Kivu news stories on Newser

UN Pleads for Troops as Congo Battle Rages

Rob Quinn — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:07:00 CDT

The overwhelmed United Nations peacekeeping force in eastern Congo is urgently calling for reinforcements, the AP reports. A surge in fighting between Congolese government troops and forces led by a renegade general has sent tens of thousands fleeing. The UN currently has only 6,000 troops in North Kivu, where...

Congo Probes Witchcraft Stampede Deaths

Rob Quinn — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:01 CDT

Accusations of witchcraft led to a deadly stampede at a soccer game in the Congo, the BBC reports. Fighting broke out between rival teams after players from one team accused the rival team's goalkeeper of casting spells. Police intervened but were pelted with rocks by the crowd. They fired tear...

African Quakes Kill at Least 40

Wesley Oliver — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:35:14 CST

A pair of earthquakes killed at least 40 people and injured nearly 400 in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo today, AFP and the AP report. The first quake measured 6.0 on the Richter scale and the second, less than 4 hours later, 5.0. Public buses carted...

Thousands Flee Congo Fighting

Jane Yager — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 05:46:33 CDT

Thousands of refugees are fleeing a new outbreak of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Renewed fighting has erupted between dissident Gen. Laurent Nkuda and local militias, as well as between Nkuda and regular government forces, following Nkuda's refusal to disarm his troops and reintegrate into the army....