Grieving families buried victims of a devastating fire in Bukavu, eastern DRC, on Monday, after the blaze killed at least 29 people, most of them schoolchildren, and injured dozens.

The Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Namibia, Christian Katoto, joined Congolese in Namibia to pray and commemorate the National Day of Genocide.

Thousands of Congolese were killed and buried in mass graves since 1996 in what is known as 30 years of bloodshed in Eastern Congo.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ambassador to Botswana, Patrick Mutombo, has positioned the country as a strategic hub ripe for investment despite the raging war in other provinces.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned on Thursday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC continues to expand, with 1,406 confirmed cases and 438 deaths, as violence and mistrust threaten efforts to contain the virus.

National media coordinators and development partners in Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Comoros have been urged to intensify awareness and promotion of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards.

AFC-M23 group leader Corneille Nangaa accused Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi of making a 'declaration of war' during a press conference in Goma on Thursday, following remarks about retaking territories held by the movement.

He argued that the comments amounted to an end to the Doha peace process.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have reported a combined 240 cases of Ebola with 80 fatalities, including four healthcare workers.

The World Health Organisation, as well as the Africa Centre for Disease Control, confirmed the outbreak and interventions to curb the spread.

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi hinted at a potential third term “if people want me” during a World Press Freedom Day event in Kinshasa.

“I haven’t sought a third term, but if the people want me to have one, I will accept it,” he said.

Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are working to strengthen cooperation on defence and security during a meeting between Namibia’s Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, and DRC’s Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Guy Mwadiamvita, in Windhoek.

The extraordinary meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Ministers of Defense has elected Brigadier General Charles Nakeempa of Zambia as the Commander of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism for the Democratic Republic of Congo.