Perverse effects of conflict minerals initiatives in Congo remind us of how inaccurate narratives fuel the very problems they pretend to tackle
Natural resources do play an important role for both eastern DRC and Rwanda’s political economy, and it is true that the return of the M23 in 2021 correlates with a sharp rise in Rwanda’s mineral exports, as per official statistics.
EU cut out as US and Russia set to meet in Saudi Arabia to start talks to end the war in Ukraine
Trump, who took office on January 20, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine war. He made separate phone calls to Putin and Zelenskiy on Wednesday, leaving Washington’s European allies alarmed that they will be cut out of any peace process.
Rwanda faces aid freeze if EU backs European Parliament’s position on eastern Congo conflict
Congo is also the world’s most aid-dependent country, though humanitarian operations, which were 70 per cent funded by Washington last year, have taken a big hit since U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a pause on foreign aid last month.
How and why Kenyan is featuring in February 23 German elections, coalition permutations
If no two larger parties can form a majority, the CDU/CSU, SPD and Greens could decide to form a so-called “Kenya” coalition, as their colours match those of the Kenyan flag.
Destination Kinshasa: Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo threaten to storm DRC capital, take power
“We want to go to Kinshasa, take power and lead the country,” Corneille Nangaa, one of the political leaders of M23, said during the briefing. He did not indicate how the rebels planned to advance on the capital, more than 1,500 kilometres (nearly 1,000 miles) away.
How Sierra Leon teenage defender outfoxed Valladolid to sign for Manchester City in six days
Bah was enthused by the idea of joining City – the group, which includes 13 teams worldwide from the United States to Japan, Brazil and Australia – and will receive good money for doing so.
Immoral consistency: Why calls by West to sideline Afghan cricket team reek of sports colonialism
What began as a boycott based on the International Cricket Council’s requirement that any nation with Test status must have an active women’s team has morphed into a catch-all protest against the numerous limitations placed on women and girls in the Islamic Emirate.
Incoming Trump administration officials concede Ukraine peace deal is no easy task
In the run-up to his November 5 election victory, Trump declared dozens of times that he would have a deal in place between Ukraine and Russia on his first day in office, if not before. In late October, however, he made a subtle shift in his rhetoric, and began saying he could solve the war “very quickly.”
US unveil new tougher sanctions to curb Russian oil exports to China and India
Among the newly sanctioned ships, 143 are oil tankers that handled more than 530 million barrels of Russian crude last year, about 42 per cent of the country’s total seaborne crude exports, Kpler’s lead freight analyst Matt Wright said in a note.
Transition: Founder of France’s post-war far right party Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96
Commenting on Le Pen’s death, President Emmanuel Macron said: “A historic figure of the far right, he played a role in the public life of our country for nearly seventy years, which is now a matter for history to judge.”
