Metro

Civilian death toll rise as attacks in east DRC escalate

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2022

Civilian death toll in attacks by rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the past few weeks have continued to rise, according to the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR) in a report on Friday.

The report which was released by UNHCR spokesman, Matthew Saltmarsh, noted that “more and more civilians have lost their lives during firearm or machete attacks on their communities.”

The agency expressed concern over increasing civilian deaths as attacks by armed groups against local communities and sites for internally displaced people keep escalating especially in the volatile Ituri province.

The agency added that the suffering caused by the attacks on civilians and internally displaced people must no longer be ignored.

“This month in Ituri Province alone, simultaneous attacks by armed groups have left 11 dead and 250 homes looted and burned. The devastation comes on top of more than 800 deaths recorded by U.N. agencies in Ituri between February and June,” the UNHCR said.

“At least 715 of these victims had been sheltering in internal displacement sites or were killed as they returned home having previously fled violence.

“In June alone, 97 returning or displaced people were killed in attacks that included abductions, looting, and burning of homes,” the report added.

Saltmarsh further explained that more than 20,700 people have been driven from their homes by such raids, fueling food insecurity following decades of local clashes which have halted development in this fertile region.

“In recent weeks, fighting between the Congolese Army and the M23 rebel group in North Kivu Province has displaced more than 160,000 people. The instability has been rife in the region for many years, but it has gotten worse because of many factors.

“There is the tussle over the mineral resources. There is a lack of judicial structures. There is a lack of infrastructure and, most recently of course, we have noticed an increase in the activities of these armed groups, particularly M23. Not just them, there are an estimated 120 armed groups active in that region,” he said.

Related Topics:Death Toll Democratic Republic of Congo Featured M23 rebels

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Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

Published

5 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Published

22 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.