AFRICA DIPLOMATIC

DRC-North Kivu: EU lukewarm response

Brussels 28.02.2025 The European diplomacy is still undecisive towards the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rwanda, in spite of the dramatic degradation of the security situation in North Kivu, DRC. In a resolution adopted by the European parliament Plenary earlier this month MEPs demand to undertake urgent measures by the EU, including targeted sanctions, the…

EU-Rwanda: reluctant to freeze MoU

Brussels 25.02.2025 The European Commission stays reluctant to freeze the Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Raw Materials Value Chains (MoU). The slow motion reaction of the EU raises brows of human rights defenders in Europe, and worldwide, while observing the devastating events in North Kivu, DRC, where already seven thousand people were killed as a…

EU: Rwanda Memorandum under review

Brussels 24.02.2025 During the Foreign ministers Council the EU top diplomats discussed the escalation of the conflict in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, however no conclusions have been adopted on the matter. “The situation is very grave, and it is on the brink of a regional conflict” said the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas…

G20 in SA: fragmented and uncertain

Brussels 21.02.2025 Foreign ministers from the G20 leading economies have gathered in South Africa’s Johannesburg, amid geopolitical calamities, tensions over the Ukraine war, and political uncertainty in Europe ahead of German, and Romanian elections. (Image above: Johannesburg, SA) The G20, a grouping of 19 countries as well as the European Union (EU) and the African…

DRC: EU diplomacy awaiting for Council decisions

Brussels 20.02.2025 The EU diplomacy is awaiting the decisions of the Council of the Foreign ministers, which is scheduled for February 24, Monday. Today, in spite of the rapidly degrading situation in North Kivu, DRC, the spokesperson of the European Commission said there are no updates so far, but the talks, exploring different paths are…

SA invites astronomy pilgrims

Brussels 19.02.2025 South Africa (SA) is manifesting itself as a leading astro-tourism destination with the introduction of a government-backed Astro-Tourism Strategy, planned to be presented in Parliament by Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Blade Nzimande. Developed in co-operation with the Department of Tourism, the strategy aims to engage the country’s world-class astronomical infrastructure,…

DRC: EU Commission assesses relevant measures

Brussels 17.02.2025 Following the European Parliament Resolution, demanding the European Commission to take immediate action to restore peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the EU diplomacy is assessing the possible way forward. However the definite decision will be announced not earlier than on February 24th, when the top EU diplomats would convene in…

MEPs demand to freeze support to Rwanda

Strasbourg 16.02.2025 Rwandan-backed M23 fighters have entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, taking under control the regional governor’s office. The March 23 Movement (M23) armed group announced on Saturday that its fighters had entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic…

DRC: Denis Mukwege calls to end violence

Strasbourg 11.09.2025 Denis Mukwege – the Sakharov prize winner addressed the EU press in the premises of the European Parliament, Strasbourg. In his speech he reiterated the call of the United Nations Human Rights Council to withdrawal of the Rwandan troops and the M23 fighters from the occupied areas in North & South Kivu, and…

DRC: MEPs «toil» resolution on Goma

Strasbourg 11.02.2025 The European Parliament is in the process of working out a Resolution on the situation in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Following the line of the drafts, the MEPs conclude the following:During the decades the resource-rich and multi-ethnic eastern region of the DRC has been plagued by violence, war and unimaginable…