Day: February 17, 2024

Somalia-Ethiopia Tensions: Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has accused Ethiopia of attempting to annex part of Somalia's territory through a ...

Sudan Armed Forces Push Forward in Omdurman, a First Since War Began

Sudan Armed Forces Push Forward in Omdurman In a significant development, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have reportedly made advancements ...

ECOWAS Withdrawal Confirmed by Ministers at Sahel Alliance Meeting

ECOWAS Withdrawal Confirmed by Ministers at Sahel Alliance In a significant development, the defense and foreign affairs ministers from Mali ...

Presidential Endorsement: Ramaphosa to Sign National Health Insurance Bill into Law

Ramaphosa to Sign National Health Insurance Bill South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has hinted at the imminent signing of the ...

Rebels from the CODECO armed group attacked a gold mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in at least a dozen fatalities and the kidnapping of 16 others, according to a local civil society organization. The attack took place near the Djugu district of Ituri province, an area marked by intense violence amid conflicts involving numerous armed groups. The region has witnessed ongoing clashes, with more than 120 armed groups vying for control, often driven by competition over land and valuable mineral resources. CODECO, an informal association of militia groups primarily consisting of the Lendu ethnic farming community, has been in conflict with the Zaire self-defense group, mainly composed of the Hema ethnic herding community, since 2017. The armed group is notorious for targeting areas rich in gold and minerals. Despite signing a peace treaty with other militias at the end of January, pledging to cease hostilities and release hostages, CODECO has continued to engage in violence, highlighting the complex challenges in achieving lasting peace in the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo possesses significant deposits of rare earth minerals, including cobalt and copper, which are crucial for the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels. The ongoing violence poses a threat to stability and hampers efforts to tap into the country's valuable mineral resources for economic development. The military has expressed disappointment over CODECO's breach of the peace treaty and has stated its commitment to taking measures to address the situation and bring an end to the violence.

Rebels Launch Fatal Attack on Congo Gold Mine, Death Toll Stands at 12

Rebels Launch Fatal Attack on Congo Gold Mine In a tragic incident highlighting the persistent instability in the eastern Democratic ...

After record year, Tunisia reports migrant deaths from shipwreck near Libyan waters

Tunisia reports migrant deaths from shipwreck. Tragedy struck once again in the Mediterranean as Tunisia's coast guard recovered the bodies ...

Government Blocks LGBTQ+ Scholarship, Affirms Zimbabwe’s Vice President

Government Blocks LGBTQ+ Scholarship, Affirms Zimbabwe's Vice President Zimbabwe's Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga, has announced that the government will block ...

Bola Tinubu's Reversal on Niger Sanctions Brings Relief to North

President Tinubu’s Pick: Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo Set to Head Nigeria’s Housing Agency

Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has recently made a controversial decision by appointing his son-in-law, Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, ...

Kwoyelo’s Fate: Trial of LRA Rebel Commander Raises Concerns in Northern Uganda