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Tag: DR Congo

  • UN chief condemns attack on peace keepers in DR Congo

    UN chief condemns attack on peace keepers in DR Congo

    United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned an attack that saw eight peacekeepers from the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) wounded during clashes between the powerful M23 rebel movement and Government troops.

    The incident occurred last Saturday, in the vicinity of Sake, just 20 kilometers from Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.

    The wounded peacekeepers, who were part of Operation Springbok initiated last November to safeguard civilians in the region, sustained their injuries amidst the ongoing fighting, where UN troops have been assisting Government forces to protect vulnerable civilians.

    Read Also: DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 to book semi-final spot

    Guterres, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric condemned the attack, emphasising that it could amount to a war crime under international law.

    Expressing his wishes for a swift recovery for the injured peacekeepers, he reiterated calls for all armed groups, Congolese and foreign fighters alike to immediately cease hostilities and engage in the disarmament process.

    Furthermore, the UN chief emphasised the necessity for M23 to withdraw entirely from the territory it has occupied and conform to the agreements outlined in the Luanda communiqué of November 2022, to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC.

  • DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 to book semi-final spot

    DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1 to book semi-final spot

    Mohamed Bayo put Guinea ahead with a 20th-minute penalty after the forward was fouled by Chancel Mbemba, who then fired in from a narrow-angle at the other end to equalise seven minutes later.

    DR Congo had a penalty of their own in the second half when Julian Jeanvier clipped the legs of Silas and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa converted to give the Leopards the lead with 25 minutes left.

    Read Also: AFCON: Mozambique, DR Congo qualify as Aubameyang’s Gabon miss out

    The West Africans had little in response after going behind and the result was sealed when Arthur Masuaku’s free-kick from wide on the left caught out Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone at his near post.

    DR Congo will face the winners of Saturday’s quarter-final between Mali and hosts Ivory Coast (17:00 GMT) in the last four on Wednesday.

  • DR Congo postpones presidential vote to Dec. 30

    Democratic Republic of Congo’s election board has postponed a presidential vote scheduled for Sunday by one week until Dec. 30 after a fire destroyed voting materials.

    Already delayed repeatedly since 2016, the poll is meant to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who is to step down after 18 years in what would be Congo’s first democratic transition.

    After a meeting with candidates in the capital, the electoral commission (CENI) said it had not been able to provide sufficient ballot papers for Kinshasa after a warehouse blaze last week destroyed much of the capital’s election material.

    “We cannot organise general elections without the province of Kinshasa, and without the Kinois voters – who represent 10 per cent of the electoral body,” CENI president Corneille Nangaa said.

    “The presidential, legislative and provincial ballots will take place on Dec. 30, 2018.”

    The decision may stoke already high tensions after several government crackdowns on opposition rallies.

    After the announcement, a crowd outside CENI headquarters started shouting in protest and was pushed back by police.

    Read Also: Accord governorship candidate steps down as party adopts Agbaje

    Security forces have killed dozens of people in the past two years demonstrating against Kabila’s refusal to step down when his mandate officially expired in December 2016.

    Hundreds of university students took to the streets in Kinshasa on Thursday, protesting any delay to the vote.

    The postponement decision caps a chaotic week, which saw more than 100 people killed in fights between rival ethnic groups in northwestern Congo and clashes between police and opposition supporters in Kinshasa.

    Those protests erupted after Kinshasa’s governor ordered a halt to campaigning over security fears.

    Campaigning had been due to end at midnight on Friday in what has boiled down to a race between Kabila’s preferred successor, Emmanuel Shadary, and two main challengers, Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi.

    Shadary has a big advantage due to sizeable campaign funds and ruling party control of many media outlets.

    However, a rare national opinion poll in October had Tshisekedi leading the race with 36 per cent, well ahead of Shadary’s 16 per cent.
    Fayulu had eight per cent.

  • 103 Ebola cases reported in DR Congo

    The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said no fewer than 103 cases of Ebola have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    OCHA said the figures include 76 confirmed and 27 probable, including 61 deaths, as at Tuesday.

    Suspected new cases continued to emerge in Mabalako and Oicha areas of North Kivu, according to the UN relief wing.

    It said new alerts were under investigation in three more provinces: Mongala, Haut-Uele and Haut Katanga.

    A joint United Nations-Ministry of Health team is implementing activities to combat the Ebola outbreak including alerts investigation; vaccination; water, sanitation and hygiene education; epidemiological surveillance; and psychological assistance to the affected families.

    Since Aug. 8, more than 2,000 people have been vaccinated, OCHA said.

    A joint response plan by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health was finalised with funds secured from donors and humanitarian partners.

    The UN office, however, said the country-wide Humanitarian Response Plan, which required $1.67 billion to respond to the needs of 10.5 million people, was only 24 per cent funded.

  • Leopards thank NFF; wish Eagles good luck in Russia

     

    Leopards of Congo have wished World cup bound Super Eagles good luck in their quest to shine in Russia while thanking the Nigeria football federation for organising the farewell match between both teams Monday in Port Harcourt. 

    The apparently happy team dished out a video message on the social media while airborne for their return journey to Kinshasha. The video message had an accompanying message dished out in Frenchcourtesy @leopard243.

    “Merci @thenff @NGSuperEagles ???⚽️?? et bon courage pour la @fifaworldcup_fr ? (“Thanks @thenff@NGSuperEagles ⚽️?? and good luck for @fifaworldcup_en ?

    The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the match that attracted a lot of sports administrators including CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.

    Although soccer fans in the country appreciated the match which gave them an opportunity to see some of the players in the 30-man provisional squad that have not been tested, many condemned the pitch which they say is not worthy of being used to test the capacity of a world cup bound team, adding that it was by the grace of God that no player cubed injury in the very poor pitch.  Eagles will next take on Harry Kane captained Three lions June 2nd at the Wembley.

    The final shape up match will be against Czech Rupublic in June 6 in Austria.  Coach of the side Gernot Rohr is expected to name his final 23 man list on Wednesday.  Nigeria will open shop in Russia against Croatia on June 16 followed by a clash against Iceland before taking on perennial rivals Argentina in the last group stage  match.

  • Cancel Nigeria-Congo DR friendly, Charly Boy tells Buhari

    Charles Oputa, AKA Charly Boy wants President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel the international friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their DR Congo counterparts scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on May 28 as a result of the Ebola outbreak in the central African country.

    Buhari

    Charly Boy, who took to Social Media, wants President Buhari to prevail over Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalung, and NFF President, Amaju Pinnick to cancel the May 28 fixture to save Nigerians from a fresh Ebola threat.

    The popular Nigerian entertainer turned activist and our Mumu don do convener argued that the planned Ebola screening for the DR Congo squad on arrival on May 25 is not 100% safe.

    At least 15 people have been killed in the recent outbreak of Ebola in the giant Central African nation.

    His words: “If you know Amaju Pinnick , NFF President make una warn am. Why we wan carry Congo players come inside our country play friendly match where Ebola don kill many of dem people. If Ebola enter we country under Buhari, we don die finish 0!!!! Our Mumu suppose do. “

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Sport, Solomon Dalung has said the planned friendly will go on as planned.
    He said arrangements have been concluded to screen the team on arrival.

    “Nigeria is going to play the friendly with DRC, I have discussed with the Federal Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization in participation and we have reviewed the situation and received adequate information about it,” Dalung told journalists in Abuja on Monday.

    “Agreements have been reached that the Congolese players and officials be screened before leaving their country and we have also agreed that we would conduct our own screening when they arrive in Nigeria,” he explained.

  • DR Congo players to be screened for Ebola – Dalung

    The Minister of Youth and Sports,  Solomon Dalung, said on Monday players of the Democratic Republic of Congo National Team, the Leopards, would be screened for Ebola virus before playing the Super Eagles in next week pre-World Cup friendly in Port Harcourt.

    At least 15 people have been killed in the recent outbreak of Ebola in the giant Central African nation.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Dalung said the outbreak of the disease would not stop the friendly match.

    He said Congolese would be screened before leaving their country and in Nigeria.

    He said any player that refuses to come to Nigeria through the flight would not be allowed to play the match.

    He said: “Nigeria is going to play the friendly with DRC. I have discussed with the Federal Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization on the matter. We have reviewed the situation and received adequate information about it.

    “So we have agreed on major approaches. One, the DRC team is coming through a chartered flight and those coming for the match will be using that chartered flight and they would have been screened from the DRC and here in Nigeria.

    “No any other person is going to be admitted using any other means of transportation for the match. We also discovered that the Ebola outbreak is limited to a particular place and it has not escalated.

    “So we wouldn’t want to run the risk of setting a precedent which we will later be a victim. Based on that we only introduced strict policies to ensure that the match takes place.”

  • Ebola: FG bans transportation of corpses from DR Congo

    No corpse from the Democratic Republic of Congo  (DRC) will be allowed into Nigeria for now following the latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in that  country.

    This is one of the precautionary measures being put in place by the federal government to check the spread of the virus to Nigeria,according to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.

    Idris told reporters in Ikeja yesterday that  the state was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that there was no outbreak of EVD in the country.

    “We are in collaboration with Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health with commencement of regional screening of passengers from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries for any suspected cases of EVD or other VHFs. Embargo has also been placed on transportation of corpses from DRC,” he said.

    He  said factsheets on Ebola for health workers had been sent to the CMD of LASUTH, Medical Directors of General Hospital; the Primary Health Board; Health Service Commission and the Chairman Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners, Association of Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria, Association of Nursing and Midwifery Association of Nigeria and Morgue operators.

    Besides, he said the State and LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification of Officers (DSNOs) have been sensitized on Ebola and other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, especially on prompt reporting of any detected suspected cases of Ebola and other VHFs by the Ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

  • Iwobi arrives on Monday for DR Congo tie

    Super Eagles’ attacker, Alex Iwobi is expected to be among the early birds to the Eagles’ camp in Uyo as he is set to arrive on Monday ahead of Nigeria’s friendly against DR Congo in Port Harcourt on May 28, AOIFootball.com can authoritatively confirm.

    The Gunners star, who was named in the 30-man provisional World Cup list, has been holidaying a bit with family ahead of a very busy summer that will see him appear at his very first World Cup.

    “Alex will be in Uyo on Monday,” a very close source to the player confirmed to AOIFootball.com.

    The 22-year-old attacker scored the lone goal that ensured Nigeria sealed a World Cup ticket with a game to spare against Zambia last year.

    He had a very mixed season with the Gunners as they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second season, featuring in 39 games, scoring three times and providing seven assists.

  • Ebola: Nigeria, DR Congo friendly match not under threat — NFF

    Nigeria’s friendly match against the DR Congo is not under threat in spite of the Ebola outbreak in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi has said

    Akinwumi told newsmen on Monday in Lagos that necessary precautionary measures had been put in place to forestall transmission of the deadly disease into Nigeria.

    Our reporter confirmed that the football governing body had lined up some friendly matches as build up to the Super Eagles participation in the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    In the friendly matches, the Super Eagles are expected to play DR Congo on May 28, in Port Harcourt before the warm-up game against the Three Lions of England on June 2 at Wembley Stadium.

    Before the DR Congo match, the three-time African champions had defeated the national team of Argentina 4-2 in the battle of Krasnodar, Russia, then beat Poland 1-0 at the Municipal Stadium, Wrockaw, Poland.

    The Gernot Rohr boys however lost to the national team of Serbia 0-2 at the Hive Stadium, England.

    Read Also: Ebola: Centre for disease control issues guidelines

    The third friendly match for the Eagles against the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) of Congo has been a speculation for cancellation due to the deadly Ebola disease outbreak in the country.

    The fears of many football enthusiasts was however allayed by NFF as Akinwumi said there was no need to panic over the friendly match saying that adequate measure had been put in place to forestall transmission of the disease into Nigeria.

    “We will not jeopardise the health of Nigerians, we have notified the DR Congo Football Federation, while both presidents have met at the CAF committee and finalised issues.

    “Beyond that, we have written to the Ministry of Health to have all those coming to Nigeria tested. However, most of the Dr Congo players for the match are foreign-based.

    “To assure Nigerians, we will not risk anything for the match, there should be no fear at all.

    “We are 100 per cent sure that everyone coming for the match will be subjected to test in Congo before coming and Nigeria before they go out,’’ he said.

    Akinwumi said that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo did not affect the whole country but some villages and that would not stop the federation from doing the needful.

    “We are told that the news of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo happened in the remote village and not in the whole country, but we are also cautious about the health of Nigerians.

    “We want the best for the national team in terms of preparation and prosecution of the World Cup proper. The fund raising we are planning for the team is a bonus too,’’ he said.

    Reports have it that the Super Eagles are expected to fly out to their camp in Austria on June 3 from London.

    They are to play another final friendly against the Czech Republic on June 6 in Austria.

    NAN