Humanitarian officials have raised concerns over shortages of food, shelter and other basic supplies. Many of the newly arrived refugees have yet to receive assistance, increasing the risk of disease, especially amid persistent rain.

“Several people were killed, and our soldiers fled. As they were fleeing, they fired shots and people died,” said one woman who fled the violence with her three-month-old son. She described narrowly escaping gunfire as others around her were struck.

The security situation remains volatile, with the M23 group reportedly advancing to within a few kilometres of the Burundi–DRC border. Displaced families, carrying only what they could salvage, continue to wait anxiously for relocation despite difficult terrain and worsening weather conditions.

“The Republic of the Congo firmly believes that a stronger and more effective United Nations is an essential condition for preserving peace and ensuring sustainable development,” he said. “That is why we call for the reform of its bodies, starting with the Security Council, to make them more representative, more transparent, and more attuned to the realities of our world ,” he added.

“Africa can no longer remain marginalised. We must now ensure that it has complete participation in global decision-making. I say it and I say it forcefully, Africa deserves permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council. Not as a recipient of charity, but as a legitimate partner. This is the solemn appeal that the Republic of the Congo makes from this very podium,” he said. 

Sassou Nguesso argued that Africa, a continent of more than 1.4 billion people and one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing regions, can no longer be sidelined in decisions affecting global peace and security.

Chile leads with about 5.3 million tonnes of copper mined in 2024 and 2025, more than any other country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has rocketed into second place with roughly 3.3 million tonnes, while Peru follows at 2.6 million tonnes, trailed by China and Indonesia (1.8 million and 1.1 million tonnes, respectively).

These figures align with production estimates compiled by the United States Geological Survey .

According to the USGS’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 , Chile holds 190 metric tonnes in reserves , making it a cornerstone of global supply. The DRC's reserves are also estimated at 80 metric tonnes, underpinning its long‑term potential.

Peru mined 2.6 metric tonnes of copper and holds 100 metric tonnes in reserves. China , meanwhile, produced about 1.8 metric tonnes and maintains 41 metric tonnes of reserves. China’s domestic production has increased by 277 % over three decades.

The USGS estimates world copper reserves at about 980 million tonnes, with mine production reaching ~23 million tonnes in 2024. Identified resources contain 1.5 billion tonnes of unextracted copper, and undiscovered resources could hold another 3.5 billion tonnes.

These numbers highlight both the abundance of copper and the challenges of extracting it economically.

Copper demand is accelerating due to growth in electric vehicles, renewable‑energy installations and data-centre infrastructure . While Chile and Peru still account for roughly one‑third of global output, the DRC’s surge underscores how shifting investment patterns and geopolitical factors can rapidly reshape supply chains.

With world copper reserves concentrated in a few countries and production often vulnerable to social and environmental disruptions, analysts warn that supply bottlenecks could emerge during the energy transition.

Since the outbreak began on January 21, at least 419 people have fallen ill with many suffering from fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding—symptoms linked to serious viruses like Ebola and Marburg.

However health experts have tested samples, and none of these common deadly diseases have been found.

Doctors say what makes this outbreak frightening is how quickly people are dying. In most cases, victims develop symptoms and pass away within 48 hours.

The disease first spread in a village called Boloko, then appeared in another village, Bomate, in February, CNN reports.

Scientists in the capital, Kinshasa, are testing samples to find the cause. So far, some tests have detected malaria, but experts are still searching for answers.

Last year, another mysterious illness in Congo was later found to be malaria, but this new outbreak remains unsolved.

Health officials are worried about diseases that spread from animals to humans, especially in places where wild animals are eaten. The number of such outbreaks in Africa has risen sharply in the past decade, and experts say they need more research to stop future outbreaks.

Kenya security officials plead not guilty to triple murder

On Thursday, February 20, over a dozen Kenyan security officials pleaded not guilty to charges related to the 2022 killings of two Indians and one Kenyan—a high-profile case that was one of several incidents prompting the disbandment of a notorious police unit. Read more here .

Congo president plans unity government in response to eastern crisis

According to his spokesperson on Saturday, February 22, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi is set to establish a unity government as he grapples with mounting domestic pressure over his response to an offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern provinces. Read more here .

Influx of 40,000 fleeing Congo war worsens Burundi humanitarian plight, UN says

On Friday, February 21, the U.N. reported that Burundi is confronting a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with over 40,000 people seeking refuge there in just two weeks to escape fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more here .

Asia

Vietnam parliament approves plan for leaner government

The National Assembly of Vietnam approved a bold reform plan on February 18, aiming to reduce up to 20% of government bodies as the country seeks to cut costs and enhance administrative efficiency. Read more here .

Researchers discover world’s oldest pyramid in Indonesia

Researchers have discovered what may be the world's oldest pyramid, with the site known as Gunung Padang located in the hills of West Java, Indonesia. Read more here .

Philippines' VP Duterte fights back against impeachment: Video

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss an impeachment complaint filed against her, marking her first legal challenge in a case that could ultimately remove her from office and impose a lifetime ban on holding public office. Read more here .

Latin America

Bus crash in Brazil kills 12 university students

Late on Thursday, February 20, firefighters and local media reported that a bus transporting Brazilian university students collided with a truck near Ribeirao Preto in the southeastern state of São Paulo, resulting in 12 fatalities and 19 injuries. Read more here .

Five of Chile's stolen children take off to reunite with birth families

On Friday, five U.S. adoptees departed from Houston to reunite with their birth families in Chile for the first time, after being taken as infants during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. Read more here .

Panama will dismiss Chinese influence claims in a U.S. military meeting

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said Thursday he instructed the foreign minister to dismiss claims of Chinese influence over the Panama Canal in talks with the U.S. Southern Command chief. Read more here .

For weeks, Belgium has called for stronger sanctions against Rwanda, saying it is backing the M23 rebel group, which has taken control of more areas in eastern Congo, including Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. Rwanda denies supporting M23.

The suspension affects a development aid agreement between the two countries that was supposed to last until 2029. Rwanda’s foreign ministry said international partnerships should be based on mutual respect and called Belgium’s stance an “unwarranted interference” in regional matters.

Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot responded to Rwanda’s decision , saying his country “takes note” of the move. He defended Belgium’s actions, saying, “Following Rwanda’s violation of the territorial integrity of the DRC, we were in the process of reviewing our cooperation with a view to taking decisive measures in response to this situation.”

Prévot added that Belgium will handle the suspension carefully to protect the benefits of the aid programme for the Rwandan people. He also said Belgium remains committed to finding a peaceful solution through international law.

Belgium is not alone in its stance against Rwanda. The European Parliament recently voted in favor of suspending a rare minerals agreement with Rwanda and stopping European aid to the country.

The Congolese residents in Angola are criticising Western powers for not doing enough to address the root causes of the conflict and for not providing sufficient support to regional efforts to broker peace.

Muamas Pablo André, a member of the Congolese community in Luanda, told AFP, "We don't need help anymore. You never help, you never help, you don't know how to help others. Bloodthirsty people that you are, you have always created wars for centuries and centuries, but now time has changed. Time changes day by day. We don't need the Americans or the Europeans!"

M23 Rebel forces made a significant move into Goma on Monday, January 27, marking a severe escalation of the long-running conflict in the region. This development led to exchanges of fire between Congolese troops and the Rwandan military across the border, signalling a worrying intensification of violence that hasn't been seen in over a decade.

The conflict in eastern DRC has been ongoing for years, but tensions rose when Rwandan troops, alongside M23 rebels, reportedly entered the city of Goma.

UN officials estimate that around 4,000 Rwandan soldiers were involved in escorting the rebels. Heavy fighting has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and fears are growing that the violence could spread to other cities like Bukavu, which has a population of over a million.

Ramaphosa, in a tweet , directly blamed Rwanda for the deaths of the South African troops, who were part of a regional force deployed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He called for an immediate end to hostilities, urging foreign forces to withdraw from Congolese territory and demanding that peace talks resume.

Kagame, in a sharp response , accused Ramaphosa of spreading lies about the conflict.

He dismissed South Africa’s role as a peace mediator, claiming that the SADC mission was not a peacekeeping force but a combat unit supporting the Congolese army against its own people. He warned that if South Africa sought confrontation, Rwanda was prepared to respond.

With tensions between South Africa and Rwanda rising, there are concerns that the crisis could become even worse.

Africa’s longest river, the Nile, spans 6,650 kilometres and flows through 11 countries, including Egypt, Sudan, and Uganda, finally reaching the Mediterranean Sea. For centuries, its waters have been essential to agriculture, trade, and culture in North and East Africa.

The Congo River, Africa’s second-longest at 4,700 kilometres, flows through the Congo Basin, passing through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central African Republic.

Other major rivers like the Niger and the Zambezi are just as crucial in Africa. The Niger, stretching 4,200 kilometres across West Africa, is vital to farmers, fishers, and traders along its banks. The Zambezi, known for the stunning Victoria Falls, flows 2,600 kilometres and fuels major hydroelectric projects, including the Kariba Dam, which powers parts of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Here’s a compilation of Africa’s longest rivers.

Africa

Kenyan president sacks cabinet, bowing to pressure from protests

On Thursday, July 11, Kenyan President William Ruto dismissed his entire cabinet, except for the foreign minister, in response to nationwide protests. These protests, led by the youth against proposed tax hikes, have escalated into the most significant crisis of his two-year presidency. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations turned violent, resulting in at least 39 deaths in clashes with the police last month. Read more here .

Find out the presidential candidates competing in Rwanda's 2024 elections

As Rwanda nears its July 15 presidential elections, the National Electoral Commission has confirmed three candidates for the nation's highest office. Out of nine applications, only President Paul Kagame, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana were approved to run. Read more here .

Intensifying Congo conflict puts 1 million children at risk of acute malnutrition

More than one million children in the Democratic Republic of Congo are at risk of acute malnutrition due to escalating violence, the World Health Organization reported on Friday. The ongoing two-year conflict between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia in the eastern regions has severely impacted civilians, displacing 2.7 million people in North Kivu alone. Read more here .

Asia

North Korea's Kim sacks 'irresponsible' officials over new town project

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed or demoted several senior officials for their 'irresponsible' management of his flagship project to construct a new town in the country's north, state media KCNA reported on Sunday, July 14. Kim announced during a visit to Samjiyon, where North Korea is developing what it describes as a 'socialist utopia' and 'a model of a highly-civilised mountain city,' featuring new apartments, hotels, a ski resort, and various commercial, cultural, and medical facilities. Read more here .

Pakistan Stock Exchange resumes operations after fire halted trade

Trading at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) resumed on Monday after a two-hour suspension caused by a fire at its Karachi headquarters. According to a notice on its website, trading was halted at 10:25 a.m. (0525 GMT) and was set to resume at 12:25 p.m. (0725 GMT). Read more here .

Nepal poised for new government after prime minister loses confidence vote

Nepal is poised for a new coalition government under the leadership of politician K.P. Sharma Oli, following the loss of a parliamentary vote of confidence by the more radical Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, July 12, which concluded his tumultuous 20-month tenure. Read more here .

Latin America

Mexico's navy warns dual-use chemicals are boosting meth production

Mexican Navy officials overseeing the country's largest port are increasingly alarmed by the growing influx of unregulated 'dual use' chemicals used to manufacture synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, four Navy officials told Reuters. According to U.S. officials, Mexico is the primary producer of the fentanyl found on U.S. streets. Read more here .

Brazil sees over 100 countries joining alliance against hunger, minister says

More than 100 countries are anticipated to support a global alliance against hunger proposed by Brazil to address the rising number of people facing food insecurity worldwide, a Brazilian minister said. Minister of Social Development Wellington Dias told Reuters on Thursday, July 11, that he will travel to the United Nations next week to advocate for the alliance. Read more here .

In Peru, remains of wealthy pre-Inca people unearthed at ancient capital

Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered the remains of what are believed to be wealthy members of the Chimu civilization, a pre-Inca society that flourished for centuries in the arid plains between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. The remains of eleven individuals, estimated to be around 800 years old, were found buried with necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, according to lead archaeologist Sinthya Cueva. Read more here .

Africa

South Africa's Ramaphosa re-elected as ANC strikes coalition deal

The united coalition of South Africa on Friday, June 14 finally struck an agreement which re-elected the country's incumbent president, Cyril Ramaphosa as the new leader for a second term. He was re-elected by lawmakers with 283 votes. Read more about the development here .

Al Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for Burkina attack that killed over 100, SITE Intelligence Group says

The group known as Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, has announced that it was behind the assault that occurred on June 11, resulting in the death of more than 100 soldiers from Burkina Faso. The incident took place in the Mansila region, which is situated close to the Niger border. This information was reported by the SITE Intelligence Group on Sunday, June 16. Read more here .

Surge in rebel attacks sparks deadly protests in eastern Congo

Local authorities reported on Saturday, June 15 that a minimum of seven individuals lost their lives amid disturbances in the North Kivu province, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fatalities occurred as a result of public demonstrations against a recent increase in lethal assaults, which are believed to have been carried out by suspected Islamist militants. You can find out more here .

Asia

Indian women scientists propel space innovation with world's first 3D-printed rocket engine

K Umamaheswari and Saraniya Periaswamy, key team members of the Indian aerospace company Agnikul Cosmos, have developed a rocket using indigenous technology. This rocket was successfully test-fired on May 30. Umamaheswari, who holds a degree in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology at Anna University in eastern India, led the project as the director. Find more in the link here .

Flooding hits China's south, temperatures sizzle elsewhere

On Sunday, June 16, the National Meteorological Centre of China released a high-temperature warning due to the intense heat experienced in various parts of the nation. Concurrently, several southern provinces have declared critical flood alerts in response to substantial rainfall. According to the centre, the severity of the heatwave is anticipated to diminish in northern China and the areas spanning between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River. Find out more in the link here .

India brings home bodies of 45 workers killed in Kuwait fire

The remains of 45 Indian nationals, who perished in a blaze at a workers' accommodation in Kuwait, were repatriated to India on Friday, June 14. In the wake of this tragedy, grieving family members and specialists are calling on New Delhi to intensify efforts to safeguard its citizens employed overseas who contribute by sending money back home. Read more here .

Latin America

Mexico's amnesty, legal protection reforms become law

Mexico on Friday, June 14, implemented two contentious pieces of legislation that enhance the president's power to issue amnesties and restrict the judiciary's capacity to halt public initiatives. These legal changes, which were ratified by Congress earlier in the year and came into force on Saturday, June 15 permit the president to bestow amnesty directly, bypassing the usual protocols. Find more in the link here .

Brazilian women march against bill tightening abortion ban

Thousands of women took to the streets on Saturday, June 15 to protest a proposed bill in Brazil's conservative Congress. The bill, if passed, would classify abortions performed after 22 weeks of gestation as equivalent to homicide, with potential prison sentences ranging from six to 20 years. Read more here .

Argentina Senate hands Milei 'bittersweet' win with reform bill backing

The Senate of Argentina has delivered a significant victory to libertarian President Javier Milei by passing his principal reform bill along with a related fiscal package. However, this approval did not come without compromises, as both pieces of legislation were substantially diluted in order to secure their passage. The approval by the Senate occurred late on Wednesday, June 12. Find more here .

  What they said

In their statement on May 22, the firm expressed disappointment over Apple's silence, stating, "It is more urgent than ever that Apple provide real answers to the very serious questions we have raised." Apple has maintained in the past that it does not directly procure primary minerals and has been conducting audits of its suppliers for several years, disclosing its findings publicly. "We found no reasonable basis for concluding that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG determined to be in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country," a statement from Apple's report noted.   

Despite the progress made on the joint Kenya-Uganda railway venture, financial constraints have remained a persistent challenge, as the current railway line terminates in Naivasha, situated in Kenya's Central Rift region. 

Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport Fred Byamukama commenting on the proposed contractor for the project and financing said “It was a challenge to do the project piecemeal, we cannot have SGR in Malaba to Kampala if Naivasha-Malaba is not complete. That is why we are seeking funds to ensure the sections are done simultaneously.”

According to Kipchumba Murkomen, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the inclusion of additional countries in the railway cluster will boost the bargaining power of Kampala and Nairobi when engaging with potential donors.

“Kenya and Uganda have completed harmonization of the technical specifications and standards. Rwanda hopes to join the framework between Uganda and Yapi Merkezi, to update of feasibility study of Mirama Hills-Kigali section, which will make the project more viable,” said Murkomen.

Meanwhile, EAC member states have affirmed their commitment to mobilise resources by engaging with development partners. The primary objective is to secure the necessary funding required to extend the railway from its current endpoint in Naivasha to the Kenyan border town of Malaba, onward to Uganda's capital, Kampala, and further into Rwanda and South Sudan.

Minister of Hydrocarbons Bruno Jean Richard Itoua who was at the launch said the project which is the first of its kind in the hydrocarbon sector will not only turn the country’s energy history but promote wealth creation, employment, and economic growth in the country.

The project was spearheaded by Italian Energy company ENI Group, with an investment of 5 billion dollars, implementation of new infrastructure, and optimization of existing ones but was done in partnership with the Congo Petroleum Company.

CEO of ENI Group Claudio Descalzi noted that gas which represents the future will significantly impact the country’s fortunes.

“Today we come together to celebrate the history built over years of work and investment. Congo and ENI began developing gas several years ago, transformed into sustainable electrical energy for its population and its industry,” he said. For the first time, we have succeeded in launching the exploitation of liquefied natural gas from the Congolese coast thanks to innovative technologies used for the first time in Africa. As ENI, we believed in the development of gas in the early 2000s when no one was yet thinking, researching, or developing. A long story but not always simple, made of negotiations and investments but at the base a continuous collaboration with our partners and especially with Congolese institutions,” he was quoted by local news outlet Vox .

“Whether it concerns operation and production or projects linked to the development of the power plant and the electricity network, President Denis Sassou N'Guesso believed, because he had a clear vision that gas represented the future and development of the country with a particularly significant impact on the social fabric,” he continued.

The development places Congo among the ranks of liquified natural gas (LNG)-producing countries globally.

Meanwhile, ENI Group CEO Descalzi has noted that the first cargo ship loaded with LNG will move to the Italian regasification plant in the Tuscan town of Piombino in the coming days.

Congo has experienced conflicts since 1996 with renewed tensions in recent times.

In recent times, tensions have flared between the Congolese army and M23 rebels with allegations that its neighbouring country, Rwanda, is fueling the fights by supporting the rebel group, claims Kigali has consistently denied.

Despite interventions from international bodies like the United Nations, the fights persist. Millions have lost their lives, and several others have been displaced, having been forced to flee the conflict between M23 rebels and DR Congo government forces.

But historian Al-Hussaini has highlighted the importance of deliberations involving the citizens of Congo who are being impacted by the conflicts for their voices to be heard, a move he says will contribute to peace in the country.

 “The most important thing is to involve the Congolese people themselves. One of the biggest issues is that you have a lot of people who come and they try to resolve the issue from outside but they completely ignore the people who are from the region and they completely ignore for example the indigenous people of Eastern Congo, and Kivu, they are the people suffering the most. So you have all these rebel factions such as the M23 and you have other smaller different rebel groups are also taking control of these different areas and are fighting with the government forces. I do not believe that there will be peace if the citizens are not involved in the discussion,” he told GSW’s Wonder Hagan.

“It’s very easy for different political actors to come to the table to discuss and even hopefully put their interests aside to promote peace. But if the people are not involved in the conversation because they are the ones directly being impacted, I do think that it’ll be very difficult to establish peace if the voices of the place are not heard.

Karim further noted that it will take the concerted efforts of Congo’s leaders, regional actors, and international bodies to end the conflict in the East African country.

“When leaders represent a country, they do not only represent a capital or a region, they represent the entirety of the nation. So I think it needs to come from all the actors and not just one in particular, so you’ll have the political leaders of the DRC, but you’ll also have the regional actors (Uganda, Burundi, etc) and then you’ll have the international and obviously putting the citizens at the center of the table of discussion,” he added.

Meanwhile, the UN has imposed an arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze against six rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid violence in the eastern part of the country.

The military spokesman of the M23 rebel group, a general in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and two senior leaders in the Ugandan armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have all been sanctioned.

Leader of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC), a Mai-Mai group, and a commander in the armed group Twirwaneho have also been sanctioned.