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Boat Disaster on Congo River Claims 52 Lives
A boat capsized on the Congo River over the weekend, killing at least 52 people, according to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s transport minister, Marc Ekila. The boat was overloaded and sailing at night, which are both prohibited by regulations.
Ekila spoke at a televised press conference on Monday night, two days after the deadly incident. He said an investigation is underway and those responsible for the capsizing will be held accountable.
The boat had just departed from the western city of Mbandaka and was heading further west into the country’s rainforest region when it capsized. The passenger manifest was not found, making it impossible to know how many people were on board and how many are still missing.
Ekila said there have been 88 incidents on DR Congo’s waters this year alone.
The Congo River is the second-longest river in Africa, and it is a major transportation route for people and goods in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the river can be dangerous, especially during the rainy season.
Guinea Cracks Down on Press Freedom with Sweeping Arrests
Guinean security forces arrested a dozen journalists on Monday, October 17, 2023, for protesting alleged media censorship in the country. The arrests took place in the capital, Conakry, where the journalists had gathered to demand that the authorities lift restrictions placed on the popular news website Guineematin and to protest against other violations of press freedom.
Among those arrested was the secretary-general of the Union of Professionals of the Press of Guinea (SPPG), Sekou Jamal Pendessa. The journalists were brought to a court after being accused of taking part in an illegal assembly.
Guinea’s ruling junta, which seized power in September 2021, has banned protests since 2022. The junta has also not provided any explanation for the blockage of Guineematin, which has reportedly been blocked in Guinea for the last two months.
The arrests of the journalists have been condemned by local and international media organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for the immediate release of the journalists and for the junta to end its crackdown on the press.
“The arrest of these journalists is a clear attempt to silence dissent and stifle independent reporting,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator. “The junta must immediately release all of the journalists it has detained and allow the press to work freely.”
Ghana Navy Rescues Thousands Amid Floods
The Ghana Navy was Monday deployed to rescue thousands of people affected by flooding caused by the spillage of excess water from major dams.
More than 8,000 people have been rescued in the Volta region after heavy flooding caused by the overflow of Akosombo and Kpong hydro-electric dams.
Commodore EA Kwafo, a navy official, told local media that they had “evacuated over 8,000 flood-stricken people to safe havens.” He said they were also responding to distress calls and keeping watch on critical infrastructure.
The navy has deployed more boats downstream and experienced divers and lifesavers to assist in the rescue efforts. Commodore Kwafo said more resources would be made available depending on the situation.
The “controlled spillage” of the dams began about a month ago and is still ongoing, the Volta River Authority said. It says the flooding has created a humanitarian challenge downstream in several communities in parts of the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions.
At least 12,000 people are reported to have been displaced by the floods so far.
The Ghana Navy is working with other agencies to provide relief to those affected by the floods.
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