Since February 1, the country has been seeing over 100 new cholera cases every day, with a high of 295 cases recorded on February 8.
However, the confirmation of cases through laboratory testing remains limited, with only around 20 samples being processed daily.
The outbreak, which started on January 7, has spread across several provinces, with Luanda and the neighboring Bengo province being the hardest hit.
To combat the outbreak, more than 925,000 people have been vaccinated, covering 86% of the targeted population, according to the Health Ministry’s epidemiological report on Monday.
The call was made during a high-level dialogue on gender equality in education, held on Tuesday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The event, titled “Investing in Girls’ Education Systems as a Form of Reparation, Justice, and Sustainable Development for African Communities,” took place on the sidelines of the 38th AU summit.
The gathering focused on the importance of investing in girls’ education as a tool for justice and sustainable development, aligning with the AU’s 2025 theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
Mohamed Belhocine, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, emphasized the need for policy reforms to improve access to education for African girls.
He pointed out that increased financial investment, safer school environments, and gender-responsive data were key to advancing girls’ education across Africa.
“This year, in line with the AU’s theme, we are placing a greater focus on education as a foundation for addressing long-standing inequalities,” Belhocine stated.
A joint report by the AU and UNESCO on the status of girls’ and women’s education in Africa was launched during the meeting. The report provided a detailed analysis of the progress made toward achieving inclusive and equitable quality education.
The dialogue served as a vital platform for policymakers, experts, and activists to share strategies and best practices to tackle the challenges hindering girls’ education in Africa.
The AU summit will continue through Sunday at the AU headquarters, with key meetings scheduled for the Executive Council and African heads of state and government.
UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan and Ivorian Minister of Commerce Souleymane Diarrassouba highlighted Africa’s vulnerability to global economic shocks, mainly due to heavy reliance on commodities and infrastructure deficits.
More than half of African nations depend on oil, gas, or minerals for over 60% of their export earnings, leaving them exposed to global market fluctuations. Additionally, trade costs across the continent are 50% higher than the global average, owing to underdeveloped transport, energy, and digital infrastructure.
Grynspan emphasized the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which could create a market worth $3.4 trillion. She urged African countries to implement bold reforms, make strategic investments, and fully realize AfCFTA’s potential to enhance economic resilience and global competitiveness.
Key recommendations from the report include diversifying exports, boosting intra-African trade, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are responsible for 80% of Africa’s jobs ,and establishing early warning systems for trade risks.
Grynspan also lauded Côte d’Ivoire’s economic resilience, noting the country contributes 40% of West Africa’s GDP growth and attracts 30% of the region’s foreign investments.
Prime Minister Robert Beugre Mambe underscored the role of the private sector as the economy’s engine, accounting for 75% of investments and 26% of GDP.
He outlined government efforts to improve business conditions, such as improving logistics, expanding digital connectivity, and providing targeted funding.
The report highlights Africa’s $194 billion annual infrastructure deficit and proposes solutions like tax incentives for industrialization, regional investment funds, and trade finance mechanisms to support businesses affected by crises.
Grynspan reiterated that Africa’s future lies in regional integration, urging faster implementation of AfCFTA. By adopting strategic reforms, the continent could reduce external dependency, stabilize revenue, and achieve more inclusive growth.
On January 29, 2025, EAC ministers convened virtually to address the security crisis in eastern DRC. The meeting came just two days after the armed group M23 seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
While the DRC’s Minister of Regional Cooperation was expected to participate, he was notably absent, despite the meeting’s critical relevance to his country’s ongoing conflict.
Minister Nduhungirehe revealed that the official explanation for the absence was a technical mishap.
“The reason that was given to us is that the DRC Minister of Regional Cooperation, who had previously confirmed his attendance, eventually connected…. to the wrong link!” he posted on X.
A second high-level meeting was held on February 7, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This gathering, bringing together ministers from the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was a preparatory session for a summit of regional heads of state focused on resolving the DRC crisis.
According to Nduhungirehe, 14 ministers from six EAC countries, six SADC nations, and two states belonging to both blocs (DRC and Tanzania) were invited. While 13 ministers attended, DRC’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, was absent and was instead represented by the country’s ambassador to Botswana.
“Here again, we were given an excuse…even two! At the beginning of the meeting, we were informed, by the DRC Ambassador to Botswana, that the DRC Foreign Minister was ‘on her way,’ but an hour later, the version had changed: she had in fact a ‘technical problem with her plane’!” Nduhungirehe said.
He further revealed that, despite these explanations, it was later confirmed that Minister Kayikwamba was in Europe at the time, lobbying for sanctions against Rwanda.
“But we now know that the Foreign Minister of DRC was all this time in Europe, begging for sanctions against Rwanda,” he added.
Rwanda and the DRC have endured strained relations for the past three years. France, Turkey, and Qatar have attempted to mediate between the two countries, but Kinshasa rejected these initiatives, insisting that the conflict should be resolved by Africans.
Nduhungirehe criticized the DRC’s stance, questioning how its officials could reject African mediation while seeking intervention from European nations such as Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
He also reiterated that the security crisis in eastern DRC is not caused by Rwanda and argued that it is unfair to hold Rwanda accountable for conflicts fueled by Congolese actors.
During the extraordinary summit of EAC and SADC heads of state on February 8, 2025, regional leaders called on the DRC government to engage in political dialogue with all conflicting parties, including M23, to establish lasting peace.
The resolution emphasized that Kinshasa’s military approach would not yield results. Instead, leaders urged the DRC to acknowledge and address the underlying issues that led M23 to take up arms.
The warning was issued in a communiqué on February 10 by AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, condemning the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and its allies for allegedly committing atrocities against civilians.
“The AFC/M23 has heard the desperate cries of the civilian population in Bukavu. The FARDC and its allied forces continue to commit unspeakable atrocities against civilians, including assassinations and widespread looting. These crimes must stop immediately; otherwise, we will have no choice but to intervene to protect the Congolese population,” the statement reads.
Reports indicate that Bukavu has been gripped by fear following a surge in violent crimes, including targeted assassinations and looting of businesses and homes, sparking panic among residents.
M23 also refuted claims that internally displaced persons (IDPs) are being forced to return to liberated areas, asserting that those who have returned did so voluntarily under secure conditions.
Additionally, the group denied involvement in the atrocities committed at Munzene Central Prison, attributing these crimes to FARDC and its allies.
“MONUSCO must cease spreading false allegations that distort the truth and mislead public opinion. These baseless accusations only serve to inflame tensions and divert attention from the real perpetrators of these crimes,” the statement added.
The fighting in South Kivu intensified after M23 captured Goma on January 26, 2025. The group later announced plans to continue its advance toward Kinshasa but signaled a willingness to halt hostilities if the DRC government agreed to negotiations for a lasting solution.
The FARDC and its colation has reportedly suffered heavy losses after losing key cities in North Kivu, including Sake and Goma. As they retreat, soldiers have been accused of shooting civilians, committing acts of sexual violence, and engaging in looting.
The motion, lacking backing from the Socialist Party (PS) and the far-right National Rally (RN), secured only 115 votes, far short of the 289 required to unseat him, according to National Assembly Speaker Yaël Braun-Pivet.
This latest challenge followed Bayrou’s repeated use of Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to push through the Social Security financing bill.
After surviving two previous no-confidence votes, he invoked the same constitutional power on Feb. 5 to advance the bill’s second phase.
Undeterred by the failed motion, Bayrou once again employed Article 49.3 on Monday to approve the budget’s spending section for 2025.
According to Le Figaro, the bill allocates a 2.6% increase in health expenditures, raising the total to 264.2 billion euros (272 billion U.S. dollars).
Bayrou was appointed prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 13, following the ousting of Michel Barnier in a previous no-confidence vote.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump was asked whether Palestinians currently residing in Gaza—who, under his proposal, face forced displacement—would have the right to return. He responded, “No, they wouldn’t.”
His remarks contradict statements from his administration, including White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who previously assured that Palestinians would be “temporarily relocated.” Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that residents would need to live elsewhere “in the interim” while Gaza undergoes rebuilding.
Pressed on where the roughly 2 million displaced Gazans would go, Trump suggested he could broker agreements with Jordan and Egypt. “I think I could make a deal with Jordan. I think I could make a deal with Egypt,” he said.
Both Jordan and Egypt have already rejected Trump’s calls to take in additional Palestinian refugees, with leaders from both countries voicing opposition. Despite this, Trump warned Monday that he could withhold U.S. aid if they refused his demand.
The president is set to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday.
Trump’s plan to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate its residents has sparked widespread criticism from countries across the Middle East and beyond.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the move as a “complete violation” of the deal and ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be fully prepared for any developments in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding security consultations to assess the situation.
Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, stated that Israel had failed to uphold its commitments, including allowing displaced people to return to northern Gaza and ensuring adequate humanitarian aid.
Until Israel complies and retroactively corrects its actions, the handover of hostages will be delayed, the group said.
Israel’s Hostages, Missing Persons, and Returnees Directorate insisted on the full implementation of the agreement, warning against any breaches.
The developments follow indirect negotiations in Qatar over the next phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19.
Under the agreement, 21 hostages have been released in exchange for Palestinian detainees, with further exchanges expected in the coming weeks.
The Israeli delegation for the talks in Qatar over the Gaza ceasefire returned to Israel on Monday morning, according to the statement.
The delegation traveled to Doha on Sunday for indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas concerning the second phase of the fragile ceasefire, following Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last week.
However, according to Netanyahu’s office, the delegation focused only on technical matters, not major issues that have yet to be agreed upon, including the administration of Gaza after the war.
Under the ceasefire, which took effect on Jan. 19 after 15 months of devastating war, 21 hostages — 16 Israelis and five Thais — were released from Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli jails. More than 70 hostages are still in Gaza.
Under the first phase of the agreement, which spans six weeks, a total of 33 hostages and about 2,000 detainees are expected to be released.
His appeal aligns with the resolutions from the recent extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which called for a ceasefire and negotiations between the conflicting parties in eastern DRC.
The international community has repeatedly encouraged the DRC government to negotiate with M23 in search of a lasting security solution.
However, the government has consistently rejected this approach, opting instead for military intervention.
Despite continued offensives by the DRC army coalition, M23 has expanded its control over more territories. This was evident on January 23, when the group took over Sake, and again on January 27, when it captured Goma.
Cardinal Ambongo criticized the government’s refusal to hold talks with M23, arguing that relying solely on military solutions has proven ineffective and has only worsened conditions for civilians.
He stressed that dialogue is essential in resolving long-standing conflicts and warned against wasting more time while the country remains in crisis.
Speaking during a Mass in Kinshasa on January 9, he underscored the urgency of negotiations, asserting that addressing decades-old challenges requires engagement with all stakeholders, including perceived enemies.
He emphasized that every moment is crucial for the nation’s stability and urged authorities to take swift action to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Cardinal Ambongo also suggested that if necessary, the DRC government should be willing to travel to Goma, currently under M23 control, to meet with the group’s representatives. He maintained that achieving lasting peace should take precedence over political or logistical concerns.
Cardinal Ambongo further insisted that negotiations should involve all parties, regardless of where they are, as excluding key stakeholders would hinder efforts to reach a sustainable resolution.
While the DRC government welcomed the resolutions from the EAC and SADC summit, it has not indicated any willingness to change its position and engage in direct talks with M23 as recommended.
