First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have agreed to direct peace talks, set to take place on 9 April in Doha, Qatar. This marks a significant step towards resolving one of Central Africa’s most enduring and violent conflicts, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused widespread […]
The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing control of M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with fears that the group could seize additional provinces. Bintou Keita, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), briefed the UN Security Council on Thursday (27 March), revealing that M23 rebels now […]
Angola’s presidency confirmed that peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group will proceed as planned in Luanda, despite the rebels’ withdrawal from the negotiations. The M23 announced on Monday (17 March) they were pulling out due to sanctions imposed by the European Union on several Rwandan officials, […]
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced a phased withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a year of escalating conflict with M23 rebels. This decision, made during an extraordinary summit held on Thursday (13 March), reflects the regional bloc’s shift towards pursuing a political solution after […]
Direct peace talks between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government and the M23 rebel group are scheduled to begin in Angola’s capital city Luanda on 18 March, as announced by Angola’s presidency. This marks a significant development after months of escalating conflict in the volatile eastern DRC, where the M23 rebels, widely believed to […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States are engaged in preliminary talks over a potential minerals-for-security agreement, which could reshape global supply chains for critical minerals. It comes as U.S. president Donald Trump recently vowed to take “historic action” to “dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths.” Under the proposed […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has offered a $5 million reward for the capture of three M23 rebel leaders, just as its fighters keep pushing deeper into the country’s mineral-rich eastern region, eyeing the strategic town of Walikale. The M23 leaders, including Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa and Sultani Makenga, were convicted of treason last […]
Trials of Congolese soldiers accused of desertion, murder, and looting shed light on a military grappling with poor morale and dysfunction, amid ongoing rebel advances in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In recent court proceedings, over 300 soldiers have stood trial, with some facing death sentences for fleeing the frontlines as M23 rebels, […]
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is standing firm against mounting international pressure to hold direct talks with the M23 rebel group, despite the group’s significant territorial gains in the eastern part of the country. Since January, the M23, which is accused of receiving support from neighboring Rwanda, has captured key cities like Goma and […]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor has called for the establishment of a special tribunal to address the persistent violence and atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Despite the ICC’s efforts, including recent convictions, Karim Khan acknowledged that international courts have failed to halt the decades-long cycles of violence in the DRC, […]