Congo blast suspects held 'illegally'

A lawyer representing 26 suspects held over last year's deadly blasts at a Congo munitions dump has accused authorities of keeping his clients in illegal detention by delaying their trial.

• Congo minister charged over blast
• SA embassy to help blast victims
• Brazzaville blast - 75 kids still missing

Body disputes Congo's mineral profits

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative says it is suspending Congo's membership for a year over failures to disclose all mineral and oil revenues.

• Congo gold probe widens to SA
• Resource giants spar over Congo mine
• US firms to report DRC minerals

Congo army takes town from rebels

Residents say that the Congolese army has taken control of a town that was run by M23 rebels for more than six months.

• 36 killed in new DRC battles
• DRC rebels clashes leave 10 dead
• Despite peace accord, DRC still on edge

DRC, Mali conflicts overshadow AU summit

The collapse of a peace deal for troubled eastern DRC has overshadowed a summit meeting of AU leaders, as efforts continue to drum up support for military intervention in war-torn Mali.

• AU's newly elected chair, Desalegn
• AU seeks additional troops for Mali mission
• African leaders discuss Mali crisis

Congo rebels complete Goma pullout

Rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda have completed their retreat from Congo's eastern provincial capital less than two weeks after taking control of the strategic city.

• M23 troops moving, fate of Goma uncertain
• Hutu extremists 'attack' Rwandan forces
• DRC rebels begin slow retreat from Masisi

DRC general 'sold arms to rebel groups'

One of DRC’s most senior army commanders has been selling weapons to rebel groups accused of carrying out widespread massacres, according to a UN report.

• DRC rebels execute opponents - claim
• SANDF soldiers safe in DRC
• Goma rebels vow to 'liberate' all of DRC

Priests kidnapped in eastern DRC

Congolese civic leaders say three Roman Catholic priests have been kidnapped from their monastery in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Priest dies during wedding ceremony
• 2 in court for stabbing priest to death

New species of monkey in Congo

Scientists have identified a new species of monkey in Congo, calling for the conservation of Congo's forests.

• Barbados to study its monkeys
• Rare monkey rediscovered in Borneo
• Humans, primates age the same way

African leaders fail to agree on Congo force

African leaders failed to agree on the make-up of a proposed neutral force to tackle the insurgency in eastern Democratic of Congo, diplomats at a regional meeting said.

• Congo ruling party wins majority in parly
• We aren't backing DRC rebels – Uganda
• Congo opposition slams 'election fraud'

Congo opposition slams 'election fraud'

The Republic of Congo's main opposition party has charged that the legislative election run-off has been marred by fraud and irregularities.

• Congolese opposition leader detained
• 3 000 flee DRC fearing post-poll violence

Nguesso's party posts strong poll result

The Congolese Labour Party of President Denis Sassou Nguesso has reaffirmed its dominance in the first round of legislative elections in results announced by the interior ministry.

• Congo voters set to endorse ruling party
• Court wants African leaders probed
• Congo peace accords bear fruit

Congo, Rwanda agree to fight rebels

The presidents of the DRC and Rwanda have agreed to back a neutral international armed force to combat Congo's newest rebellion and other rebels terrorising eastern Congo.

Congo rebels vow retreat after taking town

The commander of Congo's newest rebel group has told reporters after taking the important town of Rutshuru that his fighters plan to retreat from Rutshuru and other population centres.

• Rwanda urged to stop fuelling DRC conflict
• DRC warns of more fighting with Rwanda
• DRC soldiers join mutiny

Congo elephants - 1 000 killed a year

Poachers around a Republic of Congo park have killed 5 000 elephants over 5 years.

• Bloodhounds track elephant poachers
• 3 held for carrying ivory in DRC
• SA, Congo close to huge land deal

DRC's 'Ntaganda won't be caught easily'

The Congolese army says it has advanced towards the hold out of ex-rebel leader Jean Bosco Ntaganda who has been blamed for fomenting violence in the country’s restive east.

• DRCongo ministers attacked
• DRC: War crimes trial to start
• UN: 5 000 displaced in DRC's North Kivu

Africa's richest man gives $500k to Congo

Africa's richest man, Nigerian Aliko Dangote, has donated $500 000 to victims of last month's munitions blasts in Congo which killed at least 282 people.

• 'Richest man a bank debtor'
• Brazzaville blast - 75 kids still missing
• SA embassy to help blast victims

SA donates R10m in aid to Congo

The department of international relations has donated R10m in aid to victims of the explosion in Brazzaville, in the Republic of Congo, says a charity group.

• Remove munitions from cities - UN
• SA embassy to help blast victims
• Mass funeral for Congo victims

SA embassy to help blast victims

The South African embassy in the Republic of Congo is ready to help its citizens affected by the recent munitions dump blasts in Brazzaville.

• Mass funeral for Congo victims
• Congo blast injured 2 300 – officials
• Congo builds 200+ coffins after blasts

Congo builds 200+ coffins after blasts

The government of the Republic of Congo has commissioned more than 200 coffin makers for the victims of last weekend’s deadly explosions.

• Congo blast injured 2 300 – officials
• AU chair takes rescue team to Congo
• Mass burial for Congo explosion victims

Congo broadens cordon around blast site

Congo's army has widened a safety zone around the site of the weekend arms dump explosions that killed nearly 200 people amid reports that experts had begun work to make the area safe.

• Still no formal rescue in Brazzaville
• Congo struggles to treat blast victims
• Congo military recruits' fate 'unknown'

Mass burial for Congo explosion victims

State radio has reported that the over 200 victims of last weekend’s deadly blast will be buried in a mass funeral in the capital’s central cemetery.

• AU chair takes rescue team to Congo
• Brazzaville blast leaves 5 000 homeless
• Still no formal rescue in Brazzaville

Still no formal rescue in Brazzaville

More than three days have passed since a catastrophic explosion laid waste to a section of the Republic of Congo's capital, and as yet no co-ordinated rescue effort had been launched.

• Congo military recruits' fate 'unknown'
• Brazzaville blast leaves 5 000 homeless
• Congo struggles to treat blast victims

Congo struggles to treat blast victims

Medicine is running short as hospitals struggle to treat about 1 300 people hurt in a string of powerful blasts at a munitions’ dump that flattened hundreds of nearby homes in Brazzaville.

• Brazzaville blast leaves 5 000 homeless
• Brazzaville blast toll 'stands at 180'
• Congo: Morticians stack bodies 2 to a tray

Congo: Morticians stack bodies 2 to a tray

Morticians stacked bodies two to a tray at Brazzaville's main morgue as police and international fire fighters brought the main blaze under control after a blast at a munitions depot killed more than 200 people.

• Brazzaville blast toll 'stands at 180'
• Congo: Rescuers struggle to put out fires
• US pledges aid after deadly Congo blast