The Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, suspends for a period of 12 months the importation of beers and soft drinks throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

The measure emanates from its order temporarily suspending the importation of beers and soft drinks, signed on June 26 and made public this Thursday, July 18, 2024. The Minister of Foreign Trade warns that products imported in violation of the provisions of this order will be returned or destroyed at the offender's expense.

However, it promises exemptions to economic operators in the event of a supply need in areas where consumers have difficult access to local products.

Another decree published that same Thursday also prohibits the importation, for a period of 12 months, of gray cements and clinkers, this time in the West and South-East part of the DRC. However, the two orders do not affect any imports carried out in accordance with trade agreements.

The Secretary General of Trade, the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA), the Congolese Control Office (OCC), the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) and the Directorate of the National Border Hygiene Program (PNHF) are responsible for ensuring the application of these orders.

Julien Paluku motivates his decision by the desire to reduce the import bill, protect local industry and increase its performance as well as fight against import fraud which still persists at border posts in the DRC.

Patrick Muyaya says that the DRC gorvenment is still waiting for clarification from Uganda on the UN experts report

 

M23 drops another in Bweramana killing 4 including a FARDC soldier

 After dropping a bomb which caused the death of 4 people and injured others, this morning, intense fighting between the M23 rebels supported by the Rwanda and the FARDC with the Wazalendo are reported in Ndumba, Kabase, Mushirwa.

Yet another bomb has just fallen at Bweremana killing 1 soldier FARDC on the spot and injuring 8 other people including 4 soldiers, 3 civilian mothers and a child.

The population, which had resisted for several months, is beginning to worry about the deterioration of the security situation in the area.

According to our information on site, the rebels of M23 are less than 5km from Bweremana.

A total of 85 inmates escaped from the Manono central prison, located in the province of Tanganyika, on Sunday, July 14, 2024.

The news was confirmed to  the media on Monday by the interim administrator of the Manono territory, Germain Mwamba. He claims that the escape took place around 8 p.m. local time.

"According to the information we have received, there is a case of 85 escapees. It was around 8:05 p.m. that this escape took place. In the course of their manoeuvres, these prisoners dug a hole in a cell. And that hole was driven in to destroy the foundation of the prison as well as the foundation of the fence until all the prisoners had escaped," he explained.

On Wednesday, June 26, at least 20 inmates, including 16 civilians and a soldier, escaped from the same prison.

The Somali government has claimed that over 50 al-Shabaab militants were killed in a joint operation in Dhabaqle area - between the towns of Masagaway and Awsweyne

 

The Somali government has claimed that over 50 al-Shabaab militants were killed in a joint operation in Dhabaqle area - between the towns of Masagaway and Awsweyne, Galgudud region. The operation was carried out by federal and local forces with support from international partners.

Meanwhile, the al-Shabaab militant group claimed killing 27 government soldiers in Wanniile area, near El-Dheer town, Galgudud region, Monday.

Unclear if the two incidents are related.

Casualty figures given by the two sides have not been independently verified as of now.

FARDC and WAZALENDO claim to have captured a large ADF base

 

The Congolese army, supported by young Wazalendo resistance fighters claim to have captured  a large military base belonging to the ADF.

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kisoro district:Nyundo sub county chief nabbed bonking another man's wife

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