Joe Bavier
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/ 3 August 2007

DRC train crash kills at least 100

A train crash in a remote part of Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 100 people and injured more than 200, the Central African country’s minister of information said on Thursday. Injured survivors initially walked or were transported by bicycle from the scene of the wreck 12km to the nearest hospital.

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/ 22 May 2007

Child soldiers still fight in DRC’s new army

Long after the end of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) civil war, child soldier Pierre was told he was finally going home. The commanders in the renegade army brigade that forced him to fight said he would be free after a deal meant to bring peace to the violence-torn eastern province of North Kivu.

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/ 21 May 2007

DRC militia threaten to kill rare gorillas

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) militia are threatening to slaughter rare mountain gorillas in DRC’s Virunga National Park after they raided the eastern reserve at the weekend, killing a wildlife officer, officials said. Up to three more local wildlife workers were injured in the attacks early on Sunday by Mai Mai militia fighters.

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/ 14 May 2007

Chinese firms face new reality of DRC mining

Just a few months ago, flatbed trucks, pickups and even a creaking bicycle streamed up to a concrete-block hut, bringing bags of copper and cobalt ore from the mines of southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The shelter is a buying depot for JMT Mining SPRL, one of dozens of informal collection points for ore exported for processing to feed China’s demand for industrial commodities.

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/ 11 April 2007

Bemba flies for treatment in Portugal

Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba left the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, ending three weeks holed up in South Africa’s embassy after his forces were routed in two days of fighting that killed 600 last month. A Reuters witness said Bemba boarded a private jet bound for Portugal, where he is due to have medical treatment.

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/ 25 March 2007

DRC clashes leave over 100 dead

More than 100 people were killed in two days of heavy fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) capital Kinshasa, hospital officials said on Sunday, as diplomats expressed fears for the country’s fledgling democracy. Government forces restored order to Kinshasa late on Friday after routing fighters loyal to defeated presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba.

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/ 24 March 2007

Army restores order to DRC capital, Bemba wanted

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army restored order to the capital Kinshasa on Friday after two days of heavy fighting with troops loyal to former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, who the government accused of treason. Sporadic shooting continued after dark in the downtown area around United Nations headquarters, where about 900 civilians were earlier evacuated.