Metro

DR Congo accuses M23 rebels of breaching peace truce, killing civilians

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2022

The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused accused the M23 rebels of breaking a five-day old peace deal and killing 50 civilians in the country’s turbulent east.

The ceasefire which took effect in the North Kivu province at the weekend, was the outcome of a summit between DRC and its neighbours, Rwanda, which was to have been followed by the rebels pulling out from captured territory, a withdrawal that has yet to take place.

The ceasefire was scheduled to take effect on Friday, November 25, at 1600 GMT and be followed by a pull-out by the M23 two days later, after a parallel initiative undertaken by the East African Community (EAC), decided to deploy a regional force to help stabilise the region.

Spokesman for the DRC Army, General Sylvain Ekenge, in a statement on Thursday, said the M23 insurgents was “carrying out massacres, the most recent of which is that of 50 Congolese civilians, heinously murdered on Tuesday in Kishishe, a village some 70 kilometres north of the eastern city of Goma.”

Ekenge claimed that while Congolese forces had “scrupulously observed the truce”, but that the M23 had attacked government positions.

But on Friday, the rebel group issued a statement denying the alleged massacre of civilians.

In its statement, the M23 described the accusations of a massacre in Kishishe as “baseless allegations” and insisting that “it has never targeted civilian populations,” M23’s military spokesman, Willy Ngoma, said, while confirming that there was fighting with the army.

A DRC security official who spoke speaking on the condition of anonymity, accused the M23 of having breached the ceasefire and “carrying on looting and fighting”.

“The fighting is heavy; we are using heavy artillery. Fighting resumed on Thursday in Kirima, about 10 kilometres from the town of Kibirizi after the rebels crossed the bridge, heading for Kibirizi,” said the DRC army officer.

Related Topics:Civilians Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Killing M23 Rebels

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

11 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

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

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

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