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Armed groups fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have carried out horrific abuses against civilians, including gang rapes, abductions and summary executions, Amnesty International said Wednesday in a new report that warns the atrocities may amount to war crimes. The London-based rights group said both the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) and...

The TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 has entered its knockout stage, with East Africa firmly in the spotlight after Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all booked their places in the last eight. The historic co-hosting by the three nations has kept stadiums packed and the “Pamoja” theme alive, with fans set for another round of high-intensity football...

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia— Ethiopia’s financial sector is accelerating its shift toward digital transformation, with banking executives, fintech leaders and regulators gathering Wednesday in Addis Ababa for the 23rd Connected Banking Summit. The event, which also featured the Innovation & Excellence Awards 2025, brought together key players to discuss strategies shaping the future of banking...

Bujumbura, Burundi — Burundi’s president Evariste Ndayishimiye, recently welcomed a high-level delegation from the Al Mansour Holding Group in Bujumbura. The delegation, led by His Highness Prince Sheikh Mansour Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani, arrived to convey Qatar’s continued commitment to investing in Burundi, a country increasingly seen with economic opportunities. The Al Mansour...

NAIROBI, Kenya — East and Southern African leaders have endorsed a plan to merge regional mediation efforts under the African Union while pledging to align them with recent global peace initiatives, in a push to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meeting virtually on Aug. 13, the Joint Extraordinary Summit...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin began a five-day visit to Burundi on Tuesday, August 12, where he was received by Vice President Prosper Bazombanza. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Parolin said he brought a message similar to that of Pope John Paul II during his visit to the...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions on an armed group and several companies accused of fueling violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo through the illicit trade of critical minerals. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the measures target the Coalition des Patriotes Résistants Congolais–Force de Frappe...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — President Évariste Ndayishimiye on Tuesday announced a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, appointing a new prime minister and overhauling several key ministries. Nestor Ntahontuye has been named the new Prime Minister, replacing Gervais Ndirakobuca, who had served in the role since 2022. Ndirakobuca was recently elected senator and has since assumed the position...

WASHINGTON / NAIROBI (Aug. 1, 2025) — Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have taken a critical step toward implementing their June peace agreement, holding the inaugural Joint Oversight Committee meeting in Washington, D.C., on July 31. The United States, along with the African Union and the State of Qatar, observed the session, which...

ARUSHA, Tanzania -East African Community Secretary-General Veronica M. Nduva has expressed strong concern over Tanzania’s recent decision to bar non-citizens from operating in 15 business sectors, saying the move may violate the bloc’s Common Market Protocol and undermine regional integration. Speaking through an official EAC Secretariat statement issued from Arusha, Nduva warned that such...