TheRepublic.com - Central Africa News

M23 rebels clash with soldiers in eastern Congo

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:47:36 -0400

GOMA, Congo - Clashes erupted Monday in eastern Congo between government troops and a rebel group believed to be backed by neighboring Rwanda, escalating to the use of mortars and rocket launchers in the first fighting between the groups since the M23 rebels overtook and later retreated from the provincial capital of Goma last year.

Rebels attack C. African Republic villages; 8 dead

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:05:23 -0400

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Suspected foreign fighters backing a rebel movement now in control of Central African Republic's government invaded a remote north-central village and killed six people, residents said.

Immigrant inspires scholarships at St. Paul school

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:18:12 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - The first two students have awarded college scholarships bearing the man of Congolese native who died in a traffic accident after moving to Minnesota.

Journalist found dead in eastern Congo

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:52:26 -0400

GOMA, Congo - The body of a Congolese journalist was found on the bank of the Ngezi River near the provincial capital of Bunia in eastern Congo, the city's mayor said Saturday.

More than 20 killed in Congo mine collapse

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:52:22 -0400

KINSHASA, Congo - The government of Congo says more than 20 people have died in a collapse at a bush mine in the region of Masisi in North Kivu province. That's in the far eastern part of the country.

South African army prepares for Congo

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:06:03 -0400

PRETORIA, South Africa - South African soldiers who are training for a United Nations military mission in Congo will be adequately prepared even though the South African army as a whole is overstretched and underfunded, the army chief said Thursday.

9 activists arrested in Equatorial Guinea

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:28:46 -0400

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - A human rights group says authorities in Equatorial Guinea have arrested nine activists before this month's legislative elections.

Congo: 32 die in clash between army and militia

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:58:20 -0400

KINSHASA, Congo - The Congolese army says that 32 were killed in fighting between soldiers and Mai Mai militiamen.

Congo to create city in honor of Patrice Lumumba

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:14:14 -0400

KINSHASA, Congo - The Congolese government is naming a town after Patrice Lumumba, the country's first prime minister whose assassination more than 50 years ago made him a liberation symbol worldwide.

Correction: Congo-Tanzanian Troops story

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:55:25 -0400

GOMA, Congo - In a story May 11 about the arrival of Tanzanian troops in eastern Congo, The Associated Press erroneously cited United Nations mission spokesman Col. Felix Basse. The information should have been attributed to Alexandre Essome, press information officer for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the eastern province of North Kivu.

Activists raise alarm about E. Guinea elections

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:04:39 -0400

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - Human rights groups are expressing concern about the fairness of legislative elections taking place later this month in Equatorial Guinea.

Central African Republic rebels demand payment

Sat, 11 May 2013 12:58:04 -0400

BANGUI, Central African Republic - The Seleka rebels who overthrew Central African Republic's president are now demanding that they be paid before they disarm.

Dozens kidnapped in M23 fief in Congo: officials

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:48:11 -0400

RUTSHURU, Congo - Nearly 30 people have been kidnapped in eastern Congo by the M23 rebels in their fief of Rutshuru since the beginning of April, said a community leader on Wednesday. The kidnappings appear to be for ransom, a new and worrying trend in Congo's lawless east.

UN: Girls as young as 6 raped by Congo troops

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:34:16 -0400

UNITED NATIONS - Congolese troops fleeing the M23 rebels last November raped at least 97 women and 33 girls, some as young as 6, a U.N. report released Wednesday said.

UN peacekeeper killed in eastern Congo

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:05:16 -0400

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations says a U.N. peacekeeper was killed in an attack on a military convoy in eastern Congo.

WWF: Seleka rebels from CAR invade elephant park

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:28:03 -0400

DAKAR, Senegal - The WWF said in a statement that suspected poachers belonging to the Seleka rebel group have entered one of Africa's most unique elephant habitats in the Central African Republic, and park guards saw them shooting in the direction of elephants.

Officers in Congo benefitting from mineral trade

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:24:43 -0400

GOMA, Congo - Armed groups and high-ranking officers in the Congolese and Burundian armies are continuing to benefit from the illegal mineral trade in eastern Congo, despite international efforts to clean up the supply chain, according to a report published Tuesday by an environmental watchdog group.

In CAR, diamonds are a rebel's best friend

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:06:44 -0400

NDELE, Central African Republic - Armed with rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov rifles, Seleka rebels who ousted Central African Republic's president six weeks ago are solidifying their control over the country's lucrative diamond industry and have even been selling some of the stones, witnesses here in the isolated and violent north say.

South Africa-CAR qualifier moved to Cameroon

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:11:28 -0400

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Football Association says next month's World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic has been moved to Cameroon for safety reasons.

Central African Republic to probe ousted leader

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:53:20 -0400

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Central African Republic's interim government says it is investigating what it claims are human rights abuses committed under the rule of deposed president Francois Bozize.

Thousands flee eastern Congo town amid violence

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:39:08 -0400

GOMA, Congo - Thousands of people have fled the town of Pinga in eastern Congo following renewed fighting between local armed groups, and nine members of Doctors Without Borders' Congolese staff have gone missing, the aid group said Friday.

4 Chad officials accused of foiled coup attempt

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:26:15 -0400

N'DJAMENA, Chad - Four officials have been arrested in connection with a foiled attempt to overthrow the government in the Central African nation of Chad, the country's state prosecutor announced on Thursday.

Congo's M23 rebels say peace talks in trouble

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:52:08 -0400

KAMPALA, Uganda - The Congolese rebel movement M23 has suspended peace talks with Congo's government, a rebel spokesman said Wednesday, increasing fears of renewed violence in the country's troubled east.

US bid to seize jet from African official denied

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:18:37 -0400

WASHINGTON - A federal judge has denied an attempt by the Justice Department to seize a $38.5 million Gulfstream jet from the son of Equatorial Guinea's president.