Latest news with #Congolese
DW
an hour ago
- Politics
- DW
Why justice is crucial in the US-led DRC-Rwanda peace deal – DW – 06/20/2025
Civic society organizations fear the consequences of an agreement that overlooks justice for crimes committed by armed groups, as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda prepare to sign a peace agreement on June 27. The Democratic Republic of the Congo government and Rwanda will be the chief signatories of the peace agreement, with little or no involvement from the rebel groups currently occupying the eastern parts of Goma under the Congo River Alliance. Technical teams from Rwanda and Congo initiated a draft on Wednesday in the US-mediated peace process. Analysts, however, say the sticking point could be the implementation. "The reason why we have a challenge with all these peace deals is because, we keep including clauses for amnesty. It means it is justice delayed," said Kambale Musavili from the Center for Research on Congo-Kinshasa. "What it signals to armed groups committing crimes on the ground is that you can pick up guns and blackmail the Congolese government to negotiations. The Americans are making the same posture, unfortunately they are going to reinvigorate the same militia groups," Musavili added. The conflict in eastern Congo has displaced thousands, especially women and children Image: TONY KARUMBA/AFP Concerns have also been raised about the details of the deal, which are yet to be made public to the Congolese. "What we are experiencing here is not really new. But now, what are the operational commitments that will be put in place?," said Professor Philippe-Doudou Kaganda, Scientific Director of the Center for Research and Study on Conflict and Peace in the Great Lakes Region. "It is precisely here that there is a risk that we will not have a realistic agreement on certain aspects and that could possibly lead the belligerents to strengthen their demands and continue to wage war." Cautious optimism The Congolese civil society is optimistic but cautions thathistory may repeat itself if the deal is not carefully handled. "Certainly, this is an agreement that we are longing for," Hyprocat Marume, President of the South Kivu civil society, said. "But it should have been signed since the capture of Bunagana, instead of letting our people die first and leaving us in a crisis situation." Marume stressed that the Congolese government must help its citizens to live in peace and tranquillity. "Taking up arms to demand positions, we must ensure that this experience never happens again." Previous ceasefires between Kinshasa and Kigali have often failed, but Washington hopes this one will stick and bring economic opportunities. The draft peace deal aims to end fighting in eastern Congo, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels made significant advances at the beginning of the year, capturing the strategic city of Goma and the town of Bukavu. "The agreement includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities, disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups," said a statement posted to the US State Department's website. The deal also includes provisions for facilitating the return ofrefugees and internally displaced persons, as well as ensuring humanitarian access and establishing a regional economic integration framework. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) has been leading the peace agreement between Rwanda and Congo Image: AP Will Trump's gamble pay off in the DRC? US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will witness the official signing ceremony next week. The agreement announced on Wednesday builds on a declaration of principles signed between the two countries in April. It will signal a breakthrough for President Donald Trump's administration's push to halt the conflict in eastern Congo and attract billions of dollars in Western investment to the mineral-rich region. However, it is unclear whether the Congo River Alliance — a coalition of rebel groups that includes the M23 — will adhere to it. The Democratic Republic of Congo is hoping to secure peace and security backed by the Americans. In return, the US will benefit from a minerals exchange deal estimated to be worth around $2 trillion (€1.7 trillion), which will be made available to US companies for extraction. In Congo, coveted cobalt mined by child laborers To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Rwanda and Congo twice reached agreements last year under Angola's mediation on troop withdrawal and joint operations against the FDLR rebel group, which Rwanda accuses of perpetrating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. However, ministers from both countries failed to endorse the deals. Angola stepped down as a mediator in March after several failed attempts to resolve the escalating Rwanda-backed rebel offensive in eastern Congo. Fighting intensified this year as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced to seize the region's two largest cities, displacing thousands of people. Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and arms, while Rwanda denies helping the group and says its forces are acting in self-defense. Edited by: Chrispin Mwakideu
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Heineken loses operational control in Congo's conflict zones after facility seizures
Heineken has withdrawn its staff and lost operational control of its facilities in the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dutch brewer announced on Friday. Earlier in February, the company suspended operations in three cities after some of its breweries were damaged and depots looted during clashes between government troops and rebel forces. Stock, raw materials and equipment were stolen and there was 'significant damage' to the brewery control room, Heineken said in a statement. 'Assessing the full extent of the damage will take time,' it said at the time. A dept 120km further south in Uvira has also been looted by 'military and militia groups. We are greatly relieved that no Bralima colleagues or their families were harmed,' the Amstel brewer added. At the time, Heineken, which operates four breweries in the DRC producing Heineken, Primus, Amstel, and other popular brands, said it would keep the affected sites closed until conditions were safe enough to resume operations. However, in an updated statement, the company said the security situation has worsened, with armed groups now controlling its facilities in Bukavu and Goma, eastern Congo's two largest cities, and surrounding areas, according to Reuters. "The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present, and as of June 12, 2025, we have lost operational control," 'Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees. We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and have continued to support them financially,' Heineken said. The brewer's Congolese subsidiary, Bralima, continues to operate in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict. Heineken added that it is closely monitoring the situation. The recent developments in eastern DRC could deal a significant blow to Heineken, whose operations in the region were already under pressure. Social unrest has also complicated the company's activities in other African markets such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique. In 2024, Heineken reported €4.13 billion ($4.3 billion) in revenue from Africa and the Middle East, one of its four core geographic segments, a 2.3% decline from the previous year. Beer sales in the region fell to 29.5 million hectolitres, down from 34.8 million in 2023.
Business Wire
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Rawbank Reports Strong 2024 Performance and Reaffirms Its Pivotal Role in the Congolese Economy
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rawbank, the leading banking institution in the DRC, has published its annual results for the 2024 financial year. These results validate the soundness of its responsible growth strategy and underscore its long-term commitment to supporting the country's economic and social development. This momentum has been further strengthened by a renewed corporate vision and brand identity, symbolised by the launch of a new logo – reflecting Rawbank's local roots, resilience, and shared ambition for the future. Robust financial performance in support of the Congolese economy In 2024, Rawbank continued its upward growth trajectory, delivering strong results across all key financial indicators. Net banking income reached USD 514 million, a 6.2% increase year-on-year, driven by dynamic commercial activity and disciplined margin management. Net profit stood at USD 212.7 million, confirming sustained profitability in a context still marked by inflationary pressures and a tight monetary policy environment. The Return on Equity (ROE) stood at 32.99%, with Return on Assets (ROA) at 3.43%, while the Basel III capital adequacy ratio rose to 20.44%, reflecting the bank's financial soundness and its capacity to continue supporting national financing needs. Gross loans reached USD 2.08 billion, up 34% year-on-year, backed by a prudent lending policy and strong demand. The loan-to-deposit ratio improved to 43.85%, highlighting a robust liquidity profile. Total deposits increased to USD 4.74 billion, a rise of nearly 20%, demonstrating the continued trust of both corporate and retail customers. Operational efficiency also improved, with the cost-to-income ratio at 52.36%. Risk remains well managed, with the Net NPL ratio at 0.47%, confirming the sound quality of the credit portfolio and the effectiveness of Rawbank's risk governance framework. Overall, these results confirm the strength and resilience of Rawbank's integrated model and its unwavering dedication to financing the Congolese economy. Mustafa Rawji, CEO : 'Our 2024 performance confirms the strength of a model built on efficiency, diversification, and innovation. These results reflect the renewed trust of our clients and our continued determination to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the Congolese economy.'
Asahi Shimbun
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Survey shows Japanese have harsh views toward refugees
Congolese children wait to receive food rations at a refugee camp in southern Burundi on April 3. (Susumu Imaizumi) Japanese have a much harsher view of refugees than citizens in other countries and have done the least individually to help people who have fled their homelands, an international survey showed. Ipsos, a market research company headquartered in Paris, released the results of its survey of 23,000 people from 29 countries on June 20, which is World Refugee Day. In one question in the survey, respondents were asked if they agree or disagree with the statement, 'Most refugees who come to my country will successfully integrate into their new society.' An average of 40 percent of all respondents agreed with the statement. However, the rate was only 17 percent for Japanese, the lowest among the 29 countries. For the statement, 'Refugees make a positive contribution to my country,' 20 percent of Japanese agreed, the second-lowest percentage in the category, following Hungary's rate. The overall average was 40 percent. The survey showed that on average, 62 percent of all respondents agreed that 'wealthier nations have a moral responsibility to provide financial support to refugees.' Japan had the lowest agreement rate for this statement, at 43 percent. The survey also asked respondents if they have done anything in the past 12 months to help refugees, such as providing donations or volunteering. Japan had the highest rate of 'nothing,' at 92 percent, followed by Hungary and South Korea, both at 80 percent. However, responses to other statements that took a hard line against refugees showed that Japanese do not necessarily reject the idea of accepting them into their country. The survey offered these two statements: 'We must close our borders to refugees entirely--we can't accept any at this time' and 'Most foreigners who want to get into my country as a refugee really aren't refugees.' The percentage of Japanese who agreed with these statements was below the overall average in the survey. There were 42.7 million refugees worldwide as of the end of 2024, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Euronews
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
World Refugee Day: Why the Dance4refugees campaign matters
"Wake up, wake up" is the chorus of the Felix Flavour music that Jeny BSGchoreographed for the Dance4Refugees campaign on Instagram and at the Bozar arts venue in Brussels. It's also the call to action for people everywhere to speak out and show their support for refugees. "Everyone needs to wake up. It's time to talk about it, it's time to help, it's time to react. We can't stay silent, we have to speak out for the oppressed and that's what I'm doing," she told Euronews. Jenybsg (@jenybsg)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi The social media campaign challenges people to post their versions of the choreography on Instagram and donate funds. It is aimed primarily at young people, who Jeny works with at her dance school and when she travels abroad. 'I try to reach out to the younger generation because for me they are the change, they can make a difference in this world. Dance was, for me, a great way to bring attention and change the narrative, to celebrate the strength, potential and resilience of refugees,' Jeny said. The dancer and choreographer was born in Belgium, where her family sought refuge from the decades-long conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A background that left its mark on the artist and led her to activism in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "My family fled violence in the 1990s. My elder brothers spent time in a refugee camp. My mother and my father have experienced displacement, violence, fear, struggle", she recalls. More than 6.9 million people are internally displaced across the DRC, with an additional one million refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries, according to the UNHCR. This 'legacy' brought additional self-imposed responsibilities for Jeny, who set herself the task of 'not failing' and being a voice for the Congolese diaspora: 'Today I am living proof that the origin of refugees does not define the limits of refugees, but rather their strengths.' Jeny uses her platform to promote marginalized voices, having founded the AfroHouseBelgium, a Brussels-based dance school. She's also been working with the UNHCR since last year to amplify the stories of those forced to flee. "Dance is universal and the refugee cause today is also universal. We know that refugees come from all around the world: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, DRC and other countries. But they are not only statistics or numbers. Their lives matter, and they are like us", she says. The UN says there are currently 123 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, twice more than a decade ago. Almost 37 million of them are refugees. The organisation warns that recent drastic cuts in humanitarian aid funding are putting their lives at risk. Funding for the agency is now roughly at the same level as a decade ago, said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, at the launch of the annual Global Trends Report on 12 June. 'We are living in a time of intense volatility in international relations, with modern warfare creating a fragile, harrowing landscape marked by acute human suffering", Grandi highlighted. The report found that, contrary to widespread perceptions in wealthier regions, 67 per cent of refugees stay in neighbouring countries, with low and middle-income countries hosting 73 per cent of the world's refugees.
