business
Wealth and Warfare Empower a Rwanda-Backed Militant Group in Congo
Rare-earth minerals critical for smartphone manufacturing. Lucrative trafficking routes and dizzying stockpiles of weapons. The lives of millions of people. All are now under the control of the M23 militia and its powerful backer, Rwanda. M23 reigns over a vast territory in eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to lucrative mines and … Read more
Congo and Rwanda Call for Cease-Fire in Their Deadly Conflict
The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have called for a cease-fire in eastern Congo in a bid to end the latest deadly chapter in a three-decade conflict. Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of Congo and Paul Kagame of Rwanda committed to an “immediate and unconditional cease-fire,” according to a joint statement issued with … Read more
South Africa Will Not Remove Antarctic Team After a Reported Assault
South Africa will not remove scientists from a remote base in Antarctica after investigating allegations that one of them physically assaulted and sexually harassed other researchers at the outpost, the country’s environment department said on Tuesday. “There were no incidents that required any of the nine overwintering team members to be brought back to Cape … Read more
These Sudanese Refugees Fled War. Now, Crucial U.S. Aid Is Running Out.
Fatehiyya Mohamed Adam is a Sudanese refugee who first fled war in 2023 and then lost everything after an accidental fire ripped through this refugee camp along the Chad-Sudan border. HIAS, a refugee advocacy N.G.O. that was poised to help her with emergency services, couldn’t after the U.S. government suspended its work in massive foreign … Read more
U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts Hit Sudanese Refugees Fleeing Violence and Famine in Darfur
U.S. foreign aid cuts impacting Sudanese refugees in Chad have reduced already razor-thin margins for lifesaving resources like food and water, and other U.S. government-funded programs including mental health counseling and education. “When we told [the students] the decision, that we’re going to close the school, most of them were crying,” said Aballah Abakar Abdallah, … Read more
Rwanda Cuts Ties With Belgium Over Congo Conflict and E.U. Sanctions
Rwanda severed diplomatic ties on Monday with its former colonial ruler, Belgium, which has been pushing to penalize Rwanda over its invasion of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry gave Belgian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country. The diplomatic escalation came as the European Union, at the urging of Belgium, on … Read more
How South Sudan Returned to the Brink of War
The world’s youngest nation faces the threat of war yet again. This month, a United Nations helicopter was attacked during an evacuation mission in a remote area in South Sudan, with one member of its crew killed and two others seriously injured. The flight was rescuing wounded government soldiers who had clashed with an armed … Read more
Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Domestic Worker Abuse in Saudi Arabia
In most countries, working as a housekeeper or nanny is a relatively safe profession. Yet as we traveled across Kenya and Uganda, from crowded and poor urban neighborhoods to far-flung farming villages, we heard many variations on the same horror story: Young, healthy women set off for domestic jobs in Saudi Arabia, only to return … Read more
Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Domestic Worker Abuse in Saudi Arabia
In most countries, working as a housekeeper or nanny is a relatively safe profession. Yet as we traveled across Kenya and Uganda, from crowded and poor urban neighborhoods to far-flung farming villages, we heard many variations on the same horror story: Young, healthy women set off for domestic jobs in Saudi Arabia, only to return … Read more