Metro

DRC’s ADF rebels kill 24 in fresh attack

Published

1 year ago

January 24, 2023

The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities say 24 civilians were killed between Sunday and Monday in attacks carried out by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in a village in the eastern part of the country.

The president of the local civil society, Roger Wangeve, in a statement on Tuesday, said the attacks were predominant in the
village of Makugwe, in the territory of Beni in North Kivu,

“Twenty-four people, including six women, were killed in this incursion of the ADF,” Wangeve told reporters.

According to Wangeve, the victims included 17 people who were killed “in a small bar where they were drinking beer.

“The ADF executed them all,” he said.

“At least seven residential houses were burned, three drugstores and 11 stores looted, while the number of civilians taken into the bush is not yet known,” Wangeve added.

“We lament and wonder: how can it be possible to kill the population a few meters from the military camp?” he added.

Also speaking on the attack, Colonel Charles Omeonga, the administrator of the territory of Beni, said the armed forces were “in pursuit of the enemy who had hidden in the population.”

The ADF which is a group of rebels of Muslim fighters and from Ugandan origin, have been active in northern North Kivu and southern Ituri province bording Uganda and Rwanda.

According to the United Nations, the armed group which is an affiliate of the jihadist group Islamic State (EI), is one of the most deadly groups in the eastern region of the DRC.

In 2021, the group was placed on the U.S. list of “foreign terrorist organizations”, with links to the EI.

Related Topics:ADF Rebels Attacks Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Islamic State jihadists

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Metro

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

Published

16 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

17 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.