More than 100,000 people in eastern Congo have been displaced this year due to escalating violence by M23 rebels, adding to an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
DR Congo sees over 100,000 displaced due to rebel violence Read More »
China on Thursday confirmed an mpox outbreak traced to an individual with a travel history to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The center said the outbreak was caused by a source “traced to a foreign individual with a travel history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” “Four related cases were identified among close contacts, all of whom were infected after intimate contact,” it added, noting that there were no such infections among the general population. The infected individuals are receiving medical treatment and remain under observation. “The outbreak has been effectively controlled,” said the center, advising people to avoid contact with wild or unidentified rodents as well as primates, such as monkeys and apes. Mpox cases have been rising in Africa since early 2024, prompting urgent measures at the continental level. Congo remains the worst-hit country, with the World Health Organization declaring mpox a public health emergency of global concern last August. More than 1,300 suspected mpox-related deaths have been reported in Africa.
China reports mpox case linked to traveler from Congo Read More »
The move has sparked debate, with some welcoming it for security reasons and others concerned about human rights violations.
DR Congo to execute inmates for armed robbery Read More »
A Congolese military tribunal sentenced 13 soldiers to death on charges including murder, looting, and desertion, reflecting a crackdown on military discipline amidst ongoing conflict in the east.
Military tribunal in DR Congo hands down 13 death sentences Read More »
Congolese soldiers are facing severe penalties, including the death penalty, for alleged crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in the country’s east.
23 Congolese soldiers face death penalty for desertion Read More »
While the government aims to improve the regulation of the mining sector, the decision to release most of the detainees has raised some eyebrows.
DR Congo frees 14 of 17 Chinese illegal miners Read More »
Overloading and poor safety regulations are suspected to be contributing factors.
Ferry capsizes in DR Congo, 38 dead, over 100 missing Read More »
The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for another year.
Security council renews mandate for UN mission in DRC Read More »
The DRC has taken legal action against Apple, accusing the company of using minerals mined in conflict zones, often by armed groups, in its electronic devices.
DRC sues Apple, accusing tech giant of using ‘blood minerals’ Read More »
A mysterious flu-like illness that has claimed dozens of lives in southwest Congo in recent weeks may be malaria, according to initial laboratory tests of infected individuals, authorities reported Wednesday. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, Director-General of the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, said, “Of the 12 samples taken, nine tested positive for malaria, but the quality of the samples was not ideal. We are continuing our research to determine whether this constitutes an epidemic.” He added, “It is likely malaria, as most of the victims are children.” On Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also confirmed that most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but cautioned that other diseases could be involved. He noted that additional samples would be collected for further analysis. In recent weeks, there have been 416 reported cases and 31 deaths in hospitals, according to the WHO. Congo’s Health Minister, Roger Kamba, added that another 44 deaths were recorded in the community. The majority of cases and deaths have occurred in children under 14 in the remote Panzi health zone in Congo’s western Kwango province, the WHO reported. Ezekiel Kasongo, a Panzi resident, shared that his 9-year-old son was recently released from the hospital after falling ill two weeks ago. “He had a high fever, headache, and was very weak,” Kasongo said. “We were very worried because of the number of deaths, especially among children, but thank God, he is out.” Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Experts from the National Rapid Response Team and the WHO visited Panzi last week to collect samples and investigate. The Panzi health zone is difficult to reach, with experts taking two days to arrive. It is located about 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the capital, Kinshasa. Due to limited local testing capacity, samples had to be sent to Kikwit, more than 500 kilometers away, said Dieudonne Mwamba, head of the National Institute for Public Health. Mwamba also noted that Panzi had experienced a typhoid fever outbreak two years ago, and that there is currently a resurgence of seasonal flu across the country. High levels of malnutrition and low vaccination rates in the area make children particularly vulnerable to diseases like malaria, Tedros added.
Malaria likely cause of mystery illness in Southwest Congo Read More »
