Congo

Legal Challenges Emerge Over U.S.-Congo Minerals Deal Congolese lawyers and human rights defenders are challenging a controversial "minerals-for-security" deal signed between the government of President Félix Tshisekedi and the United States in December. Critics argue that the agreement not only bypassed necessary parliamentary approval but may also require a national referendum under the Congolese constitution. The deal, designed to grant the U.S. preferential access to vital minerals such as cobalt and coltan—critical…

Tragic Mine Collapse in Eastern Congo Claims Over 200 Lives At least 200 people were killed when a coltan mine collapsed after heavy rains in Rubaya, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident highlights not only the dangers associated with artisanal mining but also the broader implications of illegal resource exploitation in conflict zones. According to rebel authorities, women, children, and artisanal miners were among the victims of this catastrophe, with around 20 survivors receiving treatment in local…

Landslides at M23-held Rubaya coltan mine in eastern DRC bury miners; fatalities feared A series of landslides struck the militia-controlled Rubaya mining zone in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, burying people alive and killing several, according to accounts provided to AFP by the provincial governor and witnesses. The death toll remained unclear Friday, and independent verification of casualties was not immediately possible. The collapses followed heavy rains, with one landslide reported Wednesday…

The M23 armed group said it will withdraw from the strategic eastern Congolese city of Uvira at the request of U.S. mediators, a move that could ease immediate tensions after its rapid advance last week cast doubt on a newly signed peace deal between the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The Rwanda-backed militia announced it “will unilaterally withdraw its forces from the city of Uvira, as requested by the U.S. mediators,” according to a statement signed by its coordinator, Corneil Nangaa. The…

The M23 armed group has announced its agreement to withdraw from the city of Uvira in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following a request from the United States. This decision marks a significant moment in a region long troubled by conflict and political instability. Recently, the Rwanda-backed M23 militias seized control of Uvira, a strategic city located near the Burundian border. This takeover occurred just days after the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed a road map towards peace in Washington, D.C. The…

M23 Rebels Seize Key City in Eastern DR Congo Amid Rising Tensions Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, an essential military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. This unforeseen advancement has triggered panic among residents, forcing thousands to flee in fear. Witnesses stated that the M23 forces marched in without opposition, declaring they had "liberated" the city, although local officials maintained that government troops still controlled the area. This…

Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Capture Strategic City in Eastern DR Congo Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have reportedly entered the eastern DR Congo city of Uvira, a crucial military base located near the borders of Burundi and Rwanda. The takeover has triggered widespread panic and forced thousands of residents to flee, raising alarms about the regional stability. Witnesses reported that the M23 rebels marched into Uvira unopposed, claiming to have "liberated" the city. However, government officials insist that their troops remain…

Crisis Escalates as M23 Rebels Advance in Eastern Congo The city of Uvira in eastern Congo is witnessing unprecedented turmoil as M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwandan forces, reach its outskirts. This escalation poses significant threats to regional stability. M23 rebels launched an attack on Uvira, prompting Burundi to close its border. The latest advance follows last year's seizures of Goma and Bukavu. An agreement between Congo and Rwanda, mediated by the U.S., is severely threatened. Strategic…

About 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent days as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels press toward the strategic lakeside city of Uvira, the United Nations said, underscoring a dramatic escalation that comes days after a Washington ceremony heralding a path to peace. The UN said at least 74 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the latest wave of fighting and 83 others were hospitalized with wounds. It warned the new M23 offensive “has a destabilizing potential for the whole…

A Historic Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda After three decades of violence, proxy wars, and relentless political maneuvering, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a peace agreement that is being heralded as historic. Yet, in the Great Lakes region—a landscape marked by the tumult of conflict and fragility—optimism walks a delicate line alongside skepticism. As the ink dries on this pivotal document, questions linger: Will this truly signal the dawn of durable…