Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

United States

Economics

Law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP asked U.S. technology company Apple to clarify the origin of the tin, tungsten and tantalum (3T) used in its supply chains on behalf of Congolese authorities, Reuters reported on April 25.

Congo: Law Firm Accuses Rwanda of Laundering Congolese Minerals, Threatens Legal Action

Mozambique

South Africa

Military & Security

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the deployment of 1,495 members of the South African National Defense Force stationed in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province under the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, from April 16 to Dec. 31, Reuters reported on April 24. 

South Africa: Ramaphosa Extends Troop Mandates in Mozambique and Congo

Politics

Christian Tshiwewe Songhesha, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's army chief of staff, announced the arrest of army and police officers in Lubumbashi, the capital of Haut Katanga province, for treason, Radio Okapi reported on April 15.

Congo: Army Chief of Staff Announces Arrest of Army and Police Officers

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as Prime Minister, Radio France International reported April 1.

Congo: Tshisekdi Appoints Judith Suminwa Tuluka as Premier 

Angola

Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio stated that Rwandan President Paul Kagame had agreed to meet with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi following a meeting with Angolan President Joao Lourenco amid worsening fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Radio France Internationale reported on March 12.

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Ramps Up Efforts To Convene Tshisekedi-Kagame Meeting

Russia

Radio France Internationale and Russian media outlets reported on March 7 that Russia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a draft military agreement, but the Congolese government has denied these reports.

Congo, Russia: Countries Reportedly Sign Military Deal Despite Denial by Congo

The U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or MONUSCO, began its withdrawal from the country's east, Reuters reported on Feb. 29.

Congo: U.N. Mission Begins Phased Withdrawal

Tanzania

Europe

Rwanda said it reserved the right to take "any legitimate measure" to defend itself, including degrading offensive air capabilities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, amid the intensification of fighting in eastern Congo between Congolese authorities and M23 rebels, Africanews reported on Feb. 19.

Congo, Rwanda: Rwanda Rejects U.S. Calls To Withdraw Military Assets From Eastern Congo 

Assessments

Congolese soldiers sit in a military vehicle in Kamanyola, a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on Feb. 28, 2024. 

The intensifying fight against M23 rebels in eastern Congo risks triggering border clashes with Rwanda that could threaten Congolese President Tshisekedi's government and risk disrupting Congo's cobalt exports.

Where Is the Conflict in Eastern Congo Headed?

Ethiopia

Senegal

Egypt

Israel

Palestinian Territories

China

Taiwan

Germany

Displaced Palestinians camp near the fence separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Feb. 16, 2024, in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Egypt will continue to prepare a contingency plan in case Palestinians cross the Egypt-Gaza border amid growing signs that the Rafah offensive could start as early as this week.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

U.S.-China Relations

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Egypt Plans for a Palestinian Influx, African Union Heads of State Meet

Chad

Chile

Iraq

Japan

A man holds a handout in support of Chile’s proposed new constitution on Dec. 6, 2023, in Santiago.

The Weekly Rundown: A Japan-ASEAN Summit, Constitutional Referendums in Chile and Chad

Supporters of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's ruling Sacred Union coalition gather at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa on April 29, 2023.

Amid instability in the east, election interference and disunity, the Congo's opposition parties will struggle to gain a foothold during the country's December general elections.

In Congo, President Tshisekedi Looks to Secure a Second Term

Argentina

Netherlands

The presidential candidate for the Union por la Patria party, Sergio Massa (R), speaks next to the presidential candidate for the La Libertad Avanza party, Javier Milei, on Nov. 12, 2023, during a presidential debate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentina will hold the second round of its presidential election Nov. 19.

The Weekly Rundown: Argentina's Presidential Runoff, the Registration Deadline for the Taiwanese Presidential Race

Sub-Saharan Africa

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Mali

Niger

Republic of the Congo

People holding Gabon national flags celebrate in Libreville on August 30, 2023, after a group of military officers announced they were ''putting an end'' to President Ali Bongo Ondimba's regime. 

Rampant insecurity could precipitate the collapse of more Sahelian governments, while succession crises and patronage politics could do the same for Central Africa's dynastic leaders.

Assessing the Risk of Future African Coups, Part 1: The Sahel and Central Africa

Greece

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (R) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hold talks Oct. 31, 2022, in Sochi, Russia.

The Weekly Rundown: Armenia's and Azerbaijan's Leaders Meet in Moscow, an APEC Summit in Detroit

Snapshots

M23 fighters guard the area during a meeting between the rebel group and East African Regional Force (EACRF) officials at the Rumangabo camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Jan. 6, 2023.

The latest flare-up over an alleged airspace violation increases the risk of Congolese retaliatory measures that could limit the progress of peace processes in eastern Congo.

Rwanda's Attack on a Congolese Jet Escalates Border Tensions

Columns

On Geopolitics

South Sudan

Burundi

Central African Republic

Cote d'Ivoire

Kenya

Nigeria

Sudan

Zimbabwe

Women sit under U.N.-branded cardboard boxes in Semera, Ethiopia, on Feb. 14, 2022, as they wait to be registered by the authorities at a hotel compound hosting civilians fleeing violence. 

Social Issues

GBV is often primarily seen as a women’s and human rights issue. But in sub-Saharan Africa, it is also a key constraint to stable (and democratic) governance, economic growth, and lasting peace.

The Geopolitics of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

Media

Podcasts

We discuss the latest flare-up of violence near the country's eastern border with Rwanda and what it means for other nearby nations. 


Essential Geopolitics: What’s Going on in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Colombia

A Chinese military vessel on Aug. 5, 2022, sails off Pingtan Island, Fujian province, one of mainland China's closest points to Taiwan. Beijing is likely to continue rolling out new methods of economic coercion against U.S. and Taiwanese companies in the coming week.

The Weekly Rundown: Colombia's President Takes Office, China Coerces Taiwan

A man holds a copper-rich piece at a mine in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in July 2016. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Tensions between the world’s largest cobalt-producing country and the Chinese firm operating one of its largest mines risk disrupting global supplies of the element, which is key to electric vehicle production.

Congo's Revenue Dispute With China Threatens Cobalt, Copper Exports

<p>The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a massive country in Central Africa. It is bordered by the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; and the Republic of the Congo to the west. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is roughly the size of Western Europe, and much of its territory is covered by dense jungle and is difficult to navigate. Its mammoth size and position in Central Africa have long drawn interest from outsiders. From the French and Belgian imperial conquests of the Congo River in the 19th and early 20th centuries to Cold War superpower intrigue and regional wars in the post-independence period, the country has attracted more than its fair share of foreign meddling. Since independence, the country has struggled to manage its extensive territories and its ethnic and regional divisions. It can be said that under the best of circumstances, the country is weak and prone to internal cleavages. Kinshasa, the political capital, simply does not have the resources to exercise a monopoly on force. By extension, the country&#39;s infrastructure remains woefully underdeveloped. Instead, the decades since independence have seen countless rebellions and other forms of insurrection in Katanga and other regions. Given this instability, the country&#39;s deep pockets of natural resources and its security vacuums have made it an attractive place for neighboring states and foreign powers to intrude. In regional terms, this has included Rwanda, Uganda and many other states over the years, and the United States and the Soviet Union fought for influence there after 1960. Additionally, the U.N. presence in the Congo is one of the longest-running operations for the international organization, tracing its origins back to 1960. The country&#39;s unwieldy size and difficult terrain profoundly constrain any movement beyond its status as a failed state. As such, it will remain a source of interest and concern for states near and far for many years to come.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: Law Firm Accuses Rwanda of Laundering Congolese Minerals, Threatens Legal Action

South Africa: Ramaphosa Extends Troop Mandates in Mozambique and Congo

Congo: Army Chief of Staff Announces Arrest of Army and Police Officers

Congo: Tshisekdi Appoints Judith Suminwa Tuluka as Premier

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Ramps Up Efforts To Convene Tshisekedi-Kagame Meeting

Congo, Russia: Countries Reportedly Sign Military Deal Despite Denial by Congo

Congo: U.N. Mission Begins Phased Withdrawal

Congo, Rwanda: Rwanda Rejects U.S. Calls To Withdraw Military Assets From Eastern Congo

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