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21 developments across 16 briefings for this place.
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Doubt remains over that the promise of talks will satisfy Tshisekedi's critics while their allegation that he is pursuing a constitutional maneuver to remain in office continues unresolved.
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Doubt remains over that the promise of talks will satisfy Tshisekedi's critics while their allegation that he is pursuing a constitutional maneuver to remain in office continues unresolved.
Open source reportGeography
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Democratic Republic of the Congo dossier
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
President Félix Tshisekedi appointed former planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the DRC’s first female prime minister, with restoring peace in the country’s east among her challenges.
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Chronology
To me, it seems strange that Tshisekedi's critics would be satisfied with the mere promise of talks while their chief grievance - Tshisekedi's "constitutional coup" to remain in power beyond his term - is still moving forward.
Doubt remains over that the promise of talks will satisfy Tshisekedi's critics while their allegation that he is pursuing a constitutional maneuver to remain in office continues unresolved.
Open source reportDRC's Pres. Tshisekedi acquiesced to the opposition's demands for an inclusive national dialogue under the oversight of the religious leaders who joined him in the room for his announcement.
President Félix Tshisekedi agreed to an inclusive national dialogue overseen by religious leaders, after which opposition parties canceled a scheduled protest.
Open source reportKabila hasn't publically commented yet, but will probably accuse Washington of helping Tshisekedi carry out a vendetta against a political rival.
Kabila will accuse Washington of helping Tshisekedi pursue a political rival.
Open source reportThe U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his support of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels stoking conflict in eastern DRC.
Washington sanctioned Kabila over support for Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and that President Félix Tshisekedi’s government welcomed the action. Kabila had not publicly responded.
Open source report70% of global cobalt production comes from DRC and the other 30% is generally costlier to extract, so they're stuck working with Kinshasa and its escalating demands.
Miners have little leverage against Kinshasa's increasing demands because the DRC accounts for 70% of global cobalt production and alternative supply is generally more expensive.
Open source reportThe new decree forces cobalt miners operating in DRC - including China's CMOC, Huayou, and Sicomines as well as Glencore and the Eurasian Resources Group - to contribute 10% of their cobalt export volume to the reserve.
ARECOMS created a state cobalt reserve and ordered miners to contribute 10% of export volume. Cobalt not exported before quarterly deadlines will be forfeited to the reserve.
Open source reportwarning of the "Sudanization" of DRC - i.e., of political dispute that descends into open conflict.
Kabila's reported warning of the DRC's “Sudanization” is an assessment that the political dispute could become an open conflict. He is back in M23-controlled Goma and did not rule out seeking power again.
Open source reportGlencore became the first company to export cobalt from DRC under the country's new quota framework.
Glencore exported a small test shipment of cobalt under the DRC’s new quota framework while retaining a large stockpile. Limited exports by Glencore and other miners indicate that the rules remain opaque or difficult to follow.
Open source reportthe new agreement adds absolutely nothing to what they'd already agreed… while continuing to punt the thornier issues
The framework adds little to prior commitments and postpones disputes over M23-held territory, displaced-person resettlement, and humanitarian access. Delegates allowed two weeks to address six remaining chapters, a timeline the author considers unrealistic.
Open source reportDRC and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels signed a new ceasefire framework in Qatar.
The DRC and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels signed a new ceasefire framework in Qatar, including plans related to prisoner exchanges and a ceasefire oversight body.
Open source reportthe death sentence is unlikely to ever be carried out, and the peace process is already so broken that a vindictive verdict against Kabila is unlikely to do much further damage.
Kabila’s conviction was probably politically motivated but is unlikely to be carried out or substantially worsen an already impaired peace process concerning the conflict in eastern DRC.
Open source reportSome Congo watchers - especially those aligned with former president Joseph Kabila - expressed concern that the death sentence a military court handed Kabila on Tuesday will derail the bumbling and half-hearted peace process that DRC and the M23 / Rwanda entered into over the summer.
A military court sentenced former president Joseph Kabila to death and that some observers fear the verdict could undermine the DRC-M23/Rwanda peace process.
Open source reportDRC is close to finalizing a four-year football (soccer) sponsorship deal to pay FC Barcelona €10.0 to 11.5 million... per year.
The DRC was close to a four-year agreement paying FC Barcelona €10 million to €11.5 million annually to display “The Heart of Africa” on training and warm-up jerseys. Deals with AS Monaco and AC Milan; the DRC seeks to emulate Rwanda’s football-based tourism promotion.
Open source reportDRC's Attorney General asked the Senate to strip ex-President Kabila of his immunity for his involvement in "war crimes, crimes against humanity and massacres of peaceful civilians and military personnel."
The DRC attorney general asked the Senate to remove former president Joseph Kabila’s immunity over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and massacres. Government allegations connecting Kabila to regional incursions, which he denies.
Open source reportKinshasa is considering imposing quotas on cobalt exports, and will evaluate the idea during the four-month export ban it announced Monday.
The Congolese government is considering cobalt export quotas and plans to evaluate the proposal during a newly announced four-month export ban.
Open source reportin just the first three quarters of 2024, CMOC produced nearly 85,000 tons of cobalt.
Chinese mining company CMOC produced nearly 85,000 tons of cobalt from its DRC mines during the first three quarters of 2024, surpassing its annual target of 60,000–70,000 tons.
Open source reportDRC will get its first 100,000 doses of mpox vaccines today, followed by a second shipment on Saturday. The logistics of administering vaccines across the country will be much more complicated than getting doses to Kinshasa: the earliest vaccinations could start is Oct. 8.
The DRC was due to receive an initial 100,000 mpox vaccine doses on September 5, 2024, followed by another shipment on Saturday. Distribution beyond Kinshasa is a logistical challenge; vaccinations could begin no earlier than October 8.
Open source reportMines Minister Kizito Pakabomba also said the deal breached Chemaf's agreements with Gecamines, and on Friday the full council of ministers recommended blocking the sale.
Gecamines and Mines Minister Kizito Pakabomba argued that the proposed sale of Chemaf’s copper-cobalt assets to China’s Norin Mining breached existing agreements. The council of ministers recommended blocking the transaction.
Open source reportA DRC military court sentenced 25 soldiers to death for "fleeing the enemy, dissipating munitions of war and violating orders" after running away from a battle with M23 rebels.
A military court sentenced 25 soldiers to death after they fled a battle with M23; the Rwanda-backed rebel group had recently captured several strategic towns.
Open source reportDRC's new government - including its first-ever female prime minister - was sworn in yesterday after months of delays due to disagreements over appointments.
The DRC installed a new government, including its first female prime minister, after disagreements over appointments caused months of delay.
Open source reportPres. Tshisekedi appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka to be DRC's first female prime minister. Tuluka was formerly DRC's planning minister, and will now be called upon to craft a plan to bring peace to the restive east of the country.
President Félix Tshisekedi appointed former planning minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the DRC’s first female prime minister, with restoring peace in the country’s east among her challenges.
Open source report