Belgian judicial authorities are investigating possible money-laundering activities linked to ore trafficking by a minister in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), state-owned Radio-Television Belge de la Communaute Francaise (RTBF) reported from Brussels last Wednesday.

Two mass graves have been discovered in Mambasa, 50 km northwest of Beni, in the Ituri district of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the United Nations Mission in the DRC, known as MONUC.

Amnesty International is urging President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to use his prerogative to immediately commute the death sentences passed on some 30 defendants for their alleged role in the assassination of President Laurent-Desiré Kabila in January 2001.

Rebel groups have started withdrawing from a disputed town in northeastern Congo, a U.N. official said Wednesday, but more than 80,000 displaced people are hiding in nearby jungles and need urgent international aid.

The leaders of the various militia groups that have been fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are to meet this week in the northeastern city of Kisangani, according to the UN Mission in the DRC, known as MONUC.

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has written to DRC president Joseph Kabila expressing 'grave concern” at the detention of journalist Kadima Mukombe. According to reports, Mukombe, a journalist from Radio Kilimandjaro in Tshikapa, was arrested by seven soldiers on 31 December, and is accused of 'insulting the army'.

Some 35,000 people fled heavy artillery fire around Makeke, on the western edge of Ituri region in North Kivu Province of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Beni on 31st December 2002, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

At least 130,000 people had been displaced around the towns of Beni and Lubero, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Mission in the DRC (known as MONUC) said on Thursday.

The leaders of three rival militias groups fighting along the Isiro-Beni axis of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed a ceasefire agreement on Monday, which could, if respected, allow for the provision of humanitarian assistance. The agreement, reached in the northern town of Gbadolite on Monday, became effective immediately.

UNICEF, the UN Children's Fund, launched on Tuesday what it described as "a major campaign" to vaccinate 3.5 million children against measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

President Joseph Kabila has said he will guarantee security for all citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo after a peace agreement was signed on Tuesday. Under a complex deal, Mr Kabila will stay in his post for two years, but rebel forces and the political opposition will be given government portfolios, including three of the four vice presidential posts.
Related Link and Background:
*Deal to end Africa's worst war
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2582239.stm
* Leaders prepare for government posts
http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/central_africa/0,1009,49592,00.html
* Peace deal carries seeds of conflict
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?a=37&o=13555

The human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International (AI), has said it is "gravely concerned" that up to 115 people face imminent execution for their alleged role in the January 2001 assassination of the former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Laurent-Desire Kabila.

An outbreak of an acute respiratory syndrome in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has affected Bosobolo, Gbadolite, Gemena and Karawa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported last Thursday.

Rebel authorities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should immediately lift the ban on Radio Maendeleo, an independent radio station, Human Rights Watch says.

The Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC) and the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma), the two largest rebel factions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have reached a power-sharing agreement for a future transitional national government. However, the DRC government opposes the deal.
Related Link: Power-sharing talks resume in SA
http://ww.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31323

The Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) rebel movement last Friday claimed to have recaptured the mineral-rich town of Mwenga in South Kivu Province in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from a local Mayi-Mayi militia backed by Rwandan Hutu exiles.

The Health Manager (HM) is responsible for overseeing all IRC health interventions in Kabare Health Zone. The Health Manger is responsible for planning, developing and implementing emergency health interventions (in collaboration with the Health Coordinator) as needed, while planning longer-term public health programs.

The successful candidate will take the lead on the Masisi programme team for financial, administrative and human resources policy and procedural matters, set up and review. He/She will monitor all grants and programme budget finances, provide regular capacity building for staff and ensure clear internal audits as well as supervise accounts for external audits.

The strength of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) is to be expanded to a total of 8,700 military personnel and have its presence extended eastwards.

A human rights activist, along with his wife and young child, have been assassinated in their home close to Uvira in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.