Protesters shout next to a roadblock in the middle of the main avenue of Beni during a demonstration against the postponement of elections in the territory of the Beni and the city of Butembo on December 27, 2018.— AFP/VNA PhotoViet Nam News BENI, DR Congo — A DR Congo opposition bloc called on Thursday for a nationwide stoppage and police clashed with demonstrators in two eastern cities after upcoming elections were placed on hold in their region. Lamuka, a coalition of parties supporting opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, called for cities to be brought to a standstill on Friday, two days before polling day. A diplomatic storm with the European Union meanwhile erupted into the open as the government demanded Brussels withdraw its envoy to Kinshasa within 48 hours -- a call the EU said was "completely unjustified". Delayed several times, the election will be the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first presidential ballot in seven years. But on Wednesday, the … [Read more...] about Strike call, protests in DR Congo after new election delay
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China’s Xi offers another $60 billion to Africa, but says no to ‘vanity’ projects
Speaking at the opening of a major summit with African leaders, Xi promised development that people on the continent could see and touch, but that would also be green and sustainable. China has denied engaging in “debt trap” diplomacy, and Xi’s offer of more money comes after a pledge of another $60 billion at the previous summit in South Africa three years ago. Xi, addressing leaders at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, said the new $60 billion will include $15 billion of aid, interest-free loans and concessional loans, a credit line of $20 billion, a $10 billion special fund for China-Africa development, and a $5 billion special fund for imports from Africa. Chinese companies will be encouraged to invest no less than $10 billion in the continent in the next three years, he said. Government debt from China’s interest free loans due by the end of 2018 will be written off for indebted poor African countries, as well as for developing nations in the … [Read more...] about China’s Xi offers another $60 billion to Africa, but says no to ‘vanity’ projects