The son of an eccentric American coup leader who joined his father trying to overthrow Congo’s president had asked friends from his school football team to accompany him to the country. Marcel Malanga invited friends in the US by telling them they would either be digging wells in the Central African nation or joining him […]
Tag: Congo
Family of American caught in Congo failed coup says their son went to Africa on vacation
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) — The family of an American caught up in a failed coup attempt in Congo said their son, Tyler Thompson, was in Africa on vacation with family friends and had not previously engaged in political activism, in a statement provided to The Associated Press. “We are stunned and heartbroken by […]
Congo names third American in a foiled coup plot as mourners gather in Utah to remember plot leader
Congo’s army spokesman on Tuesday released the name of the third American involved a foiled coup plot in Kinshasa, while family members in Utah gathered to mourn Christian Malanga, the eccentric leader of the brazen and ill-fated attack targeting the presidential palace over the weekend. Brig. Gen. Sylvain Ekenge told The Associated Press the third […]
DR Congo army says it has thwarted attempted coup
The Democratic Republic of Congo army says it has quashed an attempted coup against President Felix Tshikedi in the capital Kinshasa, involving Congolese and foreign fighters. DR Congo army spokesperson Brig Gen Sylavin Ekenge said on the state-run broadcaster RTNC TV that several suspects have been detained and the “situation is now under control”. His […]
Congo military releases 2 Kenya Airways staffers held for 2 weeks over cargo dispute
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Republic of Congo’s military has released two Kenya Airways staffers who were detained for two weeks in a cargo dispute, Kenya’s foreign ministry said Monday. The staffers’ detention had led Kenya Airways to suspend flights to Congo, but the state-owned airline said flights would resume Wednesday. The airline said it […]
Key mining town seized – DR Congo rebels
A town at the heart of mining coltan, a key ingredient in making mobile phones, has been seized in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by rebel forces, their spokesman has said. Rubaya fell into the hands of M23 fighters on Tuesday following heavy clashes with government troops, Willy Ngoma said. The government has not yet […]
Kenya Airways accuses Congo military of holding its staff since last week over cargo issues
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s state-owned airline has accused the Republic of Congo’s military of holding two of its staffers since last Friday over cargo issues. Kenya Airways, known as KQ, said on Friday the staffers were arrested in its airport office in the capital, Kinshasa, over missing documentation for cargo that the airline had […]
DR Congo presses Apple over minerals supply chain, lawyers say
KINSHASA (Reuters) -Democratic Republic of Congo is pushing Apple Inc for more information about its supply chain over concerns it may be tainted with conflict minerals sourced from the country, international lawyers engaged by Congo said on Thursday. Congo, particularly its eastern region, has been plagued by violence since the 1990s, killing millions as struggles […]
Tanzanian soldiers killed in DR Congo missile attack
A mortar attack in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed three soldiers from a southern African military force. All of those who died were from Tanzania. Three others were hurt. “Hostile” missile fire “fell near the camp where they were staying,” said the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) on Monday. None […]
Islamic State-linked fighters kill at least a dozen civilians in eastern Congo
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s army says extremist-linked rebels have killed at least a dozen people in a raid on a rural community in the east, in the latest violence near the border with Uganda. Allied Democratic Forces rebels with ties to the Islamic State group have long operated in the border area. The United […]
Republic Of Congo reports first mpox virus cases in several regions
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — The Republic of Congo has recorded its first cases of mpox in several regions, the health ministry said, an indication of how the disease may be spreading across Africa since sexual transmission was first confirmed on the continent last year. Mpox is a virus that originates in wild animals […]
Congo faces unprecedented crisis as violence displaces 250,000 in the last month, a UN official says
GOMA, Congo (AP) — Escalating violence in Congo’s eastern region has displaced at least 250,000 people in the last month, a senior United Nations official said Wednesday, describing the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Far from the nation’s capital, Kinshasa, eastern Congo has long been overrun by more than 120 armed groups seeking a […]