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EU Raises Concern Over Violence Ahead Of DR Congo Election

Published

2 years ago

December 19, 2023

Editor

The European Union on Tuesday, warned against hate speech and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo a day ahead of elections.

The EU gave this warning in a statement on Tuesday, amid fears that political tensions could boil over.

Forty-four million Congolese are registered to vote in Wednesday’s presidential, parliamentary, provincial and municipal elections, in a country ravaged by conflict in its east.

“The EU expresses its concern about the hate speech, violence and incidents that have marked the last few days of the campaign,” the EU said.

“Serious human rights violations and abuses have been recorded according to the United Nations, and it is up to the authorities to launch investigations in order to prosecute the perpetrators.”

President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, stands a healthy chance of securing re-election against a divided opposition in the country roughly the size of continental western Europe.

The election campaign has taken place in relative calm, a feat in a country whose first peaceful transition of power since independence in 1960 occurred in 2018.

But Bintou Keita, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, said Monday there had been an “escalation of violence, acts of vandalism and destruction of campaign materials as well as hate speech”.

In a report published on Saturday, Human Rights Watch warned of electoral violence that “risks compromising the holding of the vote”.

The NGO said it has documented clashes between supporters of rival parties since early October that have led to “assaults, sexual violence and at least one death”.

The EU said in its statement that “efforts to divide the population on the basis of ethnicity or origin and any comments inciting violence are unacceptable.”

The bloc recalled “the responsibility of the authorities to ensure an inclusive, free, transparent and peaceful electoral process.”

Last month, the EU cancelled its deployment of election observers to DR Congo for “technical” reasons.

Several sources told AFP that authorities had refused to allow the observers to use satellite equipment, allegedly over fears it would be used to manipulate the presidential poll.

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Putin Says Will Speak With Trump On Phone Today

Published

22 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would speak with US counterpart Donald Trump on the phone Thursday, their first publicly announced call in over two weeks.

The two have been in regular contact since Trump took office in January and have discussed issues like the Ukraine conflict and economic cooperation.

Putin did not say what the two would discuss in Thursday’s call.

“I will talk to the US president today,” the Russian leader told the media during a visit to an exhibition centre in Moscow.

Trump confirmed the call on Truth Social, saying it would start at 10.00am (1400 GMT).

The two leaders have praised each other in recent weeks, despite Moscow’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Putin said last week that he had “great respect” for Trump and that US ties were improving. Trump said Putin’s statements were “very nice”.

AFP

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NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned users of bleaching creams to refrain from using products containing excessive hydroquinone to safeguard their health.

NAFDAC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Hamis Yahaya, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used to treat hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and age spots.

Yahaya said that the approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two per cent.

According to him, NAFDAC conducts checks on market products to ensure public health and safety.

“The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation due to melanin content.

“Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two per cent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.

“Hydroquinone affects the health of the users gradually, including causing cancer,” he said.

Yahaya urged the media to raise awareness about the dangers of cosmetics that could endanger consumer lives.

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AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An African Union helicopter crashed Wednesday at the airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu with eight people onboard, state media said.

The aircraft was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The state media agency Sonna said the AUSSOM helicopter, carrying eight people, “crashed during landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle”.

“The fire has been contained, and authorities are assessing the situation,” it said in a post on X.

Sonna quoted the country’s civil aviation authorities as saying that “flight operations remain normal”.

There were no further details given, but unverified clips and images shared online showed a plume of black smoke over the city.

The AUSSOM mission faces funding difficulties, even as fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence are stoked by attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.