Rebels who seized Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo have rejected calls to withdraw from the city and have demanded talks with Congolese President Joseph Kabila. The head of the M23 rebel group’s political arm (Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga) told Reuters the rebels “will stay in Goma, waiting for negotiations.” On Wednesday, Mr. Kabila issued […]
Aid Groups: Crisis in DRC to Grow
Posted November 20th, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
Aid groups say a humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo will likely intensify, now that rebels have taken the city of Goma. The World Food Program says aid workers are now taking shelter in its compound in Goma, which is protected by U.N. peacekeepers. It says its operations for internally displaced people […]
DR Congo Rebels Advance to Goma Outskirts
Posted November 18th, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC-5)
Rebels are advancing on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma after pushing back United Nations peacekeepers and government troops in recent fighting. Rebel spokesman Vianney Kazarama said M23 fighters are just a few kilometers from Goma. He said they are ready to respond to an attack by the army and repel it […]
Congo Rebels Capture New Town In Renewed Fighting
Posted November 17th, 2012 at 7:15 pm (UTC-5)
United Nations helicopters have failed to stop rebels from taking control of another town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A U.N. spokesman said that rebels from the M23 group fought government troops on Saturday and captured the town of Kibumba, about 30 kilometers north of Goma, the capital of restive North Kivu province. […]
Fresh Violence Breaks Out in DRC
Posted November 17th, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
United Nations helicopters have launched an aerial attack on M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after fresh fighting broke an uneasy truce between the rebels and Congolese soldiers this week. The United Nations and local officials in eastern DRC say U.N. aircraft fired on M23 forces after they gained ground against troops in […]
German Court Convicts 10 Somalis of Piracy
Posted October 19th, 2012 at 6:00 pm (UTC-5)
The U.N. Security Council says it plans to impose sanctions on the leaders of a Congolese rebel group and others who have violated an arms embargo on the country. The council also expressed its “deep concern” over reports that the Congolese militia group known as M23 is receiving help from neighboring countries. U.N. experts have […]
Uganda Blasts New Allegations of Helping Congo Rebels
Posted October 17th, 2012 at 2:20 pm (UTC-5)
Uganda is denouncing a leaked United Nations report that says both Uganda and Rwanda are supporting rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — a charge both countries have denied. Reuters news agency said Wednesday that it obtained a copy of the 44-page report prepared by the Group of Experts, a U.N. Security Council […]
Foundation, Solar Company Partner to Help Power DRC Hospital
Posted September 25th, 2012 at 3:00 am (UTC-5)
The U.S.-based Global Echo foundation has announced it is partnering with Chinese company Suntech to provide solar power to a hospital in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Philippe Cousteau Jr., the co-founder of Global Echo, told VOA the project will help the Panzi Hospital address its problem of depending on expensive, unreliable energy. “You […]
WFP Aims to Help 1.2 Million in Eastern Congo
Posted September 21st, 2012 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations is launching an emergency operation aimed at helping 1.2 million people affected by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The U.N. World Food Program said Friday that fighting has intensified in the eastern DRC as militia groups fight to extend their zones of influence. It said violence and human rights violations […]
Suspected Ebola Deaths Double in DRC
Posted September 13th, 2012 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
The World Health Organization says suspected Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo have doubled in just over a week. The WHO says the figure has risen from 14 to 31 since September 5. All of the cases are in Orientale Province in northeastern Congo. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic says the outbreak zones remain […]
