Central Africa

In the past nine years, Angola has reported a concerning 200 instances of human trafficking. Ana Celeste Januário, the Secretary of State for Human Rights and Citizenship, shared these alarming statistics during a thematic meeting in Luanda focused on the Program for the Promotion of Human Rights. Januário highlighted that the provinces particularly beset by this grave issue include primarily border regions as well as the capital, Luanda. She strongly encouraged citizens to follow established laws and engage in commerce…

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has set its sights on obtaining reparations from Rwanda, blaming its neighbor for actions that allegedly infringed upon DRC's sovereignty and national integrity. This dispute has escalated, prompting the DRC to bring the matter before the East African Court of Justice. Their claims include serious allegations of aggression in eastern DRC—specifically, incidences of looting, sexual violence, and mass killings. However, before engaging in substantive legal discourse, the…

The White House has recently disclosed that President Joe Biden is set to embark on a journey to Angola this October, fulfilling a commitment he made to African leaders during the U.S.-Africa summit in 2022. This highly anticipated visit, slated for October 13th to 15th, will provide a platform for dialogue between the U.S. President and Angolan President João Lourenço, focusing on mutual interests and objectives. "We'll be aiming to strengthen our economic partnerships," stated White House Press Secretary Karine…

In recent weeks, a troubling wave of violence has swept through Cameroonian journalism, as reporters find themselves under siege. Armed assailants wielding rifles and machetes have launched "brutal attacks" against them, an alarming development coming just ahead of the impending presidential election scheduled for next year. President Paul Biya, who has held sway over the nation for more than 40 years, has yet to declare his intentions regarding another term, but pressure from his supporters to continue his reign is…

A tragic incident unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in the loss of at least 129 lives during a botched prison break. According to Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani, a grim tally indicates that 24 individuals were shot after warnings were issued. Yet, the death toll wasn't solely due to gunfire; many perished from being crushed or suffocated in the chaos. In the aftermath, at least 59 individuals sustained injuries and required medical attention, and reports surfaced of several women…

Mpox, a virus that has caused a considerable stir, has seen a worrying uptick in cases across the African continent. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) finds itself at the heart of this growing crisis. As of January 2024, a staggering 3,800 confirmed cases have been reported, cutting across 15 nations, with DR Congo bearing the brunt— over 90% of these infections are within its borders. This alarming situation has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to ring the alarm bells. They've labeled this…

President João Lourenço has recently enacted two pieces of legislation that, according to Human Rights Watch, significantly undermine international standards for human rights, particularly in regard to media, expression, and association freedoms.

In a significant development, the Special Criminal Court, which delves into human rights breaches from the nation's civil war, has apprehended Abakar Zakaria Hamid. Hamid, a prominent figure in the Seleka militia—a rebellious band that took over Bangui in 2023—is under indictment. He stands accused of masterminding a vicious assault on a church a decade ago, an attack that tragically claimed the lives of no less than 17 individuals. Additionally, seven other persons are now in custody, facing charges linked to this heinous…

The Democratic Republic of Congo, currently at the epicentre of a mpox outbreak, received its first shipment of nearly 100,000 doses of vaccines against the disease on Thursday. More than 17,500 cases and 629 deaths have been recorded in the country since the start of the year and the virus is now present in at least 13 African countries. “We are in a health war against mpox,” said Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.

For the first time since its independence in 1960, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has just implemented a specific program for the inclusive development of the country's 145 territories. In this context, 750 members of the Kinshasa Provincial Assemblies…