Democratic Republic of Congo
22/04/2013 / DR CONGO
Displaced villagers rebuild lives deep in Congolese rainforest
For a decade, the Bafwasende territory in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has suffered from a violent ethnic and tribal conflict that has caused massive population displacement. The former inhabitants of the Opienge and Balobe villages have been trickling back to their abandoned homeland since 2010 and starting over from scratch. Our Observer tells us about how these “returned refugees” are faring. Read more...
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15/04/2013 / DR CONGO
Rape and prostitution: the plight of refugee women at a DR Congo camp
Photo taken inside the Mugunga camp by our Observer Charly Kasereka.
One of our Observers traveled to the Mugunga refugee camp near the city of Goma, the largest city of North Kivu. Tens of thousands of Congolese fleeing the violence in this eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken refuge there. However, the violence has caught up to them. Read more...
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27/03/2013 / AFRICA
Chinafrica: African workers share experiences at Chinese factories
Xi Jinping, China’s new president, has chosen to visit to Africa as part of his first foreign tour – and for good reason. With more than 2,000 businesses operating on the continent and making more than 36 billion dollars a year, China has in just a few years become Africa’s top commercial partner. From Togo to the Democratic Republic of Congo, our African Observers employed by Chinese companies told us about their jobs. Read more...
07/03/2013 / DR Congo
Renewed Congo violence triggers new wave of refugees
The North Kivu province in northeastern DR Congo was recently the scene of renewed conflict -- between the army and armed militias, and within the militia groups themselves. As always, civilians are the main victims of such power struggles. Hundreds have fled their homes for UN refugee camps and other towns in the region. Read more...
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14/12/2012 / DR CONGO
Hellish scenes of mob killings and cannibalism in DR Congo
Recent fighting between government forces and rebel groups has dramatically destabilised the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the night between December 2 and 3, a barbaric scene unfolded in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. Read more...
27/11/2012 / DR Congo
In rebel-controlled Goma, hospitals struggling to treat the wounded
A week after the eastern Congolese city of Goma fell to M23 rebels, the wounded continue to flood local hospitals, and medical staff are concerned about a shortage of supplies. Two doctors describe the urgency of the situation. Read more...
22/11/2012 / DR CONGO
Under M23 orders, Goma police and army soldiers hand in their guns
The armed rebel group M23, in control of the eastern city of Goma since Tuesday, has called on any remaining police officers and soldiers from the national Congolese army to hand in their weapons and register with M23. A police officer explains why he decided to comply with the rebels’ demands. Read more...
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21/11/2012 / DR Congo
Exclusive images: Inside M23 rebel-controlled Goma
Rebels from the armed group M23 have taken over Goma, the capital of North Kivu, a region in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Our Observer there sent us exclusive photos and videos he took Wednesday morning. Read more...
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07/11/2012 / WORLD
From Iran to DR Congo, our Observers share reactions to Obama’s win
As soon as Barack Obama’s re-election was announced, Internet users from around the world went online to react to the news. Our Observers sent us some of the most interesting comments they spotted, giving us an idea of how Obama’s win is viewed outside of the United States. Some are enthusiastic, others blasé, and yet others downright funny. Read more…
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26/09/2012 / DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Amid armed conflict, Congolese villagers face chimpanzee attacks
Located in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 790,000 hectares of Virunga National Park – Africa’s oldest nature reserve – are teeming with diverse and rare wildlife. But for locals living in or near the park, the proximity of wild animals can be dangerous. Since fighting between the army and rebels began again in this region a couple of months ago, there have been more and more cases of wild animals, particularly chimpanzees, attacking people. Read more...
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