23 h. ago DRC government and M23 agree to halt fighting and work towards truce

Both sides say they have resolved to end conflict through peaceful means after ‘frank’ talks facilitated by QatarThe Democratic Republic of the Congo and a coalition of militias including the Rwanda-backed M23 have agreed to work towards a truce to end the fighting that has engulfed the eastern part of the country since January.In similarly worded statements released on Wednesday night, the government and Alliance Fleuve Congo (Congo River Alliance) said their representatives had held talks facilitated by Qatar and resolved to end the conflict through peaceful means. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago DRC government and M23 make surprise truce to end fighting in east of country

The two sides agree to work towards permanent peace after Qatar-mediated talks and are expected to return to Doha in coming weeksThe Democratic Republic of Congo’s government and the Rwandan-backed M23 group have issued a landmark joint statement saying they have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country while they work towards a permanent truce.The surprise announcement follows talks mediated by Qatar. The two sides said they had “agreed to work towards the conclusion of a truce” in the conflict in which the M23 has seized key cities in the violence-battered region. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Congo's government and rebels say they are working toward a truce in the east

A joint statement from Congo's government and a coalition of insurgents in the country’s east including the M23 rebels says the two sides have agreed to work toward a truce following peace talks in Qatar

Politics

43 h. ago A dwarf crocodile carried home by a hunter: Thomas Nicolon’s best photograph

‘As a species, these crocs are easy to find and easy to catch. Brice Itoua is the most skilled hunter in his village. But they kill the crocs to eat – not to sell’The Congo dwarf crocodile is a lovely species. They’re very shy and, unfortunately, very easy to find and catch. Mostly hunted for their bushmeat, these crocs only grow up to a few feet in length and during the dry season, they often spend the daytime hiding in burrows and dens at the water’s edge. Hunters use a long, woody liana vine with a hook on the end to drag them out, before binding their snout with a shorter vine and carrying them away.Last summer, I shot a story about the Congo dwarf crocodile after being given access to the Lake Télé Community Reserve by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which manages this protected area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the Congolese government. Continue reading...

Events

48 h. ago Myanmar junta extends fragile ceasefire for earthquake relief amid allegations of escalating violence

Temporary truce between military and rebel groups extended till 30 April

Events

2 w. ago 3 Americans convicted in Congo of an attempt to overthrow the government now face US charges

Three Americans repatriated to the United States from Congo were charged Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department with staging an elaborate coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the African nation’s government

Politics

3 w. ago Rebels agree to a ceasefire with African coalition troops departing from eastern Congo

M23 rebels in control of key areas of eastern Congo have agreed to a ceasefire with African coalition peacekeepers who announced their withdrawal even as the conflict between the insurgents and Congo’s government continues

Events