Latest news with #DemocraticRepublicOfCongo
Bloomberg
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Congo, Rwanda Sign US-Backed Peace Deal to End Years of War
By Updated on Save The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed to a US-backed peace deal meant to end years of deadly conflict and promote development in Congo's volatile eastern region. Foreign ministers from the two countries signed the accord Friday in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office later in the day.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda sign US-mediated peace deal aimed at ending decades of bloody conflict
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda sign US-mediated peace deal aimed at ending decades of bloody conflict.
E&E News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- E&E News
White House finalizes African mineral, peace deal
President Donald Trump on Friday finalized an agreement to quell fighting across Africa and boost U.S. access to the mineral-rich Congo amid congressional concerns and demands for more information. The president, flanked by foreign ministers from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed a peace treaty that he said will end more than three decades of conflict that's led to about 6 million deaths. 'I think both of you have said 'that's enough,'' Trump said at the White House ceremony, nodding to the ministers of the two countries. Advertisement Noticeably missing were Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two leaders would be in Washington to sign the deal at a ceremony later this month. Trump signed letters inviting the leaders to the White House.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Your stolen car might be in Jamaica, but can you guess why?
Car theft is still a major issue in the UK. According to the DVLA, just under 63,000 cars were reported stolen in 2024, with only 20 per cent of them recovered within the first seven days. New research has revealed where more than half of these stolen cars are ending up. An investigation from Thatcham Research and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) named the the top five countries for stolen vehicle exports. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the most likely destination for your stolen car to be shipped to, with 38.5 per cent of intercepted cars sent to the African state. That's followed by the UAE (20.1 per cent), Cyprus (6.7 per cent), Jamaica (5.7 per cent) and Georgia (5.1 per cent). Although DRC is the destination for most stolen vehicles, it's thought that many of them head into other African countries. DRC's central positioning on the African continent, deep seaport and borders with nine countries make it an ideal distribution hub for other markets. When it comes to the types of vehicles targeted by organised crime gangs in the UK, 52 per cent of the vehicles intercepted by NaVCIS were from premium and luxury manufacturers and 79 per cent of all interceptions were SUVs. There are some unexpected reasons for certain countries receiving the most stolen vehicles. Last April's flooding in the UAE led to a rise in thefts of one popular SUV model, for example. Criminal groups exploited the shortage of official replacement vehicles and spare parts by using stolen ones. You might guess why Cyprus and Jamaica appear near the top of the stolen car leaderboard. Both countries drive on the left, making UK vehicle specifications and steering wheel positions important. Cyprus also serves as a gateway to Mediterranean markets, while Jamaica's trade has increased due to an imported car tariff boosting profitability. Georgia is also seen as a potential gateway to Russia, where the withdrawal of an official presence by car makers has led to an increase in demand for vehicles and parts. Commenting on the investigation, Richard Billyeald, Chief Research and Operations Officer at Thatcham Research, said 'the UK has the highest levels of standard security equipment fitted to new vehicles. The result is that the casual theft and joy riding of the 80s and 90s has all but disappeared, with vehicle manufacturers having succeeded in making it very difficult for amateurs to steal modern vehicles.' 'However, the organised criminal gangs that have replaced them are well-funded and sophisticated in their approach, combining specialist electronic equipment with an international logistics network. Raising vehicle security alone will not prevent thefts. We believe that beating these criminals requires cooperation between government agencies, vehicle manufacturers and ourselves to reduce the value of stolen assets and therefore the incentive to steal them. 'Parts scarcity, vehicle desirability, natural disasters and geopolitical events is driving an illegal market in a wide variety of luxury cars, SUVs and pickups, with insurers settling claims worth £640m in 2024.'
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Heineken loses operational control of facilities in Congo's war-hit east
June 20 (Reuters) - Heineken ( opens new tab has lost operational control and withdrawn its staff from its facilities in conflict-affected areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dutch brewer said on Friday. The beverages giant said in March that its operations in three eastern cities would remain suspended until it was safe to reopen, after some of its breweries were hit and its depots raided during fighting between the army and rebels. But on Friday, the beer maker said the situation had deteriorated further, and that armed personnel had taken control of its facilities in Bukavu and Goma - eastern Congo's two biggest cities, now under rebel control - and nearby areas. "The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control," it said in a statement. Heineken's Congo unit, Bralima, still operates in other parts of the country not affected by the conflict, the company said, adding that it would continue assessing the evolving situation. The group owns four breweries in Congo, producing Heineken beer as well as other popular brands like Primus and Amstel. The Bukavu facilities employed around 1,000 people both directly and indirectly, it had said previously. "Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees," its Friday statement said. "We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and we have continued to support them financially." Nearly 14% of Heineken's total revenues come from its businesses in the Middle East and Africa, where Congo, with its population of over 100 million, is a large market. Its operations in the cities of Goma, Bukavu and Uvira had together previously accounted for roughly a third of Heineken's business in Congo. Fighting in eastern Congo escalated this year as the M23 rebel group staged a rapid advance that raised fears of a wider conflict. Congo says Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms. Rwanda has long denied helping M23. The two countries and the United States said on Wednesday that their technical teams initialed a draft peace agreement that is expected to be signed next week.
