Latest Democratic Republic of the Congo News

Authorities say the mystery disease in Congo might be malaria but more testing is needed

Dec. 11, 2024 11:05 AM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The mystery flu-like illness that has killed dozens of people in southwest Congo in recent weeks might be malaria, according to results from laboratory samples of infected people, authorities said Wednesday. “Of the 12 samples taken, nine were positive for...

Rights group demands probe of ex-governor, 2 army officers in Congo for possible humanitarian crimes

Dec. 11, 2024 00:17 AM EST

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Amnesty International called for an investigation Wednesday into a former governor and two top army officials in Congo for “possible crimes against humanity” during a deadly crackdown on demonstrators last year protesting the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country. ...

Soros' Open Society Foundations say they remain focused on human rights

Dec. 10, 2024 15:09 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite years of internal turmoil and changes, Open Society Foundations wants those in the human rights sector to know their movements will still receive support from the organization, its president Binaifer Nowrojee said Tuesday. The foundations, founded by...

Chinese gold mining threatens a protected UN heritage site in Congo

Dec. 10, 2024 10:09 AM EST

OKAPI WILDLIFE RESERVE, Congo (AP) — Scattered along the banks of the Ituri River, buildings cram together, cranes transport dirt and debris scatters the soil. The patches of trees are a scant reminder that a forest once grew there. Nestled in eastern Congo's Ituri province, the...

Takeaways from AP's report on Chinese gold mining threatening endangered protected site in Congo

Dec. 09, 2024 22:06 PM EST

OKAPI WILDLIFE RESERVE, Congo (AP) — For eight years, a Chinese mining company has been vastly expanding inside an endangered World Heritage Site, accused by locals and conservationists of decimating the environment. The Okapi Wildlife Reserve became a protected site in 1996, due...

A mystery illness has killed dozens of people in Congo. UN experts are now investigating

Dec. 06, 2024 12:00 PM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The World Health Organization said Friday it was deploying experts to investigate a mystery flu-like illness that has killed dozens of people in southwest Congo in recent weeks. "All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its...

Congo government says it's 'on alert' over mystery flu-like disease that killed dozens

Dec. 05, 2024 11:24 AM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Public health officials in Africa urged caution Thursday as Congo’s health minister said the government was on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that in recent weeks killed dozens of people. Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa Centers for Disease Control...

Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit

Dec. 04, 2024 13:30 PM EST

LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden pledged another $600 million Wednesday for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration, and told African leaders the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been...

Health officials investigate mystery disease in southwest Congo after 143 deaths

Dec. 03, 2024 12:26 PM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people over two weeks is being investigated in southwestern Congo, local authorities said. The deaths were recorded between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. Symptoms include fever,...

Fighting resumes in eastern Congo despite ceasefire between army and rebels

Dec. 03, 2024 06:59 AM EST

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group resumed in eastern Congo in yet another ceasefire violation ahead of potential mediation talks, both groups said. The army said in a statement it inflicted heavy losses on the rebels in the Lubero...