Latest Democratic Republic of the Congo government News

Rwanda's army and an armed group shelled displaced people camps in Congo, rights group says

Sep. 27, 2024 11:56 AM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Rwanda's army and a militia it backs shelled camps for displaced people in eastern Congo, Human Rights Watch said. It also accused Congo of abuses against civilians. A report by the group released Thursday said that since the beginning of the year, Rwanda's...

Protesters in Congo call for the release of political prisoners, including 3 top opposition figures

Sep. 25, 2024 13:48 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Hundreds protested in front of Congo's top court Wednesday to demand the release of political prisoners, including the country’s three most prominent opposition figures imprisoned on charges the opposition says are politically motivated. Felix Tshisekedi,...

Thousands of ill inmates released from Congo's main prison to ease overcrowding

Sep. 23, 2024 18:13 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Nearly 1,700 ill inmates were released Monday from Congo’s largest prison, the minister of justice said, as part of an effort to thin out the country's overcrowded prisons. The operation took place at Makala Central Prison in the capital Kinshasa on Monday...

Rwanda begins vaccinations against mpox amid a call for more doses for Africa

Sep. 19, 2024 20:53 PM EDT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Rwanda has started a vaccination campaign against mpox with 1,000 doses of the vaccine it obtained from Nigeria under an agreement between the two countries, the African health agency said Thursday. The vaccinations started Tuesday targeting seven districts...

The lawyer for 3 Americans facing a death sentence over Congo coup attempt files appeal

Sep. 17, 2024 15:42 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The lawyer for three Americans sentenced to death in Congo on charges of participating in a coup attempt filed an appeal Tuesday, he told The Associated Press. A military court in Congo handed down death sentences last Friday to 37 people, including three...

How 3 young Americans ended up in the middle of a coup attempt in Congo and facing the death penalty

Sep. 13, 2024 19:08 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A military court in Congo, one of Africa’s largest countries, has convicted three Americans and dozens of others of taking part in a coup attempt and imposed “the harshest penalty, that of death.” The court convicted the 37 defendants, including the...

WHO and Africa CDC launch a response plan to the mpox outbreak

Sep. 06, 2024 12:54 PM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization launched on Friday a continent-wide response plan to the outbreak of mpox, three weeks after WHO declared outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency. The estimated...

The first 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine reach Congo. But it's a fraction of what is needed

Sep. 05, 2024 14:33 PM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congo’s capital on Thursday, the country’s authorities said, three weeks after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency. The 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS...

The first 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine reach Congo. But it's a fraction of what is needed

Sep. 05, 2024 09:25 AM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The first batch of mpox vaccine arrived in Congo’s capital on Thursday, the country’s authorities said, three weeks after the World Health Organization declared mpox outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency. The 100,000 doses of the MVA-BN...

Questions swirl around attempted jailbreak in Congo as families of victims demand accountability

Sep. 05, 2024 06:13 AM EDT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Families of those killed in what authorities called an attempted jailbreak in Congo's biggest prison are demanding answers from the government as activists denounce what they say are inhumane conditions in the nation's overcrowded penitentiaries. Officials...