A life in limbo for DRC refugees

Nearly 120,000 displaced people are believed to be taking refuge in northern Congo-Brazzaville, having fled violence in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of these refugees have been here before; some stayed for up to ten years before returning home. But after fighting erupted between the Boba and Lobala ethnic groups in October, the refugees are back.

FOCUS

By Eva Gilliam

The province of Likouala in northern Republic of Congo, is home yet again to tens of thousands of refugees from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates so far that 117,000 thousand refugees have crossed the Ubangi River from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Betou and Impfondo districts in the north of the Republic of Congo.

Many of these refugees were previously in the Republic of Congo for as long as 10 years. They fled the violence of the DRC’s Civil war and continued instability until DRC’s elections in 2006. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees officially completely their repatriation to DRC in 2008.

But Last October, clashes between the Boba and Lobala ethnic groups over access to farming and fishing rights in the area of Dongo in the DRC has again left many dead, wounded and tens of thousands running back to safety in the Republic of Congo.

While the DRC Government says it is safe to return home, the refugees are doubtful. Yet, living as a Refugee in Republic of Congo, is rife with it’s own challenges.

23/05/2012 - CANADA

Students in Quebec march against tuition fee hike

Student protests in the Canadian province of Quebec are now into their fourth month. Hundreds were arrested at marches to mark 100 days since the protests began. Students are demonstrating against an 80% rise in tuition fees in Quebec, the Canadian province that has until now enjoyed the country's lowest rates for higher education.

23/05/2012 - EGYPT

Egyptians head to the polls

Egyptians go to the polls in the country's first truly contested presidential election on Wednesday. With an array of candidates to choose from, voters will decide who's the best man to lead them through the last phase of the country's troubled democratic transition that began with Egypt's revolution in January last year. Cairo correspondents Kathryn Stapley and Sonia Dridi talked to some of the activists whose protests in Tahrir Square changed the course of Egypt's history.

22/05/2012 - EGYPT

A troubling time for Egypt's Coptic Christians

Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to vote for a new president for the first time since Hosni Mubarak was ousted during the revolution last year. Two of the front-runners in the presidential race with a realistic chance of winning are devout Islamists, which is troubling for Egypt's Coptic Christians. They are Egypt's largest religious minority and many of them don't think any of the candidates are capable of protecting them from the religious violence that has been steadily increasing.

22/05/2012 - WEST BANK

'The Battle of the Empty Stomachs'

Palestinians nicknamed it "the battle of the empty stomachs". For weeks, 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails refused food and drink in what became the longest ever mass hunger strike. Israel finally capitulated and a deal was reached, allowing those in isolation back onto the general wards, and visas for those family members wishing to visit from Gaza. In exchange, prisoners agreed not to carry out "security activities" such as recruiting for terrorist missions.

21/05/2012 - SERBIA

Serbia's new president - nationalist or not?

Serbia has elected a new president - and it's not the one that most people were expecting. Tomislav Nikolic has unseated Boris Tadic, the man in power since 2004. Observers are worried about the new head of state, who used to be part of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party. He once said he would prefer to be allied with Russia than join the EU, but he has since toned down the rhetoric, saying he will take Serbia to Europe after all.

- Congo Brazzaville - DR Congo - refugees

A life in limbo for DRC refugees

Students in Quebec march against tuition fee hike

Egyptians head to the polls

A troubling time for Egypt's Coptic Christians

'The Battle of the Empty Stomachs'

Serbia's new president - nationalist or not?

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