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DR Congo Catholics protest against M23 rebels, accuse Western countries of failing to hold Rwanda to account

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Thousands of Catholics on Sunday, took to the streets in several cities across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protest violence in eastern regions perpetrated by the M23 rebels in the eastern parts of the country.

The protesters which included priests, church leaders and their congregations, also accused the international community of hypocrisy over failure to hold Rwanda a accountable over their alleged role in the fighting.

Local media reports on Monday that the protest began after Sunday services with churchgoers in the capital Kinshasa and other major cities heeding a call from the Conference of Catholic Bishops to demonstrate against the the M23 rebel group.

The mass protests, the media said, were the most significant since an escalation in fighting in recent weeks between federal forces and the rebels which has killed over 10,000 people and displaced an estimated 390,000 people.

Demonstrators in Kinshasa sang and carried banners reading “No to Balkanisation, no to the hypocrisy of the international community. The DRC is not for sale,” while one of the organisers of the protests, Blaise Emmanuel, who is the vicar at St Elizabeth’s Parish in the capital, said
“We say no to war, no to a divided Congo,” while leading a procession in Montgafula, one of the poorest municipalities in Kinshasa.

Another priest, Father Theophile Landu, who also spoke with journalists, said:

“It is the small country, Rwanda, that is fighting us. And behind it are the United States and the European Union. We tell them that they must stop the hypocrisy.”

For years, Congolese have accused the West of failing to hold Rwanda to account for its alleged role in stoking insecurity in the east, and instead have been giving aid to Kigali.

One media report cited an instance where the European Parliament in late November, called on Rwanda not to support the M23 rebels.

“But last week, the same European Commission gave €20 million ($21m) to support Rwandan troops helping fight rebels in Mozambique,” it said.

Metro

Nigerian Army reveals names of soldiers killed by youths in horrific attacks

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The Nigerian Army Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Monday night, revealed the identities of the 16 soldiers who were killed
by attackers while on a peace mission to the Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last week Thursday.

The soldiers comprising of a Lieutenant Colonel, a Major, a Captain, and 12 other rank and file soldiers, were serving with the 181 Amphibious Battalion and were on a peace-keeping mission to quell community clashes in the Bomadi LGA of the State when they were abducted and subsequently killed.

In the statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the soldiers were on a rescue mission to Okuama community to free a hostage identified as Anthony Aboh, who was allegedly abducted over a lingering land dispute between the two communities, when they were ambushed and killed.

“The troops of 181 Amphibious Batallion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State, were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March, 2024,” the statement said.

“The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State.

“The reinforcement team led by the Commanding Officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding Officer, two Majors, one Captain and 12 Soldiers.”

In a post in its X account, the DHQ shared their photos and names of the fallen soldiers.

Their names are:

– LT COL AH ALI, COMMAND OFFICER 181 AMPHIBIOUS BATTALION NIGERIAN ARMY

– Maj SD Shafa (N/13976)

– Maj DE Obi (N/14395)

– Capt U Zakari (N/16348)

– SSgt Yahaya Saidu (#3NA/36/2974)

– Cpl Yahaya Danbaba (1ONA/65/7274)

– Col Kabiru Bashir (11NA/66/9853)

– LCol Bulus Haruna (16NA/TS/5844)

– Lal Sole Opeyemi (17NA/760719)

– LCpl Bello Anas (17NA/76/290)

– LCpl Hamman Peter (NA/T82653)

– LCpl Ibrahim Abdullahi (18NA/77/1191)

– Pte Alhaji Isah (17NA/76/6079)

– Pte Clement Francis (19NA/78/0911)

– Pte Abubakar Ali (19NA/78/2162)

– Pte Ibrahim Adamu (19NA/78/6079)

– Pte Adamu Ibrahim (21NA/80/4795)

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Zimbabwe in food shortage as El Nino drought strikes harder

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Residents of the Zimbabwean community of Buhera are waiting in groups outside a primary school, hoping to be called by name to collect life-saving gifts of grain, peas, and cooking oil following a situation of below-average rainfall caused by El Nino once more this year, according to Francesca Erdelmann, the country director of the World Food Programme for Zimbabwe.

“We are grateful, but the food will only be enough for one month,” said Mushaikwa, 71, who lives with her elderly husband, as she trudged away with her bag of grain. “My crops are wilted.”

Since former president Robert Mugabe took over farms held by white people in 2000, Zimbabwe has been unable to feed itself. This disruption in production has resulted in severe drops in productivity, leaving many Zimbabweans dependent on food help to survive.

A drought brought on by El Nino that has affected several countries in southern Africa has made the situation worse. Though the actual figure may be higher, the government has projected that 2.7 million people will go hungry this year.

Poor harvests in drought-ravaged areas, where people depend on small-scale farming for sustenance, have resulted in food shortages that have put over 20% of Zimbabwe’s population at risk of starvation.

El Nino is a regular and natural weather phenomenon that warms regions of the Pacific and modifies global weather patterns. It affects different areas differently. Erdelmann said during a press conference that it makes a big difference when the rains don’t fall or come late.

A cabinet minister told journalists that the government is debating whether to impose a state of emergency. A natural weather phenomenon known as El Nino is linked to a change in wind patterns and higher ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific.

It usually lasts nine to twelve months, happens every two to seven years on average, and can cause extreme weather, including tropical cyclones, protracted droughts, and ensuing wildfires.

“When you drive around, you will see that many crops have wilted,” said World Food Programme acting country director Christine Mendes in Buhera, about 220 km (140 miles) southeast of the capital, Harare.

In four areas that are vulnerable to drought, WFP has assisted 270,000 individuals between January and March; nonetheless, Mendes stated that more funding will be required to feed even more people.

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