Latest news with #DRC
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cholera outbreak strains health system at a mining camp in Congo
STORY: :: Lomera, DRC :: June 18, 2025 A cholera outbreak has infected more than 600 people at an artisanal gold mine in South Kivu province, overwhelming local health services and exposing severe sanitation challenges in the conflict-hit eastern Congo. Many patients, like Riziki Bachoke, described severe symptoms and were treated at this makeshift center run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). "I have been here for two days, suffering from diarrhea. I was brought here in a critical condition. I also had dizziness, but when I arrived here, they examined me before giving me medication. I took syrups and serum. After three days, I feel good. I am strong and I say thank you very much." Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by consuming contaminated water or food. It can kill within hours if untreated. Aid workers and health officials warn of recurring outbreaks without proper sanitation infrastructure, clean water, and long-term healthcare investment. Earlier this year, North Kivu recorded over 600 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths in one month, raising concerns about similar trends in South Kivu's informal settlements like Lomera. :: Katana, DRC :: July 2, 2025 Dr. Justin Bengehya of the South Kivu Provincial Health Division reported 5,360 cases and 28 deaths across the province since early 2025. The epidemic has raged in Lomera for nearly two months, he says, and most of those affected are miners and small traders. The World Health Organization (WHO) has flagged rising infectious disease risks in eastern Congo amid ongoing displacement and violence.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Conflicts in Kenya, Sudan, DRC to harm regional businesses
Ugandan financial services group Dfcu Ltd has raised the red flag over the growing wave of unrest in Kenya, the civil conflict in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo saying these fights would adversely impact businesses in the region. The company which is listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) says through its latest annual report (2024) that these conflicts are poised to affect various aspects of life and business including disrupting trade and reducing export volumes while exacerbating humanitarian crises linked to the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons.'In the regional context, ongoing conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to pose significant risks, disrupting trade and reducing export volumes while exacerbating humanitarian crises linked to the influx of refugees and internally displaced persons,' says Dfcu Ltd which is majority owned (58.7 percent) by Arise B.v.'Our objective is to assist our clients in understanding the potential impacts of these events on their businesses. For example, geopolitical developments such as conflicts in Ukraine or Gaza, elections in the United States, India, and South Africa, as well as unrest in Kenya and Sudan, can affect various aspects of life and business in Uganda.'DRC is currently going through a protracted civil conflict, particularly in its eastern region that is rooted in decades of instability involving various armed groups, including the M23 rebel group, and is fueled by competition for resources, ethnic tensions, and political power struggles. On the other hand, Kenya is facing a spate of countrywide anti-government protests led by the youth largely fueled by concerns over increased corruption in the public sector, inequality in resource distribution, poor governance, rising abductions and killings of the youth perceived to be anti-government and increased taxation that has led to high cost of living. "The downturn in business activity in June was driven by contractions in both output and new orders, largely stemming from social unrest, weaker consumer spending, and challenging economic conditions,' they said in a report dated July 8. And though business sentiment showed some signs of improvement in June, economists say the renewed optimism will likely be short-lived due to the renewed outbreak of protests.'This renewed optimism will likely be short-lived due to the renewed outbreak of deadly protests. Time and again, protests of this magnitude have dealt a heavy blow to business and investor confidence,' the economists say. Sudan is also currently in the midst of a civil war that began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
2 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Turning the Tide: Democratic Republic of Congo's Emergency Food Production Project Sows Resilience, Plants Hope
In the early morning, the fields stretch as far as the eye can see, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun. In Kwilu, Kasai, and Tshopo provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rural communities are reclaiming their land with renewed energy. Here, every furrow in the earth tells a story of resilience and hope. These fertile lands have long been trapped in a vicious circle of poor-quality seed, limited access to fertilizers, outdated farming techniques, low yields, and unstable incomes. A tradition of subsistence farming has confined families to day-to-day survival, leaving them vulnerable to climate shocks and food crises. That has changed thanks to the deployment of the Emergency Food Production Project ( (PURPA in the French acronym), which is being implemented by the African Development Bank ( as part of the African Emergency Food Production Facility ( The project aims to restore food production in the most vulnerable rural areas of the DRC as rapidly as possible. Large-scale distribution of seeds and other agricultural inputs lies at the heart of the project and has delivered a decisive impact: More than 325 tonnes of rice, 388 tonnes of maize and 1.4 million linear metres of cassava cuttings have been distributed, far exceeding initial forecasts. 49,749 farming households have been reached, primarily women, who are often on the front line in the battle to feed their families. Villagers in the communities covered by the project are enthusiastic, reflecting a rebirth of hope as the fields come back to life. The seed is in the ground and local people believe the harvest should be sufficient to meet their families' needs while leaving a surplus for sale on the market. Beyond the distributions, PURPA has strengthened the capacities of agricultural research stations such as the one at Kiyaka in Kwilu province in the centre of the country, enabling local production of improved maize and rice seeds. Over 100 tonnes of maize seed, 33 tonnes of rice and 2.55 million cassava cuttings have been produced. The distribution of 334 tonnes of fertilizer also offers a guarantee of suitable and affordable seeds for future seasons. Targeted training programmes have also been launched. The Project financed the training of 300 managers and administrative staff, 30% of whom were women, using the "farmers' field-school" approach with a focus on seed production and technical itineraries. These initiatives not only improve yields but also strengthen the capacities of women and agricultural cooperatives. A final push to distribute fertilizer and seed produced by the research centres is scheduled for the coming months. Multiple outcomes are expected: increased farm incomes through the sale of surpluses; the creation of new economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people; significant improvement in food security with a reduction of lean periods; and the development of more autonomous agriculture that is less dependent on external aid. Local authorities in several provinces are also observing a reduction in rural exodus as young people return to their towns to participate in this new-style agriculture, attracted by more promising prospects. For these communities, the Emergency Food Production Project is not just a response to the global food crisis. It is a veritable "school of resilience" where solidarity, local know-how and agricultural innovation support and encourage each other. In these regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, farming is no longer just about survival. In these newly seeded fields, it has become a means of development, investment, and heritage. Much remains to be done, but the transformation is underway. In these once fragile rural lands, a conviction is taking root: change, from now on, comes from here. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Trump's push for peace in the DRC
Peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda is staggering in its ambition. A peace deal has been signed – again – between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, this time in Washington DC, with president Donald Trump watching closely. But can it succeed where others have failed? And is it designed to save lives or to exploit the DRC's mineral wealth?
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Gertler, a ‘King' in Congo, Describes Mine Payments in Arbitration Testimony
An arbitration decision seen by Bloomberg describes Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler's testimony about how he won rights to lucrative Congolese natural resources, made previously undisclosed payments to one of the former president's associates, and held and sold stakes in ventures on behalf of him and local partners. The non-public decision revolves around a dispute between Gertler and two former investors. But the document also details for the first time, in his own words, how he paid an associate of the Democratic Republic of Congo's former president to distribute money in local communities, making Gertler 'a king in Congo,' at the same time as he amassed a vast portfolio of mining and oil assets.
