🇨🇩 UN peacekeepers close base in preparation to leave DR Congo
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has helped in the fight against rebels for more than two decades, has closed one of its key bases as it prepares to leave the Central African nation this year at the request of the government.
The mission, also known as MONUSCO, closed a major base near the city of Bukavu in a ceremony attended by Bintou Keita, the head of MONUSCO, along with DRC military and government officials.
The base, along with others slated to close by the end of the year, will be handed over to the military.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a briefing at the organisation’s headquarters in New York on Thursday that peacekeepers from Pakistan, who constituted the bulk of the forces deployed in South Kivu province, are leaving after more than 20 years of service.
#DRC
@africaintel
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has helped in the fight against rebels for more than two decades, has closed one of its key bases as it prepares to leave the Central African nation this year at the request of the government.
The mission, also known as MONUSCO, closed a major base near the city of Bukavu in a ceremony attended by Bintou Keita, the head of MONUSCO, along with DRC military and government officials.
The base, along with others slated to close by the end of the year, will be handed over to the military.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a briefing at the organisation’s headquarters in New York on Thursday that peacekeepers from Pakistan, who constituted the bulk of the forces deployed in South Kivu province, are leaving after more than 20 years of service.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 Concern mounts as DRC prosecutors target Cardinal for judicial inquiry
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there's rising alarm as prosecutors initiate a judicial inquiry against Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa for alleged "seditious comments."
Cardinal Ambongo, a key advisor to Pope Francis, faces accusations of "incitement" following his remarks on insecurity in the east during Easter Mass. The move has sparked swift reactions from clergy, human rights groups, and opposition figures, who see it as a troubling precedent against government criticism.
The Catholic Church, long a vocal critic of corruption and human rights abuses, views the investigation as sacrilegious and fears it may deepen divisions in a nation already grappling with conflict in the east.
#DRC
@africaintel
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there's rising alarm as prosecutors initiate a judicial inquiry against Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa for alleged "seditious comments."
Cardinal Ambongo, a key advisor to Pope Francis, faces accusations of "incitement" following his remarks on insecurity in the east during Easter Mass. The move has sparked swift reactions from clergy, human rights groups, and opposition figures, who see it as a troubling precedent against government criticism.
The Catholic Church, long a vocal critic of corruption and human rights abuses, views the investigation as sacrilegious and fears it may deepen divisions in a nation already grappling with conflict in the east.
#DRC
@africaintel
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🇨🇩 There was a funny attempted coup d'état in the DRC.
Three adventurers, including one American, tried to break into the presidential palace, but were detained.
#DRC
@africaintel
Three adventurers, including one American, tried to break into the presidential palace, but were detained.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 DRC parliament elects speaker in delayed vote days after foiled coup
The Democratic Republic of Congo's national assembly elected Vital Kamerhe, whose home was violently attacked on Sunday, as speaker in a delayed vote, a key step towards installing a government five months after a presidential election.
The role of speaker makes Kamerhe, a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, the Central African country's number two authority.
Of the 407 members of parliament who cast ballots on Monday, 371 voted in favour of Kamerhe's candidacy for speaker. MPs were also set to vote on candidacies for six other positions in the lower house.
The vote clears the way for Congo to name a government, which it has not had since the December 2023 presidential election that handed Tshisekedi a second term.
#DRC
@africaintel
The Democratic Republic of Congo's national assembly elected Vital Kamerhe, whose home was violently attacked on Sunday, as speaker in a delayed vote, a key step towards installing a government five months after a presidential election.
The role of speaker makes Kamerhe, a close ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, the Central African country's number two authority.
Of the 407 members of parliament who cast ballots on Monday, 371 voted in favour of Kamerhe's candidacy for speaker. MPs were also set to vote on candidacies for six other positions in the lower house.
The vote clears the way for Congo to name a government, which it has not had since the December 2023 presidential election that handed Tshisekedi a second term.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 At least 16 killed by suspected Islamists in eastern Congo
At least 16 people were killed by a suspected Islamist rebel group based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, an official from the local administration said on Wednesday.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), allied to Islamic State, started as a Ugandan insurgency but has operated from the jungles of eastern Congo for almost three decades.
"We believe that the ADF are the perpetrators of this attack, they took advantage of the departure of the military in the area to come and kill the population," local official Fabien Kakule Viriro told.
The victims were hacked to death with machetes while they were in their homes or in the fields, the official said, adding that some were executed while they were trying to escape.
#DRC
@africaintel
At least 16 people were killed by a suspected Islamist rebel group based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, an official from the local administration said on Wednesday.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), allied to Islamic State, started as a Ugandan insurgency but has operated from the jungles of eastern Congo for almost three decades.
"We believe that the ADF are the perpetrators of this attack, they took advantage of the departure of the military in the area to come and kill the population," local official Fabien Kakule Viriro told.
The victims were hacked to death with machetes while they were in their homes or in the fields, the official said, adding that some were executed while they were trying to escape.
#DRC
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇨🇩 There was a funny attempted coup d'état in the DRC. Three adventurers, including one American, tried to break into the presidential palace, but were detained. #DRC @africaintel
U.S. denied access to Americans detained in Congo coup plot
The U.S. Embassy in Congo said that Congolese authorities have not shared details or provided access to the Americans who were arrested following a coup attempt last month, following pleas for help from one family trying to confirm whether their son is alive.
Congo's army has released the names of three Americans accused of having a role in the attack led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga on May 19. The State Department says one of its highest priorities is providing consular assistance to Americans detained abroad, including regular visits to ensure medical care and assisting with finding an English-speaking lawyer.
“We have requested DRC authorities grant consular access to any U.S. citizens who may have been detained and have not received it to date,” U.S. embassy spokesperson Greg Porter said in an email to The Associated Press.
Congolese authorities did not immediately respond. They have declined to say whether the Americans will appear in court. An army spokesman has said more details will come later.
Malanga, who in the past declared himself Congo's president in exile, live-streamed the attempt to overthrow the government with his Utah-born son, Marcel Malanga, as they threatened President Felix Tshisekedi from inside the presidential palace. Malanga was shot dead for resisting arrest, the Congolese army said. In all, six people were killed and dozens arrested.
The fate of the Americans is unclear. A video on social media showed a bound and bloodied Marcel as he was taken into custody. He appeared in the video with a second American, 21-year-old Tyler Thompson Jr. His family said they had played high school football together.
Thompson flew to Africa with Marcel for what his family believed was a vacation, with all expenses paid by Malanga. Other teammates alleged that Marcel had offered up to $100,000 to join him on a “security job” in Congo. Last week, Thompson's family told the AP they didn't know if he was still alive.
Thompson’s family maintains he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga’s intentions and no plans for political activism and didn’t even plan to enter Congo. They were meant to travel only to South Africa and Eswatini, his stepmother, Miranda Thompson, said.
Marcel’s mother, Brittney Sawyer, has said her son is innocent and had simply followed his father.
#DRC
@africaintel
The U.S. Embassy in Congo said that Congolese authorities have not shared details or provided access to the Americans who were arrested following a coup attempt last month, following pleas for help from one family trying to confirm whether their son is alive.
Congo's army has released the names of three Americans accused of having a role in the attack led by little-known opposition figure Christian Malanga on May 19. The State Department says one of its highest priorities is providing consular assistance to Americans detained abroad, including regular visits to ensure medical care and assisting with finding an English-speaking lawyer.
“We have requested DRC authorities grant consular access to any U.S. citizens who may have been detained and have not received it to date,” U.S. embassy spokesperson Greg Porter said in an email to The Associated Press.
Congolese authorities did not immediately respond. They have declined to say whether the Americans will appear in court. An army spokesman has said more details will come later.
Malanga, who in the past declared himself Congo's president in exile, live-streamed the attempt to overthrow the government with his Utah-born son, Marcel Malanga, as they threatened President Felix Tshisekedi from inside the presidential palace. Malanga was shot dead for resisting arrest, the Congolese army said. In all, six people were killed and dozens arrested.
The fate of the Americans is unclear. A video on social media showed a bound and bloodied Marcel as he was taken into custody. He appeared in the video with a second American, 21-year-old Tyler Thompson Jr. His family said they had played high school football together.
Thompson flew to Africa with Marcel for what his family believed was a vacation, with all expenses paid by Malanga. Other teammates alleged that Marcel had offered up to $100,000 to join him on a “security job” in Congo. Last week, Thompson's family told the AP they didn't know if he was still alive.
Thompson’s family maintains he had no knowledge of the elder Malanga’s intentions and no plans for political activism and didn’t even plan to enter Congo. They were meant to travel only to South Africa and Eswatini, his stepmother, Miranda Thompson, said.
Marcel’s mother, Brittney Sawyer, has said her son is innocent and had simply followed his father.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 Suspected Islamists in eastern Congo kill more than 80 in a week
The death toll has risen to 41 following an attack on Friday by suspected Islamist rebels on villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a Congolese army spokesman said, bringing the total toll in the region to more than 80 since last Tuesday.
Last Friday night's attack, on the villages of Masala, Mapasana and Mahini, had been carried out by members of the Islamic State Central African Province (former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)), said lieutenant-colonel Mak Hazukay, an army spokesman in Congo's North Kivu province.
The ISCAP, which is now based in eastern Congo, has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and mounts frequent attacks, further destabilising a region where many militant groups are active.
#DRC
@africaintel
The death toll has risen to 41 following an attack on Friday by suspected Islamist rebels on villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a Congolese army spokesman said, bringing the total toll in the region to more than 80 since last Tuesday.
Last Friday night's attack, on the villages of Masala, Mapasana and Mahini, had been carried out by members of the Islamic State Central African Province (former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)), said lieutenant-colonel Mak Hazukay, an army spokesman in Congo's North Kivu province.
The ISCAP, which is now based in eastern Congo, has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and mounts frequent attacks, further destabilising a region where many militant groups are active.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩🇺🇸🇬🇧 US, British citizens among suspects on trial in Congo after thwarted coup
More than 50 defendants, including six with U.S., British, Canadian or Belgian citizenship, appeared in court in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday charged with taking part in a failed coup and other offences that carry the death penalty.
Armed men briefly occupied an office of the presidency in the capital Kinshasa on May 19 before their leader, U.S.-based Congolese politician Christian Malanga, was killed by security forces.
The defendants include Malanga's 22-year-old son Marcel Malanga, two other U.S. citizens and the three other holders of foreign passports. All have Congolese roots.
The first day of the military trial took place under a tent in the yard of Ndolo military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa. The defendants filed in wearing blue and yellow prison-issued tops and lined up before the judge.
All 53 face charges including illegal arms possession, criminal conspiracy, terrorism and attempts to destabilise state institutions and undermine the integrity of the state, some of which risk the death penalty or lengthy prison sentences.
#DRC
@africaintel
More than 50 defendants, including six with U.S., British, Canadian or Belgian citizenship, appeared in court in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday charged with taking part in a failed coup and other offences that carry the death penalty.
Armed men briefly occupied an office of the presidency in the capital Kinshasa on May 19 before their leader, U.S.-based Congolese politician Christian Malanga, was killed by security forces.
The defendants include Malanga's 22-year-old son Marcel Malanga, two other U.S. citizens and the three other holders of foreign passports. All have Congolese roots.
The first day of the military trial took place under a tent in the yard of Ndolo military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa. The defendants filed in wearing blue and yellow prison-issued tops and lined up before the judge.
All 53 face charges including illegal arms possession, criminal conspiracy, terrorism and attempts to destabilise state institutions and undermine the integrity of the state, some of which risk the death penalty or lengthy prison sentences.
#DRC
@africaintel
Forwarded from Rybar in English
🇨🇩🇷🇼🇺🇸 The law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, representing the interests of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), plans to file a lawsuit against Apple in France and the United States.
According to the lawyers, the American company is actively purchasing smuggled Congolese tantalum and coltan from Rwanda, which are mined by local militants in the east of the country. The authorities in Kinshasa believe that in this way the tech giant is indirectly supporting anti-government groups.
Apple immediately rushed to declare that they did not find any facts of sponsoring militants in their supply chains and claimed that they allegedly immediately terminate contracts upon discovering the extraction of "blood resources". The latter sounds particularly comical against the background of past investigations where Apple and other companies incited DRC mining companies to use child labor.
📌 At the same time, for the Congolese leadership, the fact of the capture of the North Kivu mines in favor of the USA by the proxy forces of Rwanda in the form of the M23 group has long been an open secret. Thus, the US authorities maintain an acceptable price for the resource, not allowing the country to become a regional leader.
And since politicians in Kinshasa cannot directly confront the political circles in Washington, they have been tasked with at least reducing the cash flows from the main beneficiaries. And Apple's evasive response confirms that to some extent this is possible with certain efforts.
#Africa #DRC #Rwanda #USA
@rybar
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According to the lawyers, the American company is actively purchasing smuggled Congolese tantalum and coltan from Rwanda, which are mined by local militants in the east of the country. The authorities in Kinshasa believe that in this way the tech giant is indirectly supporting anti-government groups.
Apple immediately rushed to declare that they did not find any facts of sponsoring militants in their supply chains and claimed that they allegedly immediately terminate contracts upon discovering the extraction of "blood resources". The latter sounds particularly comical against the background of past investigations where Apple and other companies incited DRC mining companies to use child labor.
📌 At the same time, for the Congolese leadership, the fact of the capture of the North Kivu mines in favor of the USA by the proxy forces of Rwanda in the form of the M23 group has long been an open secret. Thus, the US authorities maintain an acceptable price for the resource, not allowing the country to become a regional leader.
And since politicians in Kinshasa cannot directly confront the political circles in Washington, they have been tasked with at least reducing the cash flows from the main beneficiaries. And Apple's evasive response confirms that to some extent this is possible with certain efforts.
#Africa #DRC #Rwanda #USA
@rybar
Support us Original msg
Reuters
Congo lawyers say they have new evidence on Apple's minerals supply chain
International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Wednesday they had new evidence gathered from whistleblowers, which deepened concerns that Apple could be sourcing minerals from conflict areas in eastern Congo.
🇨🇩 Surge in rebel attacks sparks deadly protests in eastern Congo
At least seven people have been killed in unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, local officials said on Saturday, after people took to the streets to protest against a surge in deadly attacks by suspected Islamist rebels.
Rebel group affiliated to the Islamic State, are alleged to have killed more than 40 people in an attack on Mayikengo village this week and over 80 in attacks on other villages in the province the previous week.
The insecurity has fuelled public frustration, leading to the killing of two soldiers and their driver in Lubero territory by a crowd who torched their vehicle overnight on Friday, local official Julio Mabanga told.
On Saturday, further clashes in the area between security forces and local residents led to the deaths of another three people: a civilian, a soldier, and an agent of the ANR national intelligence service, Mabanga said.
A similar protest broke out in the city of Butembo on Saturday, with hundreds of youths taking to the streets wielding sticks, chanting and singing songs to denounce the widespread insecurity.
#DRC
@africaintel
At least seven people have been killed in unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, local officials said on Saturday, after people took to the streets to protest against a surge in deadly attacks by suspected Islamist rebels.
Rebel group affiliated to the Islamic State, are alleged to have killed more than 40 people in an attack on Mayikengo village this week and over 80 in attacks on other villages in the province the previous week.
The insecurity has fuelled public frustration, leading to the killing of two soldiers and their driver in Lubero territory by a crowd who torched their vehicle overnight on Friday, local official Julio Mabanga told.
On Saturday, further clashes in the area between security forces and local residents led to the deaths of another three people: a civilian, a soldier, and an agent of the ANR national intelligence service, Mabanga said.
A similar protest broke out in the city of Butembo on Saturday, with hundreds of youths taking to the streets wielding sticks, chanting and singing songs to denounce the widespread insecurity.
#DRC
@africaintel