Metro

Video: Thousands flee as DR Congo military battles M23 militia group

Published

2 years ago

May 25, 2022

Thousands of displaced people have continued to flee the DR Congo territory of Nyiragongo, near Goma, the capital of North Kivu, as fighting between the Congolese national army the FARDC, and the M23 rebels rages on in the region.

The M23, a former Tutsi rebellion group, has been in constant conflict with the DR Congo army after it resurfaced last year with the support of neighbouring Rwanda, and has been laying siege to the northern parts of the country.

A United Nations report on Tuesday night said many of the residents have left their homes and have “taken off in the direction of Rugari in the north, or to Kibati, south of Goma.”

Local media also reported that the latest incident was as a result of a renewed attack in the village of Buhumba where suspected M23 rebels struck and killed several people.

“The M23 militia entered the town from the border with Rwanda. The rebels want to occupy the strategic region, which is close to the city of Goma,” a member of a regional local civil society, Ghislain Bolingo, said.

“We can confirm without fear of being contradicted that it is Rwanda that is supporting the M23 for the moment because the M23 had been defeated, it would no longer have the strength to come and attack our valiant FARDC,” Bolingo added.

The spokesman for the governor of North Kivu, in a statement, also denounced the invasion of the rebels as “a dramatisation of the situation by the Rwandan armed forces.”

A resident who spoke on the situation. Alexis Sikuli said:

“We are displaced, we are fleeing the clashes that took place today. Following this situation we are afraid, that is why we are going to Kibati near Goma.”

Another resident, Aline Mundozi, who has also been displaced had a message for DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi:

“I would like to tell our President Félix Tshisekedi that we are tired of war, we ask that he looks to save us from this suffering.”

On Monday, the United Nations had also raised the alarm of incessant attacks on its peacekeeping forces by the M23 militia group.

Watch video here:

Related Topics:Conflict DR Congo Featured M23 Militia

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Metro

‘Cyber Act fails to protect the vulnerable,’ Student demands media inclusivity for persons with disabilities

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Peter Libila, a student at Icof University’s Chipata campus, highlights the lack of awareness among individuals with disabilities and those residing in rural areas about their digital rights, resulting in limited access to media platforms for free expression.

Libila underscored the marginalization of people with disabilities in discussions on community development, leading to their exclusion from voicing their perspectives.

In an interview with Zambia Monitor in Eastern Province, Libila discussed the discrimination and stigma faced by individuals with disabilities in the media landscape.

Read More: Differently-abled person speaks on challenges impacting freedom of expression in rural areas

“Persons with disabilities are often overlooked when it comes to community developments,” he emphasized.

Moreover, as someone with a physical disability, Libala pointed out shortcomings in the Cybersecurity Act which failed to adequately address online barriers to freedom of expression.

“The act fails to ensure online safety for all; it only offers protection to certain groups while neglecting others,” he asserted.

He stressed the importance of bridging these gaps to foster inclusivity within the media.

“There’s a lack of sign language interpreters in most media outlets, which poses challenges for the deaf community,” he observed.

Libila also emphasized the necessity of providing braille reading materials and writing tools for individuals who are blind.

“Even basic resources like braille books are often unavailable for the blind,” he lamented.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

All my tough policy decisions are in Nigerians’ interest— Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has insisted that all his tough policy decisions and reforms have been taken with the interest of Nigerians at heart.

Tinubu, who made the assertion in Hague, The Netherlands, during the business session of the bilateral meeting with the Dutch team led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte, insisted that though some of the policies had brought hardship on Nigerian masses, he was not afraid to implement more of such policies as they would yield positive results in the end.

“I am a determined leader of my people. I am ever ready to take tough decisions in the best interest of the people, even if with initial pains,” Tinubu said.

“I have and will continue to take the difficult decisions that will benefit our people, even if there is short-term pain.

“We have gone through the worst of the storms. I am unafraid of the consequences once I know that my actions are in the best long-term interests of all Nigerians.

“The Nigerian naira is one of the world’s best-performing currencies today.

“We took the necessary risk, and all resilient Nigerians kept faith with us.

“They will be rewarded, and the reward will only be greater as we partner effectively with you on new opportunities for development.

“As leaders, we must make decisions for the benefit of our nations, and we cannot shy away from that.”

The President also noted that symbiotic economic ties remain the best long-term path to sustainable and mutual prosperity rather than one-sided relationships in which bilateral trade is skewed too much in one direction.