Latest news with #Africa-led
Zawya
21-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Launches New Podcast to Drive Health Impact Across the Continent
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched the Africa Public Health Podcast, a powerful platform designed to elevate African voices in public health, tackle misinformation, and drive resilience to the continent's evolving health challenges. As the continent navigates a burdened landscape of health threats – from pandemics and climate-related risks to non-communicable diseases – Africa CDC remains steadfast in its mission to empower through science-driven, accessible, and timely information. In this evolving health ecosystem, the Africa Public Health Podcast aims to ignite critical conversations, spark innovation and reshape how public health stories are told across the continent. 'At Africa CDC, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire action and trust,' said Margaret Muigai-Edwin, Director Communication and Public Information at Africa CDC. 'The podcast gives Africa its own microphone where our experts, frontline workers and communities can shape the narrative of public health in Africa.' The podcast will feature a series of expert interviews, frontline experiences, and community-led solutions, highlighting Africa's unique strategies in advancing health security and innovation. Episodes will explore pivotal themes such as pathogen genomics, pandemic preparedness, digital health, community engagement, science and innovation as well as capacity building and training to strengthen Africa's health systems. The premiere episode, ' The Power of Genomics in Disease Control, ' features Dr Sofonias Tessema, Program Lead for Pathogen Genomics at Africa CDC, in conversation with host Andisiwe Michelle May. Together they unpack how genomic technology is transforming outbreak detection across Africa- from scaling sequencing capacity in over 40+ countries to applying AI in tracking diseases like malaria, Ebola and cholera. The episode offers a compelling look at how Africa-led innovation is shaping the future of disease surveillance globally. 'Our goal is to demystify complex public health issues and make them relatable to everyday Africans,' added Edwin. 'This podcast is part of our broader commitment to building a well informed and health empowered continent.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Russia Today
04-03-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
DR Congo rebels have abducted hospital patients
At least 130 sick and wounded men have been abducted from two hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DR Congo) eastern city of Goma by M23 rebels, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) reported on Monday. The militants seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, late in January in their latest offensive against the country's government, launched at the beginning of the year. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the rebels raided CBCA Ndosho Hospital and took 116 patients, as well as 15 others from Heal Africa Hospital last Friday night, accusing them of being members of the DR Congo army or the pro-government Wazalendo militia. 'It is deeply distressing that M23 is snatching patients from hospital beds in coordinated raids and holding them incommunicado in undisclosed locations,' Shamdasani said in a statement. She denounced the raids as 'arbitrary and abusive' and urged the group to immediately release the abductees and 'return them to the hospital so that they can continue their medical treatment.' The UN report comes just days after the M23 threatened to 'hunt' soldiers from the Central African nation's army, accusing them of carrying out a 'terrorist attack' on a rebel rally in Bukavu last Thursday that killed at least 11 people and injured 65 others. The M23 has yet to respond to the allegations. Instead, its spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, claimed in an X post that DR Congo soldiers and their allies had been attacking Banyamulenge villages in South Kivu Province since Monday morning. About 7,000 people have been killed since January in escalating clashes in the resource-rich country's east, where the M23 and other armed groups have been fighting authorities for power and minerals such as gold and diamonds for decades. Despite international sanctions and Africa-led peace negotiations, the militants have failed to halt their advances. Last month, the M23 captured the South Kivu capital of Bukavu after earlier taking control of Goma. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of providing support to the M23 – a claim backed by a UN expert group and Western countries, including the US, Belgium, and the UK. Kigali has denied the allegations, insisting that troops are only stationed on its border with DR Congo for security purposes.
Voice of America
03-03-2025
- Health
- Voice of America
East Congo rebels abduct at least 130 hospital patients, UN says
M23 rebels launching an offensive in east Congo abducted at least 130 sick and wounded men from two hospitals in the city of Goma last week, the United Nations said Monday. M23 fighters raided CBCA Ndosho Hospital and Heal Africa Hospital during the night of Feb. 28, taking 116 and 15 patients respectively, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. The abducted men were suspected of being Democratic Republic of Congo soldiers or members of a pro-government militia known as Wazalendo. "It is deeply distressing that M23 is snatching patients from hospital beds in coordinated raids and holding them incommunicado in undisclosed locations," Shamdasani said, calling for their immediate release. M23 spokespersons Willy Ngoma and Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Tutsi-led M23 marched into the city of Goma at the end of January and have since made an unprecedented advance into east Congo, seizing territory and gaining access to valuable minerals. Their ongoing advance, which started in late December, is already the gravest escalation a long-running conflict rooted in the spill over into Congo of Rwanda's 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of Congo's vast mineral resources. Congo, U.N. experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda. About 7,000 people have been killed in east Congo since January and almost half a million people were left without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed in the fighting, according to the government. International sanctions, renewed investigations by the International Criminal Court and Africa-led peace negotiations have failed to halt the advance by the rebels, who have captured east Congo's two major cities, Goma and Bukavu.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congo trades blame with rebels over deadly rally blasts
(Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels traded blame on Friday for several explosions at a rally in the rebel-held eastern city of Bukavu that killed 13 people and wounded scores of others the previous day. The finger-pointing over the deadly incident has further inflamed tensions in eastern Congo - a political and ethnic tinder box - where a rebel advance this year has drawn in neighbouring armies, raising fears of a regional war. Congo's army said Rwandan troops, who it accuses of supporting the rebels, fired rockets and grenades into a crowd gathered in Bukavu's central square for a speech by one of the uprising's leaders on Thursday. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "The Rwandan army and its (proxies) bombed and fired live ammunition at the civilian population who, although forced to attend this meeting, expressed their disapproval of the Rwandan aggression," Congo's interior ministry said in a statement posted on X early on Friday. A Rwandan government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kigali has repeatedly denied it supports M23. Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes M23, blamed Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi for the violence in Bukavu. He told a press conference on Thursday that the grenades used were the same type as those used by the Burundian army, which has backed Congo's military. Reuters could not independently verify this. Burundi's army spokesman said none of its soldiers were in Bukavu but did not specifically address the grenade allegation. Two witnesses told Reuters they saw one attacker attempt to fire a grenade at a convoy of rebel leaders, missing the target and instead killing people gathered at the rally. "The grenade exploded too soon," one of the witnesses said. Both said the blast also killed the attacker. DEAD AND WOUNDED Outside Bukavu's general hospital, where a medical source said on Thursday 68 wounded people were being treated, around 30 relatives of victims waited on Friday to identify the remains of those killed. Congo's interior ministry said "nearly 100" people were seriously wounded. The hospital said it would not release any bodies on Friday. A hospital psychologist told grieving families outside the morgue to leave their phone numbers so they could be contacted. International sanctions, renewed investigations by the International Criminal Court and Africa-led peace negotiations have so far failed to halt the advance of the rebels, who have captured eastern Congo's two major cities - Goma as well as Bukavu. The United States last week sanctioned a Rwandan minister, while Britain threatened to pause bilateral aid and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda unless it withdrew its troops from Congo. "The sanctions, they have started but they are not enough. The proof is that the Rwandan army is still there," said Congo's Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya, who also blamed Rwanda and its rebel allies for Thursday's attack. "All these incidents, we will make sure that they are documented and that, when the time comes, justice must be done," he said. Kigali says its forces are acting in self-defence against Congolese troops and allied armed groups, it says, have joined forces with Rwandan Hutu rebels - remnants of Rwandan soldiers and militias responsible for the country's 1994 genocide. Since January, some 7,000 people have been killed and almost half a million people left without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed in the fighting in eastern Congo, the government says. The U.N. refugee agency said on Friday that 60,000 people have fled into neighbouring Burundi in the past two weeks, an influx not seen in decades.
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Congo trades blame with rebels over deadly rally blasts
Feb 28 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels traded blame on Friday for several explosions at a rally in the rebel-held eastern city of Bukavu that killed 13 people and wounded scores of others the previous day. The finger-pointing over the deadly incident has further inflamed tensions in eastern Congo - a political and ethnic tinder box - where a rebel advance this year has drawn in neighbouring armies, raising fears of a regional war. Congo's army said Rwandan troops, who it accuses of supporting the rebels, fired rockets and grenades into a crowd gathered in Bukavu's central square for a speech by one of the uprising's leaders on Thursday. "The Rwandan army and its (proxies) bombed and fired live ammunition at the civilian population who, although forced to attend this meeting, expressed their disapproval of the Rwandan aggression," Congo's interior ministry said in a statement posted on X early on Friday. A Rwandan government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kigali has repeatedly denied it supports M23. Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes M23, blamed Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi for the violence in Bukavu. He told a press conference on Thursday that the grenades used were the same type as those used by the Burundian army, which has backed Congo's military. Reuters could not independently verify this. Burundi's army spokesman said none of its soldiers were in Bukavu but did not specifically address the grenade allegation. Two witnesses told Reuters they saw one attacker attempt to fire a grenade at a convoy of rebel leaders, missing the target and instead killing people gathered at the rally. "The grenade exploded too soon," one of the witnesses said. Both said the blast also killed the attacker. DEAD AND WOUNDED Outside Bukavu's general hospital, where a medical source said on Thursday 68 wounded people were being treated, around 30 relatives of victims waited on Friday to identify the remains of those killed. Congo's interior ministry said "nearly 100" people were seriously wounded. The hospital said it would not release any bodies on Friday. A hospital psychologist told grieving families outside the morgue to leave their phone numbers so they could be contacted. International sanctions, renewed investigations by the International Criminal Court and Africa-led peace negotiations have so far failed to halt the advance of the rebels, who have captured eastern Congo's two major cities - Goma as well as Bukavu. The United States last week sanctioned a Rwandan minister, while Britain threatened to pause bilateral aid and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda unless it withdrew its troops from Congo. "The sanctions, they have started but they are not enough. The proof is that the Rwandan army is still there," said Congo's Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya, who also blamed Rwanda and its rebel allies for Thursday's attack. "All these incidents, we will make sure that they are documented and that, when the time comes, justice must be done," he said. Kigali says its forces are acting in self-defence against Congolese troops and allied armed groups, it says, have joined forces with Rwandan Hutu rebels - remnants of Rwandan soldiers and militias responsible for the country's 1994 genocide. Since January, some 7,000 people have been killed and almost half a million people left without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed in the fighting in eastern Congo, the government says. The U.N. refugee agency said on Friday that 60,000 people have fled into neighbouring Burundi in the past two weeks, an influx not seen in decades.
