Democratic Republic of the Congo

Economics

Politics

Congolese opposition figures including Moise Katumbi, Martin Fayulu and former President Joseph Kabila announced that they were forming a new coalition to oppose President Felix Tshisekedi's proposed constitutional changes, Jeune Afrique reported on Nov. 20.

Congo: Opposition Unites Against Proposed Constitutional Changes

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Nigeria

Venezuela

Algeria

Iran

Iraq

Kuwait

Libya

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Russia

Energy

Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and other OPEC+ participants will delay the start of their planned unwinding of 2.2 million barrels per day in voluntary oil production cuts from Dec. 1 to the end of December, OPEC announced in a Nov. 3 press release. 

OPEC+: Unwinding of Voluntary Production Cuts Delayed by One Month

Military & Security

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi announced plans to amend the country's constitution, Radio France Internationale reported on Oct. 24.

Congo: Tshisekedi Announces Plans To Amend Constitution

Uganda

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi announced on Oct. 12 the extension of its joint "Shujaa" operation with Uganda against the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces, or ADF, the Daily Monitor reported on Oct 14. 

Congo, Uganda: Congolese Leader Announces Extension of Joint Operations Against ADF Rebels

Angola

Rwanda

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda reached an agreement regarding the disarmament of the radical Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, in eastern Congo, the state-owned Angola Press News Agency reported on Oct. 13. 

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Reports Agreement Over FDLR's Disarmament

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began an mpox vaccination campaign in the eastern city of Goma in North Kivu province, Voice of America reported on Oct. 6.

Congo: Mpox Vaccination Campaign Begins

Mozambique

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's military launched operations against the radical Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda group, or FDLR, on Sept. 23, Jeune Afrique reported on Sept. 27.

Congo: Military Begins Operations Against FDLR, Targets Allied Wazalendo Militia

Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio held talks with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi regarding the progress of peace talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Radio Okapi reported on Sept. 20.

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Steps Up Efforts To Consolidate Eastern Congo Cease-Fire 

Assessments

Zambia

United States

China

Workers move batches of copper sheets on July 6, 2016, in Mufulira, Zambia. Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia Banks on the Green Rush for Copper 

Botswana

Comoros

Lesotho

Madagascar

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Mauritius

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Seychelles

South Africa

Eswatini

Tanzania

Zimbabwe

Egypt

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Vietnam

France

Yael Braun-Pivet, a French lawmaker for the ruling Renaissance party, delivers a speech after being reelected as National Assembly president following the third round of voting on July 18, 2024.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: France Resumes Political Horse-Trading, Blinken Returns to Middle East

Snapshots

Ethiopia

Ghana

Kenya

South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) speaks as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (L), chair of the African Union, listens during a joint press conference following the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit in Goyang, South Korea, on June 4, 2024.

A recent summit highlights South Korea's commitment to expanding its role in Africa as Yoon looks to strengthen his country's technological future and geopolitical influence.

In South Korea, Yoon's Desire for Supply Chains and Prestige Points to Africa

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

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?

Senegal

Taiwan

Europe

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.

U.S.-China Relations

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

Chad

Chile

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

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

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

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

<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: Opposition Unites Against Proposed Constitutional Changes

OPEC+: Unwinding of Voluntary Production Cuts Delayed by One Month

Congo: Tshisekedi Announces Plans To Amend Constitution

Congo, Uganda: Congolese Leader Announces Extension of Joint Operations Against ADF Rebels

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Reports Agreement Over FDLR's Disarmament

Congo: Mpox Vaccination Campaign Begins

Congo: Military Begins Operations Against FDLR, Targets Allied Wazalendo Militia

Congo, Rwanda: Angola Steps Up Efforts To Consolidate Eastern Congo Cease-Fire

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