🇨🇩 DR Congo lifts moratorium on death penalty, justice ministry circular shows
Democratic Republic Congo has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, citing treachery and espionage in recurring armed conflicts as the reason for allowing a resumption of executions, said a justice ministry circular.
The central African country introduced the moratorium on the death penalty in early 2000. However, it has never been abolished.
Justice Minister Rose Mutombo wrote in the circular dated March 13 that the death penalty was reintroduced to rid the army of traitors and curb the resurgence of terrorism and banditry acts. The decision was adopted by a council of ministers on February 9.
The death sentence can be imposed in cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, espionage, rebellion and criminal conspiracy, the document showed.
#DRC
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Democratic Republic Congo has lifted a moratorium on the death penalty, citing treachery and espionage in recurring armed conflicts as the reason for allowing a resumption of executions, said a justice ministry circular.
The central African country introduced the moratorium on the death penalty in early 2000. However, it has never been abolished.
Justice Minister Rose Mutombo wrote in the circular dated March 13 that the death penalty was reintroduced to rid the army of traitors and curb the resurgence of terrorism and banditry acts. The decision was adopted by a council of ministers on February 9.
The death sentence can be imposed in cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, espionage, rebellion and criminal conspiracy, the document showed.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇷🇼🇨🇩 Landslide in Rwanda causes devastation in bordering DR Congo
The city of Buhozi in the Kabare territory of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), near the Rwanda border, has once again fallen victim to landslides over the past two days. This new disaster has affected the Ruzizi River and the Nyamagana hill in the DRC.
Local civil society is calling for enhanced security measures to prevent infiltrations by foreign forces.
Houses have been flooded, and cracks are visible in some buildings.
The landslide in Rwanda has caused significant damage in the DRC, highlighting the interconnectedness of natural disasters across borders in the region.
#Rwanda #DRC
@africaintel
The city of Buhozi in the Kabare territory of South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), near the Rwanda border, has once again fallen victim to landslides over the past two days. This new disaster has affected the Ruzizi River and the Nyamagana hill in the DRC.
Local civil society is calling for enhanced security measures to prevent infiltrations by foreign forces.
Houses have been flooded, and cracks are visible in some buildings.
The landslide in Rwanda has caused significant damage in the DRC, highlighting the interconnectedness of natural disasters across borders in the region.
#Rwanda #DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩🇺🇳7 million displaced and “unprecedented” crisis in eastern DR Congo, according to the UN
Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has led to the displacement of at least 250,000 people over the past month, a senior United Nations official said, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis.
The result is "one of the world's largest humanitarian crises", with an estimated 7 million people displaced, many of whom are beyond the reach of aid, said the UN.
"It's really heartbreaking and what I saw is really a horrible situation," Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination at the United Nations humanitarian office, told.
Rajasingham said humanitarian agencies were doing their best to reach people affected by the conflict, but he warned that "a huge influx of people poses challenges that are beyond what we can do at the moment".
“We must find a solution to the suffering, the displacement, the loss of livelihoods, the loss of education,” he said.
#DRC #UN
@africaintel
Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has led to the displacement of at least 250,000 people over the past month, a senior United Nations official said, describing the situation as a humanitarian crisis.
The result is "one of the world's largest humanitarian crises", with an estimated 7 million people displaced, many of whom are beyond the reach of aid, said the UN.
"It's really heartbreaking and what I saw is really a horrible situation," Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination at the United Nations humanitarian office, told.
Rajasingham said humanitarian agencies were doing their best to reach people affected by the conflict, but he warned that "a huge influx of people poses challenges that are beyond what we can do at the moment".
“We must find a solution to the suffering, the displacement, the loss of livelihoods, the loss of education,” he said.
#DRC #UN
@africaintel
🇨🇩🇷🇼🌍 Kinshasa sues Kigali at EACJ over eastern DRC conflict
The conflict in eastern Congo is taking a legal turn after Kinshasa sued Kigali at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha.
The application is actually dated September 2023 but was amended early this year. And the Democratic republic of Congo accuses Rwanda of abetting war as well as violating its territorial integrity.
“Over the past 25 years, Rwanda has on innumerable occasions violated the DRC’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence,” the application reads in part.
The application details what it calls a list of atrocities committed allegedly by the DRC against Rwanda going back more than 25 years ago.
The DRC has sought orders to bar Rwanda from infringing on its territory and has asked Rwanda to withdraw its troops it claims are based on its soil.
#DRC #Rwanda #Africa
@africaintel
The conflict in eastern Congo is taking a legal turn after Kinshasa sued Kigali at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha.
The application is actually dated September 2023 but was amended early this year. And the Democratic republic of Congo accuses Rwanda of abetting war as well as violating its territorial integrity.
“Over the past 25 years, Rwanda has on innumerable occasions violated the DRC’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence,” the application reads in part.
The application details what it calls a list of atrocities committed allegedly by the DRC against Rwanda going back more than 25 years ago.
The DRC has sought orders to bar Rwanda from infringing on its territory and has asked Rwanda to withdraw its troops it claims are based on its soil.
#DRC #Rwanda #Africa
@africaintel
🇺🇬🇨🇩 Uganda on alert as IS-linked ADF militants cross border from DR Congo
Ugandan security forces are on high alert after they said fighters from an Islamic State-linked group entered the country at the weekend.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants are planning attacks in urban areas, places of worship, schools and public events, according to the army.
It urged the public to remain vigilant "to avoid being victims of ADF terror".
The ADF has been linked to a series of deadly attacks in Uganda, including targeting a school last June.
The group was originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s. But after being routed by the army, the remnants fled across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 2021, Uganda and DR Congo launched a joint offensive to drive the ADF out of their Congolese strongholds, but have so far failed to put an end to the group's attacks.
#Uganda #DRC
@africaintel
Ugandan security forces are on high alert after they said fighters from an Islamic State-linked group entered the country at the weekend.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants are planning attacks in urban areas, places of worship, schools and public events, according to the army.
It urged the public to remain vigilant "to avoid being victims of ADF terror".
The ADF has been linked to a series of deadly attacks in Uganda, including targeting a school last June.
The group was originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s. But after being routed by the army, the remnants fled across the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 2021, Uganda and DR Congo launched a joint offensive to drive the ADF out of their Congolese strongholds, but have so far failed to put an end to the group's attacks.
#Uganda #DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 Detained Congolese journalist Bujakera has been freed, lawyer says
Stanis Bujakera, a journalist detained since last September in the Democratic Republic of Congo on charges of spreading false information, was released on Tuesday, his lawyer said.
The lawyer, Yana Ndikulu, said Bujakera - who works for international media including Reuters and Jeune Afrique - was released on Tuesday evening from the prison in the capital Kinshasa where he was being held.
"Our client is free," Ndikulu said.
A court in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had found Bujakera guilty of spreading false information among other charges.
It sentenced him to six months in prison and fined him 1 million Congolese francs ($364). His legal team said after that ruling that Bujakera would be released on Tuesday because he had already served his sentence.
#DRC
@africaintel
Stanis Bujakera, a journalist detained since last September in the Democratic Republic of Congo on charges of spreading false information, was released on Tuesday, his lawyer said.
The lawyer, Yana Ndikulu, said Bujakera - who works for international media including Reuters and Jeune Afrique - was released on Tuesday evening from the prison in the capital Kinshasa where he was being held.
"Our client is free," Ndikulu said.
A court in the capital Kinshasa on Monday had found Bujakera guilty of spreading false information among other charges.
It sentenced him to six months in prison and fined him 1 million Congolese francs ($364). His legal team said after that ruling that Bujakera would be released on Tuesday because he had already served his sentence.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 Barrick looks to explore new gold, copper deposits in DR Congo
Canadian Miner Barrick Gold said it was ready to explore new gold and copper deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in partnership with the government.
The world's No. 2 gold miner wants to explore the region after it had success with its Kibali gold mine in the northeast DRC. The mine produced 343,000 ounces of gold in 2023, which was nearly 8.5% of the company's output for the year.
Barrick had also said last year it was keen to look for more copper deposits in Zambia and DRC as it looks to expand its presence on the African copperbelt.
Zambia, where the company has its Lumwana mine, is Africa's second-largest copper producer, behind its northern neighbour Congo.
#DRC
@africaintel
Canadian Miner Barrick Gold said it was ready to explore new gold and copper deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in partnership with the government.
The world's No. 2 gold miner wants to explore the region after it had success with its Kibali gold mine in the northeast DRC. The mine produced 343,000 ounces of gold in 2023, which was nearly 8.5% of the company's output for the year.
Barrick had also said last year it was keen to look for more copper deposits in Zambia and DRC as it looks to expand its presence on the African copperbelt.
Zambia, where the company has its Lumwana mine, is Africa's second-largest copper producer, behind its northern neighbour Congo.
#DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩🇵🇪 DR Congo overtakes Peru on copper output, still behind on exports
The Democratic Republic of the Congo overtook Peru as the world's second largest copper producer in 2023, though it still lags the South American country in exports, official data from both nations show.
Congo produced about 2.84 million tons of copper last year, the country's central bank reported. Peru's output was 2.76 million tons, the Andean country's mining and energy ministry said.
Congo has been reeling in Peru's No. 2 copper spot over recent years, with flagging mining investment in Peru linked to red tape and recent political turmoil and protests. Chile remains the distant top producer of the red metal.
Peru, however, is hanging onto its lead over Congo on copper exports. Peru exported some 2.95 million tons of the metal last year, more than its annual production due to sales of stocks held over from previous years.
#DRC #Peru
@africaintel
The Democratic Republic of the Congo overtook Peru as the world's second largest copper producer in 2023, though it still lags the South American country in exports, official data from both nations show.
Congo produced about 2.84 million tons of copper last year, the country's central bank reported. Peru's output was 2.76 million tons, the Andean country's mining and energy ministry said.
Congo has been reeling in Peru's No. 2 copper spot over recent years, with flagging mining investment in Peru linked to red tape and recent political turmoil and protests. Chile remains the distant top producer of the red metal.
Peru, however, is hanging onto its lead over Congo on copper exports. Peru exported some 2.95 million tons of the metal last year, more than its annual production due to sales of stocks held over from previous years.
#DRC #Peru
@africaintel
🌍🇨🇩 Southern African bloc renews commitment to fight armed groups in eastern DR Congo
Southern African regional leaders on Saturday reiterated their commitment to their peacekeeping mission in restive eastern Congo and condemned a letter of protest by Rwanda written last month opposing United Nations support for the mission.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed its Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) on Dec. 15 to assist the Congolese government in restoring peace and security in the east.
Leaders meeting at a summit in Zambia's capital Lusaka on Saturday reiterated a commitment from SADC's mutual defence pact stating that "an armed attack against one shall be deemed a threat to regional peace and security," they said in a statement.
DR Congo is one of the bloc's 16 members.
#SADC #DRC
@africaintel
Southern African regional leaders on Saturday reiterated their commitment to their peacekeeping mission in restive eastern Congo and condemned a letter of protest by Rwanda written last month opposing United Nations support for the mission.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) deployed its Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) on Dec. 15 to assist the Congolese government in restoring peace and security in the east.
Leaders meeting at a summit in Zambia's capital Lusaka on Saturday reiterated a commitment from SADC's mutual defence pact stating that "an armed attack against one shall be deemed a threat to regional peace and security," they said in a statement.
DR Congo is one of the bloc's 16 members.
#SADC #DRC
@africaintel
🇨🇩 M23 rebels in DRC call for federal system of government
The M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for a federal system of government, sparking angry reactions across the country.
The rebels made the announcement at a meeting that was attended by former members of a political party of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila in the eastern village of Kiwanja.
The meeting by the M23 rebels and a political movement known as the Congo River Alliance was held at a village under their control in the east of the DRC.
The rebels criticized the governance of the DRC and called for a federal system of government.
Their call has been condemned by many Congolese citizens who accuse the M23 rebels of being a proxy of neighboring Rwanda.
#DRC
@africaintel
The M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for a federal system of government, sparking angry reactions across the country.
The rebels made the announcement at a meeting that was attended by former members of a political party of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila in the eastern village of Kiwanja.
The meeting by the M23 rebels and a political movement known as the Congo River Alliance was held at a village under their control in the east of the DRC.
The rebels criticized the governance of the DRC and called for a federal system of government.
Their call has been condemned by many Congolese citizens who accuse the M23 rebels of being a proxy of neighboring Rwanda.
#DRC
@africaintel