Latest Democratic Republic of the Congo government News

Southern African leaders resolve to keep troops in conflict-torn eastern Congo for another year

Nov. 20, 2024 16:14 PM EST

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Southern African leaders resolved Wednesday to extend for another year the presence of regional troops deployed to fight rebels in conflict-torn eastern Congo, and also pledged to work toward peace in Mozambique, where disputed elections stoked unrest. The...

Congo opposition leaders call for protests against president's plan to change constitution

Nov. 20, 2024 13:17 PM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Leaders of the main opposition parties in Congo called on Wednesday for nationwide protests against President Felix Tshisekedi ’s plans to draft a new constitution. Last month, Tshisekedi announced that a national commission will be set up next year to...

The mausoleum holding Congo independence hero Lumumba's gold-capped tooth is vandalized

Nov. 20, 2024 01:08 AM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s government says the mausoleum of assassinated independence leader Patrice Lumumba in the capital, Kinshasa, has been vandalized. It's not immediately clear whether Lumumba’s remains — a single gold-capped tooth — were damaged or stolen. A...

Congo accuses rebel group of 'ethnic cleansing' in country's east

Nov. 19, 2024 17:29 PM EST

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's government on Tuesday accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group of “ethnic cleansing” in the central African nation’s east. The minister of the interior, Jacquemain Shabani, denounced the “massive arrival of foreign populations” in the...

Congo's president announces plans for a new constitution. Opposition worried about term limit change

Oct. 24, 2024 11:17 AM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Congo's President announced a national commission will be set up next year to draft a new constitution for the central African country, raising concern among the opposition over possible altering of the presidential term limit. Felix Tshisekedi was reelected...

Nile basin nations say water-sharing accord has come into force without Egypt's backing

Oct. 14, 2024 20:43 PM EDT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A regional partnership of 10 countries says an agreement on the equitable use of water resources from the Nile River basin has come into force despite the notable opposition of Egypt. The legal status of the “cooperative framework” was formally confirmed...

ICC prosecutor announces renewed probe into alleged crimes in conflict-torn eastern Congo

Oct. 14, 2024 12:31 PM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Monday he is renewing an investigation in Congo and focusing on allegations of crimes committed in the conflict-torn North Kivu province in the central African nation's east since early 2022. Eastern...

Congo finally begins mpox vaccinations in a drive to slow outbreaks

Oct. 05, 2024 16:26 PM EDT

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Congolese authorities Saturday began vaccinations against mpox, nearly two months after the disease outbreak that spread from Congo to several African countries and beyond was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization. The 265,000 doses donated...

At least 78 people died when a boat with 278 on board capsized in eastern Congo, official says

Oct. 03, 2024 15:24 PM EDT

GOMA, Congo (AP) — At least 78 people died when an overcrowded boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern Congo on Thursday, a local governor said. A frantic search and rescue operation was underway hours later as many remained unaccounted for from the vessel, believed to have had 278 people on board....

Rebel group in Congo generates $300,000 monthly in seized mining area, UN official says

Oct. 01, 2024 09:40 AM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A rebel group in Congo generates around $300,000 a month in revenue through its control of a mining area in the east of the country, a U.N. official said. In April, the M23 — a rebel group with alleged links to Rwanda — seized the Rubaya mining area in...