week, Moise Katumbi, suspended part of his campaign on Wednesday after violent clashes at one of his election rallies.
Live rounds were fired and several people were injured as Katumbi addressed supporters in the coastal town of Moanda on Tuesday.
The provincial government said in a statement that Katumbi's guards fired warning shots after the crowd grew rowdy, stoking tension and jostling. The police used tear gas to restore order.
Several people were injured, including a police officer who was seriously hurt, and investigations into the incident are ongoing, the statement said.
"In order to avoid further provocation, I have decided to temporarily suspend my meeting with citizens in the cities of Kananga and Tshikapa," Katumbi said.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩🇺🇳 DR Congo asks U.N. to help with challenging election logistics
Democratic Republic of Congo's government has asked the United Nations to allow its peacekeeping mission to help with the logistics of organising national elections next week.
There have been challenges in the distribution of voting materials in DRC due to a lack of paved roads and conflict in rebel-plagued eastern provinces, where a U.N. peacekeeping mission is deployed.
The mission has already helped deliver voting materials in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Its mandate is currently limited to those areas.
But the Kinshasa government asked the U.N. Security Council to allow MONUSCO to extend its logistical support to other provinces.
#DRC
@africaintel
Democratic Republic of Congo's government has asked the United Nations to allow its peacekeeping mission to help with the logistics of organising national elections next week.
There have been challenges in the distribution of voting materials in DRC due to a lack of paved roads and conflict in rebel-plagued eastern provinces, where a U.N. peacekeeping mission is deployed.
The mission has already helped deliver voting materials in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Its mandate is currently limited to those areas.
But the Kinshasa government asked the U.N. Security Council to allow MONUSCO to extend its logistical support to other provinces.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩 DR Congo holds presidential vote amid unrest in the east
Voters in Democratic Republic of Congo take part in a general election on Wednesday. For months, the CENI election commission has insisted it will deliver a free and fair vote as promised.
Some 44 million Congolese are registered to take part in the presidential, legislative, and regional vote. As voting day neared, the authorities sought extra helicopters, raising concerns about the CENI's ability to open polling stations in areas otherwise unreachable due to bad roads or deep insecurity.
President Felix Tshisekedi is competing against around two dozen opposition challengers in the hope of a second term running the mineral-rich yet poverty-stricken nation.
Opposition candidates have wooed voters with pledges to bring stability, peace, and the economic development they say was absent from Tshisekedi's first term.
Meanwhile, authorities said internet access will not be cut off during the election day.
#DRC
@africaintel
Voters in Democratic Republic of Congo take part in a general election on Wednesday. For months, the CENI election commission has insisted it will deliver a free and fair vote as promised.
Some 44 million Congolese are registered to take part in the presidential, legislative, and regional vote. As voting day neared, the authorities sought extra helicopters, raising concerns about the CENI's ability to open polling stations in areas otherwise unreachable due to bad roads or deep insecurity.
President Felix Tshisekedi is competing against around two dozen opposition challengers in the hope of a second term running the mineral-rich yet poverty-stricken nation.
Opposition candidates have wooed voters with pledges to bring stability, peace, and the economic development they say was absent from Tshisekedi's first term.
Meanwhile, authorities said internet access will not be cut off during the election day.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇺🇳🇨🇩 UN security council agrees to gradual withdrawal of Congo force
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution starting to wind down its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said in September at the U.N. General Assembly that he had asked his government to fast-track the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission to ensure it begins at the end of the year.
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday laying out MONUSCO's "responsible and sustainable" withdrawal in three phases over the course of 2024.
#UN #DRC
@africaintel
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution starting to wind down its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said in September at the U.N. General Assembly that he had asked his government to fast-track the withdrawal of the peacekeeping mission to ensure it begins at the end of the year.
The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Tuesday laying out MONUSCO's "responsible and sustainable" withdrawal in three phases over the course of 2024.
#UN #DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩 DR Congo presidential election: partial results give Tshisekedi a clear lead
The Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission (Céni) continued to release partial results from the December 20-21 presidential election, with incumbent leader Félix Tshisekedi leading by a wide margin -over 80% of the vote.
The results announced so far relate to 1,876,827 voters, out of a total of nearly 44 million registered in the vast country of around 100 million inhabitants.
Félix Tshisekedi was followed by businessman and former governor of Katanga (southeast) Moïse Katumbi (15.18%) and the other opponent Martin Fayulu (1.2%). The twenty or so other candidates in the running, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, failed to reach 1%.
#DRC
@africaintel
The Democratic Republic of Congo's electoral commission (Céni) continued to release partial results from the December 20-21 presidential election, with incumbent leader Félix Tshisekedi leading by a wide margin -over 80% of the vote.
The results announced so far relate to 1,876,827 voters, out of a total of nearly 44 million registered in the vast country of around 100 million inhabitants.
Félix Tshisekedi was followed by businessman and former governor of Katanga (southeast) Moïse Katumbi (15.18%) and the other opponent Martin Fayulu (1.2%). The twenty or so other candidates in the running, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, failed to reach 1%.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩 3 dead in bombing attack on DR Congo displacement camp as violence in the east escalates
A group of rebels bombed a displacement camp in eastern Congo's North Kivu province killing three civilians and injuring eight others, a local civil society group said Tuesday, as violence in the conflict-hit region sparked protests and a humanitarian group warned that thousands are facing limited access to aid.
M23 bombed the Zaina camp on Monday, which is 16 miles from the city of Goma, civil society leader Wete Mwami Yenga, said. The bombing followed days of attacks not far away from the city.
The M23 rebels did not claim responsibility for the attack but appeared to confirm Tuesday that they were heading to the town of Sake which is near Goma.
#DRC
@africaintel
A group of rebels bombed a displacement camp in eastern Congo's North Kivu province killing three civilians and injuring eight others, a local civil society group said Tuesday, as violence in the conflict-hit region sparked protests and a humanitarian group warned that thousands are facing limited access to aid.
M23 bombed the Zaina camp on Monday, which is 16 miles from the city of Goma, civil society leader Wete Mwami Yenga, said. The bombing followed days of attacks not far away from the city.
The M23 rebels did not claim responsibility for the attack but appeared to confirm Tuesday that they were heading to the town of Sake which is near Goma.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩🇺🇬 Escalation in east DR Congo puts Uganda on alert
Security agencies in Uganda are on high alert following renewed fighting in the restive eastern DR Congo, which has seen disruption of business between the two countries, an influx of refugees, and fears that the war could spill over across the border.
Since January, fighting between the Congolese national army and the M23 rebel group in the North Kivu Province has seen thousands of civilians displaced, with many trekking into Uganda.
Uganda’s Defence Public Information Officer spokesperson said the army has increased surveillance and deployment around the common border to avert any violence spillover.
Between September 2023 and January 2024, Uganda received more than 35,900 Congolese asylum seekers, according to the UNHCR.
#DRC #Uganda
@africaintel
Security agencies in Uganda are on high alert following renewed fighting in the restive eastern DR Congo, which has seen disruption of business between the two countries, an influx of refugees, and fears that the war could spill over across the border.
Since January, fighting between the Congolese national army and the M23 rebel group in the North Kivu Province has seen thousands of civilians displaced, with many trekking into Uganda.
Uganda’s Defence Public Information Officer spokesperson said the army has increased surveillance and deployment around the common border to avert any violence spillover.
Between September 2023 and January 2024, Uganda received more than 35,900 Congolese asylum seekers, according to the UNHCR.
#DRC #Uganda
@africaintel
Forwarded from Africa Intel
🇨🇩🇷🇼🇪🇺 DR Congo's president accuses Rwanda of looting with EU support
The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo said he was open to a dialogue with his Rwandan counterpart for peace but lashed out against an agreement recently signed between Rwanda and the European Union on mining.
“It’s a provocation in very bad taste,” said President Felix Tshisekedi.
Tshiseked alleged Rwanda was plundering Congo's mineral resources.
He criticized an agreement signed between the EU and Rwanda earlier this week linked to the strengthening of their cooperation in the mining sector, particularly with regard to critical raw materials such as tantalum.
Rwanda should not export wealth that it does not have, he said.
With the proceeds of these illicit sales, they will equip their armies and continue their ambitions in the Congo, he added.
#DRC #Rwanda #EU
@africaintel
The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo said he was open to a dialogue with his Rwandan counterpart for peace but lashed out against an agreement recently signed between Rwanda and the European Union on mining.
“It’s a provocation in very bad taste,” said President Felix Tshisekedi.
Tshiseked alleged Rwanda was plundering Congo's mineral resources.
He criticized an agreement signed between the EU and Rwanda earlier this week linked to the strengthening of their cooperation in the mining sector, particularly with regard to critical raw materials such as tantalum.
Rwanda should not export wealth that it does not have, he said.
With the proceeds of these illicit sales, they will equip their armies and continue their ambitions in the Congo, he added.
#DRC #Rwanda #EU
@africaintel
Forwarded from War Noir
Democratic Republic of #Congo (#DRC) 🇨🇩: "March 23 Movement" (#M23) reportedly captured the mining town of #Rubaya in #Masisi, North #Kivu.
Seemingly the group also seized #Russian 🇷🇺 AK-103 assault rifles, Type 3 AK-47 rifle and #Chinese 🇨🇳 Type 56-1 rifle from Congolese Army.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1786391574902952026
Seemingly the group also seized #Russian 🇷🇺 AK-103 assault rifles, Type 3 AK-47 rifle and #Chinese 🇨🇳 Type 56-1 rifle from Congolese Army.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1786391574902952026
Forwarded from War Noir
Democratic Republic of #Congo (#DRC) 🇨🇩: 'March 23 Movement' (#M23) seized large quantity of weapons after capturing the mining town of #Rubaya in #Masisi, North Kivu.
PK/Type 80 MGs, Yugo Zastava M84 MGs, #Bulgarian 🇧🇬 Arsenal MG-1M machine gun, #Russian 🇷🇺 AK-103 rifles, #Chinese 🇨🇳 Type 69 / RPG-7 Launchers, 82mm Type 53 HE mortar bombs, PG-7V/PG-7M HEAT rockets, OG-7V AP rockets, Chinese HEI-AP bounding rockets, Type 3 AKS-47 rifles, Yugo hand grenades, ammo etc... can be seen.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1787538668002930714
PK/Type 80 MGs, Yugo Zastava M84 MGs, #Bulgarian 🇧🇬 Arsenal MG-1M machine gun, #Russian 🇷🇺 AK-103 rifles, #Chinese 🇨🇳 Type 69 / RPG-7 Launchers, 82mm Type 53 HE mortar bombs, PG-7V/PG-7M HEAT rockets, OG-7V AP rockets, Chinese HEI-AP bounding rockets, Type 3 AKS-47 rifles, Yugo hand grenades, ammo etc... can be seen.
https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1787538668002930714
Forwarded from War Noir
#Congo (#DRC) 🇨🇩: A new photo posted by a member of March 23 Movement (#M23) with a notable weaponry.
The fighter is carrying an uncommon #Iran-made 🇮🇷 KL-103 assault rifle (trophy weapon) with GP-25/UBGL underbarrel grenade launcher.
https://x.com/war_noir/status/1852779908088352771
The fighter is carrying an uncommon #Iran-made 🇮🇷 KL-103 assault rifle (trophy weapon) with GP-25/UBGL underbarrel grenade launcher.
https://x.com/war_noir/status/1852779908088352771