First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest front in the U.S.-China rivalry, as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to secure critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and clean energy. Backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, U.S. firm KoBold Metals recently secured seven lithium exploration permits, including access to the coveted […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a renewed threat of conflict as peace efforts between the government and the Congo River Alliance — a coalition that includes the M23 rebels — are faltering. The insurgent group has accused the Congolese government of systematically violating ceasefire agreements and undermining Qatari-led peace talks. Under a Doha-brokered […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group have resumed negotiations in Qatar, aiming to revive a faltering truce signed in July. Despite the Qatari-brokered agreement, fighting has intensified in eastern Congo, particularly in North and South Kivu, displacing over two million people this year alone. Talks in Doha focus on a […]
Former President Joseph Kabila is facing the death penalty in a dramatic trial unfolding in absentia, as Congo’s military prosecutor accuses him of treason, war crimes, and backing the Rwanda-aligned M23 rebel group that has overrun eastern regions of the country. Kabila, who ruled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 2001 to 2019, is […]
Despite “significant efforts” by Qatari mediators, peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and M23 rebels have missed key deadlines, as violence intensifies across eastern regions. A draft peace agreement — based on a Declaration of Principles signed in Doha on 19 July — was shared with both sides, according to a […]
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is making one of its largest military hardware acquisitions in recent years, securing over 160 armored vehicles from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reinforce its fight against armed groups in the troubled eastern provinces. The vehicles, including the Kasser II mine-resistant ambush-protected units, are designed to withstand […]
The United Nations has confirmed that at least 319 civilians — including 48 women and 19 children — were brutally killed by M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 9 and 21 July, marking one of the deadliest episodes since the group’s resurgence in 2022. According to UN Human Rights Chief Volker […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the latest battleground in a deepening strategic rivalry between the United States and China over control of critical minerals, as a new US-brokered peace deal with Rwanda raises both hope and concern. Signed in June 2025, the agreement aims to end decades of conflict between the DRC […]
In a strategic move to reduce dependence on China, India is rapidly expanding rare earth element (REE) partnerships with five African nations — Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire — amid escalating global concerns over China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. China currently controls over 90% of the global REE market and has […]
Hailed as a step toward peace, the 19 July ceasefire signed in Doha between the Congolese government and the M23 rebel group has been met with deep skepticism — and renewed bloodshed. While the Doha Declaration was hailed by the United States, United Nations, and the African Union as a diplomatic breakthrough, on the ground, […]