By Sarah Miansoni In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the relocation process for army members released by the AFC/M23 rebel group appears to be at a standstill, according to French radio RFI. On March 8, the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 announced the liberation of 5,000 soldiers from the armed forces of the DRC (FARDC) previously captured by the group. At the time, the movement’s spokesperson said these soldiers had been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRCI), which was then supposed to supervise their transfer to Kinshasa. “As a neutral mediator, the ICRC stands ready to support such an operation…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews A row has erupted after Nigel Farage’s party, Reform UK, unveiled plans to refuse visas to nationals from countries pursuing compensation for the transatlantic slave trade, drawing sharp criticism from Caribbean leaders. The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would target states advocating for reparations, including members of the Commonwealth such as Ghana and Jamaica. Reform UK, which currently holds a small number of seats in parliament but is polling strongly ahead of the next general election, said the measure is intended to push back against what it sees as unfair demands on Britain. The party’s home affairs lead, Zia Yusuf,…
By Rédaction Africanews James Swan has officially taken office as the new head of the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO. The American diplomat was appointed in early March and succeeds Guinean official Bintou Keita, who left Kinshasa on 30 November 2025 after four years in charge. Swan is no stranger to the country. He previously served as US ambassador to the DRC under President Barack Obama, and later headed the UN mission in Somalia. But he returns to Congo at a particularly tense moment, with relations between Kinshasa and Kigali poisoned by the conflict in the…
British barrister Martin Hackett has been appointed as The Gambia’s first special prosecutor to try those responsible for human rights abuses carried out during the 22-year rule of ex-President Yahya Jammeh, which ended when he went into exile in 2017. Hackett will head a newly created office charged with dealing with the cases from a period characterised by widespread repression, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was set up to document the extent of the alleged abuses. In its final report, handed to current President Adama Barrow in 2021, it identified those most responsible…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP The rhythmic sounds of construction muffle the thud of farmers’ hoes on a chilly morning in Rwanda’s capital, where new efforts aim to protect remaining agricultural land from relentless development in Africa’s most densely populated country. Eighty-four-year-old Mukarusini Kurisikira had been a farmer before she fled the country to Congo during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Upon returning, she said, her family’s land, which had stretched across the hills, had been taken away for construction. She gestured toward Kigali’s high-rise buildings. Now she grows maize and sweet potatoes on a piece of land the size of…
Elaborate costumes, blaring music and vibrant processions took over Nigeria’s Lagos Island on Monday as the annual Fanti Carnival hit the streets. The festivities have lit up Lagos’ financial hub for more than two centuries, celebrating the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian returnees who once settled in the city. This year’s carnival featured musical performances, bedazzled horses, huge dragons and dancing stilt walkers. EPA/Shutterstock Reuters In the 1800s, some formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants migrated back to the continent from countries like Brazil and Cuba. Many Afro-Brazilians settled in Lagos Island, bringing new customs with them Reuters These customs fused…
By Rédaction Africanews South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday received the diplomatic credentials of the new US ambassador, as relations between the two countries languish at a low ebb. Brent Bozell, a right-wing media critic and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, took up the post in February but got off to a rocky start with remarks on South Africa’s racial policies and court decisions. In a brief ceremony at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in the capital, Bozell, alongside his spouse, was welcomed with a guard of honour before he handed over his credentials to Ramaphosa. “Before…
As private wealth grows across Africa, how this capital is managed will determine its impact on families, communities and economies for generations. By Amol Prabhu, Country CEO, Africa, Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management Wealth is more than a number on a balance sheet, or the value of a portfolio. It goes beyond inheritance, privilege or status. It carries memory, meaning and responsibility. It tells the story of how a fortune was built and what it could achieve in the years to come. For those who have already built significant wealth, the real test isn’t accumulation, it’s how effective that wealth is structured, protected and directed so that its impact…
By Rédaction Africanews with AFP Torrential rains have killed around 40 people in Angola, with several others still missing, authorities say. The downpours triggered flash floods over the weekend, submerging streets and damaging homes in the capital, Luanda, and the coastal city of Benguela. Officials say 13 people died in Luanda province, where five others remain unaccounted for. In Benguela province, 26 people were killed and four are still missing. Local reports also say at least six people died in the provinces of Cuanza Sul and Malanje. More than 600 homes have been destroyed in Luanda and Benguela, while over 9,500 properties…
By Africanews with AP Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. Israel had said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, although mediator Pakistan said it does. Israel’s military called it the largest coordinated strike in the current war, striking more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley. Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital. Explosions interrupted the…