Fresh Fighting Adds to Congo's Long Pain.
More than 700 people died near Goma in east Congo last week. These deaths bring back hard thoughts of past wars in Africa.
The trouble started long ago. When Rwanda had its ethnic war in 1994, many Hutu people ran to Congo. They feared the new Tutsi leaders would hurt them.
Congo saw its first big fights in 1996, but the seeds of war came earlier, when Belgium ruled the land. A key moment came in the 1960s when men killed Patrice Lumumba, a leader who wanted African nations to work as one.
Years later, fighters pushed out ruler Mobutu Sese Seko and changed the name from Zaire to Congo. Many call this time "Africa's First World War." The land held great wealth—deep woods and rich mines drew...
Kenya Makes School Tests Fair.
Kenya changed its rules for high school tests. The new system helps more young people enter college and job training schools.
The Kenya National Tests Council made these changes. They want to judge students by what they do best, not by hard rules about which classes they must take.
Under the new rules, students must still take math tests. But they only need to show they are good at one of these: English, Kiswahili, or Kenya Sign Language. In the past, they had to prove they knew both English and Kiswahili.
The biggest change lets students pick their best five classes for their final mark. Math and one language come first, and then they can add any five classes where they did well.
Before this...
Singer Opens Up About Family Pain and Past Troubles.
Music star Iryn Namubiru shared deep hurts from her past on TV. She talked about her broken ties with her mother and a hard time in Japan.
"I have not talked to my mother in eleven years," Namubiru said. This came after she was caught with drugs at Tokyo's airport in 2013.
The singer learned her manager, Tedius, had put the drugs in her bags. She fired him right away. But her pain grew when her mother acted strange about it all.
Namubiru said her mother seemed odd at first. Then she started saying she did nothing wrong before anyone blamed her. Phone records later showed the singer something bad about her mother.
The star wrote down all these facts but has not shared them yet. If...
18 Troops Return Home After Deaths in Congo Fighting.
A group of 18 dead soldiers left Congo today. They died near the city of Goma last month in fights with M23 forces.
The UN said most of the troops came from South Africa's army. Others served from Malawi and Tanzania. They fought as part of a peace force in Congo.
Bad roads and a broken airport in Goma made it hard to send the bodies home fast. UN trucks had to take them through Rwanda to Uganda first.
"The airport at Goma had problems," a UN worker said. This meant they could not fly the bodies straight out.
The deaths show the growing dangers for peace forces in east Congo. Fighting between M23 and other armies keeps growing worse there.
South Africa expects its 14 soldiers...
U.S. Cuts Aid to South Africa Over Land Law.
The United States stopped sending aid to South Africa on Saturday. President Donald Trump signed an order after South Africa passed a new land law.
The White House said South Africa's Expropriation Act 13 lets the government take farms from white owners. Trump's team called this "unjust and immoral."
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said these claims were wrong. He stated South Africa follows the law and has not taken anyone's land. The new act helps make land use more fair, he added.
Ramaphosa pointed out that many countries, including the United States, have rules about taking land for public purposes. He said the law protects everyone's rights.
Trump's order tells U.S. offices...
Regional Leaders Meet in Tanzania Over Congo Crisis.
Leaders from East and South Africa came to Dar es Salaam on Saturday. They aim to end the growing war in eastern Congo.
Uganda's President Museveni reached Tanzania by plane from Entebbe. He joined other heads of state who wanted to find a way to stop the fighting. The M23 fighters have taken the city of Goma. They are moving toward Bukavu.
South Africa's President Ramaphosa flew to Tanzania as well. He showed his support for bringing peace to the area. Ramaphosa has asked Rwanda to pull its forces out of Congo. He says Rwanda helps the M23 group.
Rwanda's President Kagame plans to join the talks. This might bring hard talks because many say Rwanda gives arms to M23.
No one knows...
East Africa Meets on Congo War as Fights Grow.
Leaders from East and South Africa met in Tanzania this Saturday. They hope to stop the war in Congo as M23 fighters hold the town of Goma and push near Bukavu.
Leaders came from Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Zambia, and Rwanda. South Africa's leader plans to join later. His land asks Rwanda to leave Congo. They say Rwanda helps M23. Rwanda says this is false.
Congo's leader, Felix Tshisekedi, stayed home but watched through computer screens. He sent his top helper, Judith Suminwa, to the talks. Tshisekedi missed past talks where Uganda's leader wanted to speak with him.
His group says M23 brings fear. They call them bad men backed by Rwanda and refuse to talk peace with M23. But...
Tanzania Leader Warns of Congo War Tests.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Africa must act fast on Congo's war. She spoke at a meeting of East and South African leaders in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
"Past people will say bad things about us if we stand by as things turn worse each day," Hassan said. She wants African answers to African problems.
Leaders came to talk about East Congo. The M23 fighters have taken the town of Goma. They push near Bukavu. Many people ran from their homes. Trade stopped. Pain grew.
Uganda's Museveni, Kenya's Ruto, Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa, Somalia's Mohamud, Zambia's Hichilema, and Rwanda's Kagame joined the talks. Congo's leader, Tshisekedi, watched from a computer screen. He sent his top...
East Africa Leaders Push Peace Plan for Congo Crisis.
Kenya's President William Ruto, who leads East Africa's group of nations, asked for a stop to fighting in Congo at a meeting in Tanzania.
Ruto spoke to leaders from East and South Africa in Dar es Salaam. He said armies alone cannot fix Congo's troubles. Peace talks must include all sides, even the M23 fighters.
"We face deep problems with safety and help for people in Congo," Ruto said. He wants fighting to stop first, which would help start peace talks.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu said Africa must act. She fears future groups will blame them if Congo's fights go on.
Fighting has grown worse in east Congo. The M23 group took the big town of Goma. They move near Bukavu...
