Lumumba square inaugurated in Brussels

Today in Brussels a square is named after assassinated Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba, the campaigners behind the initiative assessed it as a part of a significant process of modern Belgium  reflection upon its past of colonial power. Belle ambiance a l’inauguration du Square Patrice #Lumumba ! Un bel honneur pour ce grand homme! #belgique…

Congo national parks threatened by oil drilling

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government  has taken decision to open up parts of two protected national parks Virunga and Salonga, habitat to endangered species such as mountain gorillas, to oil drilling. Democratic Republic of Congo’s government said on Friday that it has decided to open up parts of Virunga and Salonga National Parks, home to mountain…

EU to provide aid for Ebola response

The European Commission will provide €1.8 million in humanitarian aid to support the ongoing response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funding brings the total EU response to Ebola so far in 2018 to € 3.43 million. “Since the current Ebola outbreak was declared on 8 May 2018, the EU…

Congolese Bemba liberation as blow to prosecution

The International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, June 8, overturned the war crimes conviction of former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba,  considered as a huge blow to prosecutors that could also impact politics in his home country in future. Congolese ex-Vice President Bemba acquitted of war crimes on appeal…

EU expects inclusive elections in Congo

The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Foreign ministers stressed the importance of following the electoral process which is expected to lead to the general election scheduled for 23 December 2018 in a credible, legitimate, consensual and inclusive way” – the text of the Council conclusions says….

Congo future elections in EU focus

The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following up on the Council conclusions of 11 December 2017 and in view of the foreseen elections at the end of the year. Reminder: press briefing today at 10:00 https://t.co/AtI4B79jg5 — EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) May 25, 2018 On 11 December the…

Ebola spreads to DCR urban areas

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has spread from the countryside into urban areas, prompting fears that it will be difficult to control. A first batch of 4000 #Ebola vaccine doses just arrived to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.Additional doses should be deployed in the coming days to #DRC.There are ongoing preparations…

Belgium downgraded diplomatic presence in DRC

Bertrand de Crombrugghe is no longer the ambassador of Belgium in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Belgian Foreign Ministry confirmed it on Monday (30/04/2018) after the publication of an article in the Dutch newspaper De Standaard. Vertrouwensbreuk kost ambassadeur zijn post in Congo https://t.co/Ykzibobnuz pic.twitter.com/k7Ft3k1LNv — Knack (@Knack) April 30, 2018 In January,…

RSF: Africa at threshold of ‘promising era’

Africa came with a score that is slightly better than in 2017 but also contained a wide range of internal variation (see our regional analysis The dangers of reporting in Africa). #RSFIndex: In 2018, #Norway is still first and #NorthKorea is still last in the World #PressFreedom Indexhttps://t.co/nBwxqZqG5l pic.twitter.com/5PPhpAujxT — RSF (@RSF_inter) April 26, 2018 Frequent…

Donor conference for Congo raised $500

The UN  donor conference in Geneva,  raised half a billion dollars to ease what it calls a major humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). #DRC aid appeal raises $500 million as humanitarian crisis grows. This and other stories in our @UNGeneva audio bulletin: https://t.co/fHYAf2csK9 — UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) April 13, 2018 In…