Latest news with #DRCongo
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Foxes defender Coulibaly makes Mali debut
Leicester City defender Woyo Coulibaly made his international debut for Mali during their 1-0 friendly defeat by DR Congo on full-back Coulibaly, 26, - signed by the Foxes from Parma for a reported £3m in January - was called up for the African nation for the first time in May, having switched nationalities from was also a first for Hamza Choudhury, who scored his maiden goal for Bangladesh during their 2-0 victory over Bhutan on Foxes academy graduate, 27, nodded in opener in the sixth minute on just his second appearance for the Bengal Tigers.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
Two African states win UN Security Council seats
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Liberia have secured seats in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members, following a vote at the General Assembly in New York. In a single round of balloting on Tuesday, the DR Congo received 183 votes and Liberia secured 181, both surpassing the required two-thirds majority in the 193-member assembly, according to a UN press release. The election filled five available non-permanent seats, with Bahrain (186 votes), Latvia (178 votes), and Colombia (180 votes) also elected to represent their respective regional groups. The two African countries are replacing Algeria and Sierra Leone, which have been serving since 2024. Along with the other elected counterparts, they will join the global security organization in January 2026 and serve until the end of 2027. The vote comes amid renewed calls for reform of the Security Council's structure to better reflect current global dynamics. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has advocated for the allocation of a permanent seat for Africa, arguing that the continent's longstanding underrepresentation is a 'historical injustice.' The 55-nation African Union has long sought permanent representation in the UNSC. In 2005, the bloc formed the C-10 group, whose primary mission is to present, advocate for, and rally support for the common African position on Security Council reforms. In an address delivered last August, Guterres stated that Africa's absence among permanent members undermines the UNSC's legitimacy, adding that the continent bears a disproportionate burden of the conflicts the council is tasked with addressing. Russia has voiced similar support, with President Vladimir Putin stating that a seat for the African Union would affirm its members' aspiration to be meaningfully represented in global decision-making. The Security Council, composed of 15 members, includes five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the US, and UK – and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The permanent members hold veto power over substantive resolutions, while the non-permanent members take part fully in deliberations and voting but do not have veto rights. The DR Congo is joining the Council at a time of intensified armed conflict in its eastern region, where clashes between national forces and the M23 rebel group have escalated since January. The militants have seized major cities, including Goma and Bukavu, reportedly killing thousands of people. In a report published on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said the rebels 'summarily executed' at least 21 civilians over a two-day period in February in Goma.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Focus on Africa More than 100 dead in Congo floods
Available for over a year The UN says "a double crisis" is facing the DR Congo, as it suffers flooding and mass displacement caused by ongoing conflict. Why is Sierra Leone's largest diamond miner laying off more than 1,000 workers? And we visit churches in South Africa where polygamy is allowed. Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Richard Kagoe in Nairobi with Nyasha Michelle, Yvette Twagiramariya and Tom Kavanagh in London Technical Producer: Pat Sissons and Kane Morgan Senior Producer: Paul Bakibinga Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka receives first DR Congo international call-up
West Ham United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been named in the latest 26-player DR Congo squad. Wan-Bissaka, who is English-born and of Congolese descent, played for England up to under 21 level and DR Congo's Under-20 side. The Athletic reported in November 2023 that Wan-Bissaka had been approached to represent DR Congo at last year's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Advertisement Wan-Bissaka received his first England call-up under Gareth Southgate in September 2019, but left the camp after suffering a back injury and never made an appearance at senior level for the nation. The right-back, who joined West Ham from Manchester United last summer, must switch international allegiance as he is not included in FIFA's latest list of players to change national sides. The 27-year-old will be involved in DR Congo's squad for the friendlies against Mali on June 5 and Madagascar three days later, which are in preparation for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 AFCON taking place in Morocco in December. DR Congo — whose last World Cup appearance came in 1974 under its former name Zaire — currently lead Group B of the African section for the World Cup qualifiers with Sebastien Desabre's side one point ahead of Senegal after six matches. DR Congo host Senegal in a key match in September, either side of visits to South Sudan and Togo, before concluding their campaign at home to Sudan on October 13. DR Congo have been drawn to play Benin, Botswana and Senegal in the AFCON group stages. ()
CNA
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
West Ham's Wan-Bissaka called up to play for DR Congo
West Ham United's English-born right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been named in a 26-man squad by Democratic Republic of Congo for friendlies in June, setting him up for a possible trip to the next Africa Cup of Nations and potentially the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old Wan-Bissaka had turned down previous approaches from the Congolese to play for them, notably ahead of last year's Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast. His family hails from DR Congo but he has played for England at under-21 level and earned a first senior England call-up at the start of the 2019-20 season, having made an impressive start with Manchester United following a move from Crystal Palace. However, he had to withdraw from the England squad through injury and never got called up again. Wan-Bissaka, who joined Premier League side West Ham last year, would have to switch international allegiance to play for the Congolese but FIFA's latest list of players who have been allowed to make nationality changes does not include him. DR Congo, under coach Sebastien Desabre, are using the two friendly matches in Orleans, France against Mali on June 5 and Madagascar three days later to prepare for the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers, where they lead Senegal by a point at the top of Group B and host them in a key match in September. The winners of each group qualify directly for the finals. DR Congo will also compete at the Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco at the end of the year, drawn in the same group with Benin, Botswana and Senegal.
