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☆ Fact check: Trump’s post-conviction monologue was filled with false claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Instead, Trump delivered a rambling monologue that was filled with false claims on subjects ranging from the Manhattan trial to immigration to tax policy. He said this time that “you have violent crime all over this city at levels that nobody’s ever seen before.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is not even close to true. Michael Cohen’s crimesCriticizing key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, Trump repeated a claim he made during the trial in April. Facts First: There is no basis for Trump’s claim. It was dead.”Facts First: Trump’s claim is false.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, New York City Trump, Michael Cohen’s, Michael Cohen, Cohen, “, Robert Mueller, Trump’s, ” Cohen, ”, ” Trump, Biden, Joe Biden, Alvin Bragg’s, –, Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Judge Juan Merchan, Merchan, Bradley Smith, Rather, Smith, Congo ’ Trump, Africa –, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, ” Serge Mombouli Organizations: Washington CNN, New York City, New, Trump, Republican, Intelligence, Biden, DOJ, of Justice, federal, Department, Democrat, Justice Department, Congo, Democratic, CNN, PAC, Nord Locations: Manhattan, New York, , New York City, New York City, –, Russia, Moscow, York’s, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Africa, United States of America, Republic of, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Ukraine

☆ Seeking Access to Congo’s Metals, White House Aims to Ease Sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Eric Lipton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Three years after Biden administration officials tightened sanctions on a billionaire Israeli mining executive for corrupt business practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they have reversed themselves and are offering the executive a deal they hope will bolster the supply of a metal vital to electric vehicles. The plan would allow the executive, Dan Gertler, to sell off his remaining stakes in three giant copper and cobalt mining operations in Congo. Once Mr. Gertler sells his positions, the Biden administration hopes Western-leaning companies will be more willing to invest in Congo, perhaps delivering a greater supply of cobalt to the United States as automakers race to increase domestic production of batteries. But certain State and Treasury Department officials strongly opposed the effort, saying that Mr. Gertler should not be allowed to profit from his deal-making, which the Biden administration earlier argued had cheated the citizens of Congo out of more than $1 billion in mining revenues.

Persons: Dan Gertler, Gertler, Biden Organizations: Biden, Democratic, Treasury Department Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, United States

☆ ‘Everything he is saying isn’t true’: Congolese governments denounce Trump’s baseless stories about emptied prisons
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“Everything he is saying isn’t true,” Democratic Republic of Congo spokesperson Patrick Muyaya Katembwe told CNN in a text message on Thursday. Facts First: Trump’s claims are baseless. And federal figures show that there is no “very big” influx of Congolese migrants of any kind, let alone former prisoners in particular. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, keeps making claims about emptied Congolese prisons as he criticizes President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration. Official federal data shows that Congolese migrants in general, not ex-prisoners in particular, represent a tiny fraction of overall arrivals.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, “, ” Serge Mombouli, ”, Joe Biden’s, Trump, “ I’ve, ” Lewis Mudge, Abdoulaye Diarra, Mark Krikorian, Michelle Mittelstadt scoffed Organizations: Washington CNN, Democratic, CNN, PAC, Trump, Fox News, Human Rights, Amnesty International, Patrol, US Customs, Center for Immigration Studies, Policy Institute Locations: Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic, Republic of, Republic of Congo, ’, United States, Central Africa, Congolese, America, “, Mexico, South America

“If you have minerals or oil under the ground, how do you come up with a price for a long-term contract? The shift to renewable energy and electric vehicles has caused a spike in the demand for critical minerals, driving these kind of loans. Adesina, whose Abidjan, Ivory Coast-based institution helps finance development in African countries, said these arrangements come with a litany of problems. Photos You Should See View All 60 Images“These are the reasons I say Africa should put an end to natural resource-backed loans," Adesina said. After Chad, Angola and the Republic of Congo approached the IMF for support, the multilateral lender insisted on the renegotiation of their natural resource-backed loans.

Persons: Akinwumi Adesina, paydowns, Adesina, ” Adesina, Glencore, Trafigura, ”, Mao Ning Organizations: African Development Bank, Associated Press, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Chartered, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Railway Group, Gecamines, Alliance for Green Infrastructure Locations: Lagos, NIGERIA, China, Congo, Nigeria, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Africa, Chad, Angola, Republic of Congo, Guinea, Ghana, Beijing, Nigerian, AP.org

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Authorities in Rwanda on Monday rejected U.S. calls for the withdrawal of troops and missile systems from eastern Congo, saying they are defending Rwandan territory as Congo carries out a "dramatic military build-up” near the border. The U.S. State Department in a statement Saturday criticized the worsening violence caused by M23, describing it as a “Rwanda-backed” armed group. That statement also urged Rwanda “to immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defense Force personnel from the (Congo) and remove its surface-to-air missile systems." M23 is one of more than 100 armed groups active in eastern Congo, seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources as they carry out mass killings. After being largely dormant for a decade, M23 resurfaced in late 2021 and has since captured wide parts of eastern Congo.

Persons: FLDR, Rwanda “, U.N, Goma Organizations: —, Monday, Rwanda's Foreign Ministry, Rwandan, U.S . State Department, Rwanda Defense Force, Rwandan Foreign Ministry Locations: KAMPALA, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Congolese, United States, Africa's Great Lakes, Congo’s North Kivu’s, Goma

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in Saturday following a disputed December election, promising to unite the Central African country during his second five-year term and to protect lives in the conflict-hit eastern region. We want a more united, stronger and prosperous Congo,” Tshikedi, 60, said during the inauguration ceremony attended by several heads of state. His first inauguration in 2019 marked Congo’s first democratic transfer of power since the country's independence from Belgium in 1960. Tshisekedi won reelection with more than 70% of the vote, according to the election commission. Tshisekedi became president in 2019 after emerging from the shadow of his father, who was one of Congo's most population figures.

Persons: Felix Tshisekedi, ” Tshikedi, Tshisekedi, ”, “, Félix Tshisekedi, ” Patrick Mbembe, Etienne Tshisekedi Organizations: —, Troops, East Locations: KINSHASA, Congo, Central, “, Belgium, Kinshasa, Eastern Congo, East African, Congolese

"After 25 years of presence, MONUSCO will definitively leave the DRC no later than the end of 2024,” Keita said at a media briefing in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. The end of the mission will not be “the end of the United Nations” in the country, she added. The U.N. and Congolese officials worked together to produce a disengagement plan for “a progressive, responsible, honorable and exemplary withdrawal of MONUSCO,” Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula said. Modalities have also been set for “the gradual transfer of tasks from MONUSCO to Congolese government,” Lutundula added. The violence is occasioned by rampant mass killings and has displaced nearly 7 million people.

Persons: Bintou Keita, MONUSCO, ” Keita, Christophe Lutundula, ” Lutundula, —, “ Organizations: Central, United Nations, East Locations: KINSHASA, Congo, Congolese, Central African, South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, Kinshasa, MONUSCO, East African

☆ Congo boat accident deaths rise to 52
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —The bodies of at least 52 people have been recovered from the Congo River after their boat capsized late last week, a provincial minister said on Monday, warning that the death toll could rise further with many still missing. The boat was carrying over 300 people when it overturned near the town of Mbandaka in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo during the night on Friday. Didier Mbula, provincial health minister for Equateur Province, told Reuters the number of dead had since risen. Deadly boat accidents are frequent on Congo’s rivers and lakes, where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity. In a statement, he promised to implement rules to improve the safety of river transport and “minimize the recurring tragedies.”

Persons: Didier Mbula, ”, Marc Ekila Organizations: Reuters Locations: Congo, Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equateur Province

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Congo’s president wants the world’s second largest United Nations peacekeeping force to move up its departure from the country, starting this December, saying it has failed to rein in conflicts in the country's east. After a quarter-century of peacekeeping efforts, “it’s time for our country to take its destiny fully in hand” and become the leading security force in Congo, he said. Eastern Congo, far from the capital, has long been overrun by dozens of armed groups seeking a share of the region’s gold and other resources. A separate East African regional force is also present in eastern Congo but has seen protests as well. A visit by Pope Francis to eastern Congo planned for early this year was cancelled because of the worsening security situation there.

Persons: —, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, “, Pope Francis Organizations: United Nations, Wednesday Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Congo, Eastern Congo, Congolese, Goma

The report highlights the numerous human rights violations that have occurred as a result of mining activity. The mine is operated by Compagnie Minière de Musonoie Global SAS, or COMMUS, a joint venture between Chinese company Zijin Mining and the state-owned Gecamines mining company. Often there was no grievance mechanism, accountability, or access to justice.”Amnesty International says companies are not doing enough to address human rights concerns and are disregarding international human rights laws and standards, as well as national legislation and U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Decarbonizing the global economy must not lead to further human rights violations,” it said.

Persons: “ Ernest Miji, Chemaf, COMMUS, Donat Kambola Organizations: Amnesty International, U.S . House, Good, Human, Resources, Residents, Coalition, Rights, Amnesty, Compagnie Minière de, Global SAS, Mining, AP Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Congo, U.S, Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, Lualaba, Dubai, Cité

☆ African qualifier to go ahead in Marrakech despite deadly quake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

However, Saturday's match between Morocco and Liberia in Agadir, some 260km away from the quake epicentre, has been postponed. The Congo and Gambia squads spent the night sleeping beside their respective hotel pools after the magnitude 7.2 quake that struck in Morocco's High Atlas mountains and damaged buildings in nearby Marrakech. The coaches of both teams said their players had been traumatised by the event but had been told they must go ahead with their match. Sunday’s Group G decider between Gambia and Congo is being played in Marrakech because Gambia do not have a suitable stadium for hosting international matches. “We have been told our match on Sunday must go ahead.

Persons: Tom Saintfiet, ”, ” Congo’s, Paul Put Organizations: of Nations, Sunday’s, Sunday, ”, Reuters, CAF, Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Confederation of African, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Congo, Marrakech, Morocco, Liberia, Agadir, Gambia, ” Gambia

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The humanitarian situation in conflict-wracked eastern Congo has deteriorated alarmingly in the past 18 months with 8 million people in urgent need of assistance and women and girls subjected to sexual violence on a massive scale -- just in three provinces, a senior U.N. official said Tuesday. M23 rose to prominence in 2012 when its fighters seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city on the border with Rwanda. Recently, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, which is believed to have ties to the Islamic State extremist group, have also spiked along with intercommunal violence. The scale of suffering and insufficient funding have left humanitarian workers in the impossible situation every day of deciding whether to prioritize water, shelter or medical support for the constant stream of newly displaced people. And one result of the overwhelming needs is that thousands and thousands of children aren’t able to go to school, she said.

Persons: Edem Wosornu, “, ”, Wosornu, Gabriella Waaijman, and.one, aren’t, Waaijman, ” Waaijman Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Allied Democratic Forces, State, London, International Locations: Congo, U.N, North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Rwanda, Goma, Congo’s

☆ How 4 Countries Are Preparing to Bring Stolen Treasures Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Catherine Hickley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The discussion about returning wrongfully acquired heritage to countries in the global south has, until now, largely focused on the steps taken by Western museums and governments. But away from the spotlight, in countries like Cameroon and Indonesia, heritage workers, government officials and activists are laying the groundwork to reclaim long lost treasures, a process most expect will take decades. Challenges include establishing who will own and take care of the artifacts, upgrading museum infrastructure, involving communities and awakening public interest. “We have an enormous mission,” said Placide Mumbembele Sanger, a professor at the University of Kinshasa who is advising the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government. “It will be a long process.”

Persons: ”, Placide Mumbembele Sanger Organizations: University of, Democratic Locations: Cameroon, Indonesia, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo’s

☆ Uganda: Twenty people arrested on suspicion of collaborating in Uganda school massacre
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Twenty people accused of helping an ISIS-linked rebel group suspected of killing dozens, mostly students at a school in western Uganda, have been arrested, Ugandan police told CNN. A spokesperson for the Uganda Police Force, Fred Enanga, told CNN on Monday that 20 suspected ADF collaborators had been arrested, but no actual members of the militia group. The arrests follow authorities’ earlier disclosure that the ADF may have spent days planning the attack with the help of local residents in town. The Lhubirira school is located in the town of Kasese, which sits along the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, with students aged between 13 and 18. The ISIS-linked ADF was designated as a terrorist organization by the United States in 2021 and was sanctioned by the United Nations in 2014.

Persons: Fred Enanga, Yoweri Museveni, ” Museveni Organizations: CNN, Allied Democratic Forces, Lhubirira Secondary, Uganda Police Force, ADF, Democratic, UBC Television, United Nations Locations: Uganda, Mpondwe, Kasese, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda’s, Congo, Congo Government, North Kivu, United States

☆ Congolese artists wear costumes made of trash to shine a light on Kinshasa’s pollution problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Flo Cornall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Artist Junior Mungongu made an interactive costume from plastic bottles and lids to raise awareness of the city’s lack of action on single-use plastics. Walking around the city in his elaborate creation, he engages with his audience by asking people to screw plastic bottles onto the lids. Artist Junior Mungongu wears a costume made out of plastic bottles and lids. Colin Delfosse“Giving echo”Brussels-based photographer Colin Delfosse has created “Fulu Act,” a portrait series featuring some of the KinAct artists. It is estimated that Kinshasa’s inhabitant, known as “Kinois,” produce around 9,000 tons of garbage daily, including 1,500 tons of plastic waste which clogs rivers, contributing to flooding.

Persons: Junior Mungongu, “, ”, Colin Delfosse, Jean Precy Numbi, ” salvages, Samba, ” Jean Precy Numbi, Delfosse, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Sony Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo’s, Kinshasa, Colin Delfosse Belgium, Congolese, DRC, Lingala, Europe, Africa, Brussels

CNN —At least 400 people have died after floods and landslides hit the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province last week, officials told CNN. “We have 401 deaths in Bushushu and Nyamukubi villages in Kalehe territory,” Kasi said. Congolese Red Cross volunteers and residents of Nyamukubi wrap in blankets the bodies of people who died in heavy flooding in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 6, 2023. People are crossing the lake, another danger.”This aerial photograph taken on May 6, 2023 shows a landslide that engulfed Nyamukubi village, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. People walk next to a house destroyed by the floods in the village of Nyamukubi, South Kivu province, in Congo, Saturday, May 6, 2023.

☆ Copper Shortage Threatens Green Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

In 2021, refined copper demand stood at 25.3 million tons, according to the International Copper Study Group. Mined output globally in 2022 was 21.8 million tons according to the International Copper Study Group, rising only 1 million tons over the previous three years. According to Congo’s Ministry of Mines, copper metal exports totaled 2.3 million metric tons in 2022, up from 1.8 million metric tons in 2021, less than half of Chile’s output. According to analysts it is more of a “when” not an “if” copper demand is likely to surge. Changes in technology should ease some copper demand pressures.

☆ Increasing Export Restrictions on Critical Minerals Threaten Energy Transition, OECD Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Rising export restrictions on lithium, cobalt and other raw materials critical to the energy transition threaten to slow the move to a greener economy, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In a new report, the OECD said that over the last decade, export restrictions on critical minerals—usually in the form of taxes—have increased more than fivefold. Now roughly 10% of the global value of critical raw material exports face at least one export restriction measure. These countries hold some of the largest reserves of critical raw materials and account for a significant share of their global production. Despite the additional export controls, demand for these critical materials is increasing as is trade in them, said the OECD.

"It's important for us to have clear agreement because this is what we have now to finance our development," he said. President Felix Tshisekedi's government has been revisiting a 2007 deal struck by his predecessor Joseph Kabila under which Sinohydro Corp (SINOH.UL) and China Railway Group Limited agreed to build roads and hospitals in exchange for a 68% stake in the Sicomines venture as well as a 2008 contract with CMOC. "We have already a framework, we have some key elements of change that we want to bring in that agreement," Kazadi said of Sicomines, though he declined to provide further details. "In only five days they have managed to burn and export 27 kilograms," Kazadi said, speaking of the joint venture that is owned 55% by the United Arab Emirates with the remainder owned by Kinshasa. Reporting by Karin Strohecker and Jorgelina do Rosario, editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ DRC floods kill at least 120 in Kinshasa
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —More than 120 people have died in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa after torrential rains caused severe flooding in the city, according to a government statement issued Wednesday. Severe damage could be seen in video obtained by news agency Reuters, with roofs and roads collapsed and people walking knee-deep in water. “On the National Road 1, there is a big hole. A car is seen stuck after heavy rains caused floods and landslides, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo December 13,2022. At least 39 people died in Kinshasa in 2019 when torrential rain flooded low-lying districts and some buildings and roads collapsed.

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