East Africa

Details: East Africa; 05 May 2025; 314

M23 continues to seize villages despite negotiations in Doha, Congolese army warns it reserves ‘right to respond’

KINSHASA, DR Congo Fighting was reported Monday in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province, despite ongoing peace talks in Qatar.

Witnesses said a group of young volunteers backed by the Congolese army was attacked in the mountainous, resource-rich Fizi region by Twirwaneho and Red Tabara rebels, who are affiliated with the M23 group.

“It was the Twirwaneho who came to attack the Patriots and the Congolese armed forces here … They are burning houses, and the fighting has been ongoing since 6 a.m.,” local resident Mauridi Mtoca told Anadolu.

The violence came as Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has agreed to sit at the negotiating table with the M23 rebels. Delegations from both sides are currently in Doha for peace talks.

Despite both parties issuing statements calling for a ceasefire, clashes have continued in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, with M23 rebels seizing an increasing number of villages.

On Sunday, M23 forces seized the town of Lunyasenge on the western shore of Lake Edward in eastern Congo. The fighting left 17 people dead, including seven Congolese soldiers.

Col. Mak Hazukay, spokesman for the Congolese army in the region, condemned the M23 attacks on Sunday, calling them “a deliberate and blatant violation of the ceasefire and all measures put in place following the ongoing talks in Doha, Qatar, and Washington, United States.”

Hazukay warned that the army reserves “the right to respond in all directions if the threat from the rebels and their Rwandan allies continues.”

M23, central to the conflict in eastern Congo, has stepped up its offensive since December, capturing key towns including Goma and Bukavu.

Kinshasa and others accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting M23 -- a claim Kigali denies.

In March, Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame agreed to a ceasefire during talks mediated by the Emir of Qatar in Doha.

In April, Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and her Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe, signed a US-brokered declaration in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended the signing ceremony.

According to the UN, more than 7.8 million people have been displaced in the conflict. In April, the UN Human Rights Council said 602 people were victims of extrajudicial or summary executions in North and South Kivu in just two months. By Byobe Malenga, Anadolu Agency

Details: East Africa; 05 May 2025; 338

At leat 10 people were killed when four tourist boats capsized. Photo by Xinhua/EPA-EFE

May 5 (UPI) -- At least 10 people are dead and more than 70 have been hospitalized after high winds caused four tourist vessels to capsize in China's Guizhou province Sunday.

The boats reportedly turned over while on a river in the city of Qianxi, which caused 84 people to fall into the water.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing reportedly led a team to the site to guide the rescue and relief work.

In a statement from the Chinese government, Chinese President Xi Jinping "urged all-out efforts to search those falling into water and treat the injured," and demanded "utmost search and rescue efforts as well as efforts to properly handle affairs related to the victims and console their families."

Xi also stressed that as "several incidents have occurred recently in various regions, which resulted in fatalities and injuries," local authorities and related departments are urged "to learn from these lessons, resolutely overcoming complacency and further reinforcing responsibilities across all related parties." By Ian Stark, UPI

Details: East Africa; 05 May 2025; 303

When Tools for Humanity CEO and Co-Founder Alexi Blania (centre) flanked Sam Sadle (left) Head of Policy and Thomas Scott,Chief Legal Officer appeared before the Adhoc Committee of Enquiry into the Worldcoin controversy at Mini chambers, Nairobi. September 6, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Worldcoin has suffered a blow after the High Court ordered deletion of data it collected from Kenyans in 2023. Justice Roselyne Aburili while delivering her judgement today said the controversial biometric data collection exercise led by the crypto-based identification project Worldcoin was conducted without adherence to Kenya’s data protection laws

She said Worldcoin used financial inducements to obtain the data from Kenyans instead of applying the data protection principle of informed consent. This, the judge said was illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of privacy rights.

"There was lack of the data protection principle of informed consent, instead there was financial inducement, " the judge said.

The judge ordered Worldcoin to delete all the Kenyans Biometric data it unlawfully collected via its orb with immediate effect.

She also prohibited the company from further processing of such data without an adequate data protection impact assessment in place, or in lieu, valid consent.

In her judgement, Justice Aburili directed the state sto publish guidelines on the commercial use of personal data.

The judgment comes few months after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga ordered the closure of the Worldcoin inquiry with no police action after months of probe.

This directive paved the way for its return to operations across the country.

Initially, the National Assembly Ad Committee of Inquiry into the Worldcoin operations heard that the crypto wallet app came into Kenya disguised as a research project.

Presenting its views amid investigations into the controversial Worldcoin operations in Kenya, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NCCCC) told the parliamentary committee that Worldcoin registered as a data controller in Kenya, allowing the company to determine how to use the collected data in the country.

"We have noted obvious breaches of our data protection laws," the committee noted, adding that Kenya cannot compel them [World-coin] to comply with the country's regulatory laws as it lacks jurisdiction, considering it does not have physical offices here.

But the directorate of Criminal Investigations which was probing the firm found that Worldcoin activities in the country did not meet the threshold for any criminal charges.

Upon review of the file, the DPP directed that the file be closed with no further police action. By Nancy Gitonga, The Standard

Details: East Africa; 05 May 2025; 401

Artificial intelligence (AI), one of the forum’s central themes, embodies both promise and peril. While AI can revolutionize the media by improving efficiency and expanding reach, it also risks spreading misinformation at scale and eroding public trust. As UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming warned, safeguarding the integrity of cyberspace requires global cooperation. Without it, the very technologies meant to improve our world may deepen the crises they were designed to solve.

In the historic city of Qufu, birthplace of Confucius, a recent gathering of global media leaders delivered a timely reminder: the media must remain steadfast defenders of truth, facilitators of dialogue, and custodians of our shared global future.

Hosted by China Media Group (CMG), the annual conference—titled “Exchange, Mutual Learning, Technology Empowerment: The Power of Civilization in Transformation and Development”—was more than symbolic. Held at the spiritual home of one of history’s greatest thinkers, it underscored the enduring need for ethics, understanding, and cooperation in global communication amid rapid technological change.

In today’s fragmented information landscape, media institutions bear a dual burden. They are expected to report facts and hold power to account, while also navigating a turbulent technological and political environment where truth is often distorted and agendas hide behind the veneer of “information.” As the forum emphasized, the media must resist becoming tools of division or vehicles for narrow interests.

The conference’s call for a global media ecosystem rooted in openness, inclusivity, and cooperation comes at a critical moment. The return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the White House has coincided with a renewed wave of protectionist rhetoric and isolationism in international affairs—trends that threaten to erode the very global cooperation our interconnected world demands.

CMG President Shen Haixiong reaffirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to building bridges of dialogue and fostering partnerships that promote global peace and development. This vision is not merely aspirational—it is necessary. In a world strained by geopolitical tensions, climate emergencies, and rising social unrest, narrative power, factual integrity, and cross-cultural understanding have become indispensable tools for sustainable peace.

That is why international forums like the CMG conference are so vital. They convene diverse voices and perspectives to co-create ethical standards that rise above national interests. They challenge media to think beyond borders and embrace their role in shaping a future grounded in mutual understanding and shared responsibility.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Managing Director Agnes Kalekye captured this imperative perfectly. Her appeal for increased global media cooperation—and her call for a media development fund to support under-resourced news outlets—highlighted the persistent issue of information inequality. In many parts of the Global South, limited access to credible news leaves communities vulnerable to disinformation and disconnected from the global narrative. A global media fund would empower these outlets to maintain professional standards and fulfill their public service mandate.

Ultimately, the CMG Forum reaffirmed a universal truth: civilizations thrive not in isolation, but through learning, dialogue, and adaptation. As one of the most powerful institutions of our time, the media must lead that charge—by informing with integrity, exposing injustice, and inspiring innovation in service of the common good.

As communication continues to evolve, so too must our commitment to values like cooperation, inclusivity, and truth. The media must resist the temptations of polarization, sensationalism, and authoritarian control. Instead, it should become a forum for reflection and progress—elevating voices that heal rather than divide.

In the spirit of Confucius, let us be guided by his wisdom: “The nobler man seeks harmony, not uniformity.” It is this harmony—across cultures, technologies, and ideologies—that the global media must now work to build.

Only then can the power of civilization truly drive transformation—not just in policy, but in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. The writer is a journalist and communications consultant. By Onyango K'onyango, Capital News

Details: East Africa; 04 May 2025; 396

The bombing of our hospital in Old Fangak has resulted in significant damage, including the complete destruction of the pharmacy, which was burned to the ground

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the deliberate bombing of its hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan. The attack began at around 4:30am when two helicopter gunships first dropped a bomb on the MSF pharmacy, burning it to the ground, then went on to fire on the town of Old Fangak for around 30 minutes. At around 7am, a drone bombed the Old Fangak market. There have been at least seven deaths and 20 injured.

Mamman Mustapha, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan, said “At 8am, we received around 20 wounded people at our hospital in Old Fangak, including four in a critical condition. There are reports of more fatalities and wounded in the community. One patient and two care givers, including one of our staff, who were already inside the hospital were injured in the bombing - patients who were not in a critical condition, ran from the facility.

The bombing of our hospital in Old Fangak has resulted in significant damage, including the complete destruction of the pharmacy, which was burned to the ground. This is where all our medical supplies for the hospital and our outreach activities were stored, severely compromising our ability to provide care. We strongly condemn this attack, which took place despite the geolocations of all MSF structures, including Old Fangak Hospital, being shared with all parties to the conflict.

“Old Fangak Hospital is the only hospital in Fangak county, serving a population of over 110,000 people who already had extremely limited access to healthcare. We are still assessing the full extent of the damage and the impact on our ability to provide care, but this attack clearly means people will now be even further cut-off from receiving life-saving treatment. We call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure – this includes health workers, patients and health facilities. Hospitals must never be targeted and the lives of civilians must be protected.”

This is the second time an MSF hospital has been impacted since in the past month, following the armed looting of our hospital and premises in Ulang, Upper Nile state on April 14, which led to the entire population of Ulang county being cut off from accessing secondary health care. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

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East Africa

Clashes rage in DR Congo’s South Kivu as peace talks with M23 stall

M23 continues to seize villages despite negotiations in Doha, Congolese army warns it reserves ‘right to respond’

10 dead, dozens hospitalized as Chinese tourist boats capsize

Blow to Worldcoin as court orders deletion of data

Media as the Bridge of Civilizations: A Global Call for Integrity and Cooperation

South Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the deliberate bombing of its hospital in Old Fangak, Jonglei State

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