Protests Enter Third Day in DRC as President Attempts to Extend his Power
January 21, 2015 in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gunshots were heard Wednesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital city, Kinshasa, as police cracked down on a new student demonstration at the city’s main university, following two days of bloody violence that has been sparked by attempts by President Joseph Kabila to extend his term in office beyond the 2016 presidential elections.
Protests erupted on Monday and have continued over the past days, with many heading to the streets, protesting against the government’s attempts to extend President Kabila’s term. On Wednesday, security forces sealed off the government-run University of Kinshasa, which has been the focal point of protests over the past three days. The protests also prompted the Roman Catholic Church to close its schools in the capital city on Wednesday, with Cardinal Pasinya announcing that they will remain closed until Monday. According to government spokesman Lambert Mende, eleven people, including a policeman, have been killed in the protests, with twenty-two others wounded. The opposition however has disputed these figures. Opposition leader Vital Kamerhe has indicated that at least twenty-eight protesters have been killed – twenty on Monday and eight on Tuesday. Protests in Kinshasa, which has a population of more than 9 million and which is seen as an opposition stronghold, are likely to continue over the coming days.
The protests coincided with a debate in the Senate, the upper parliamentary chamber, over government plans to hold a census before the elections. On Saturday, the lower chamber, the House of Representatives, approved the plan in a vote that was boycotted by the opposition MP’s. Most senators, including members of the governing party, have indicated that they are opposed to the plan as it risks destabilizing the country. The opposition has indicated that the move amounts to a “constitutional coup” by the president as it will take years for a census to be conducted in a country that has little infrastructure and which continues to be plagued by instability in the eastern region.
Opposition parties believe that the real aim of the new measures is to keep President Kabila in power after his mandate, which is set to expire in 2016. The president, who has won two disputed elections, is constitutionally barred from running for a third term. Sources have reported that the president’s regime is now seeking to make the staging of the presidential and parliamentary elections, which must be held by the end of 2016, contingent on the outcome of a census that is planned to start this year across the vast central African country. While the government had earlier indicated that it can complete the work within a year, this week, officials admitted that the election could be delayed and take place in 2017, however they have maintained that the census is vital to ensure that the polls are free and fair.
Both the opposition parties and regional analysts have indicated that the census would likely postpone the polls by at least two years and would effectively keep President Kabila in office for more than fifteen years. Officials have estimated that it would take up to three years to undertake a reliable census in a country that is still gripped by serious unrest in the east. The mineral-rich DRC has some 65 million people in a country that has little infrastructure and where difficult communications make any census highly difficult. The situation in the DRC is being closely followed after a move by Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore late last year to extend his own time in office led to mass rallies that swiftly forced him to flee.
2014 Ebola Outbreak – October Review
October 11, 2014 in West AfricaExecutive Summary
Total Cases and Deaths: As of 23 September 2014 (WHO)
3,083 people have died from Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. 6,553 (probable, confirmed and suspected) cases.
The current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa has not been contained, with transmission continuing to occur in both community and healthcare settings. Resistance to efforts to control the disease, including outright denials that EVD exists and fears that healthcare workers deployed to combat the virus are spreading it, have further hindered efforts to prevent the disease from spreading and have effectively resulted in the region developing into a fertile ground for speculation and mistaken beliefs. This has sparked a rise in attacks on healthcare workers, including the recent death of an eight-member team in Guinea.
Over the past several weeks, the spread of EVD in West Africa has continued to accelerate. As of 23 September 2014, a total of 3,083 people have died of EVD, with another 6,553 reported cases. While the disease remains concentrated in three countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – it has continued to spread to new regions within these affected countries. On 30 September 2014, officials in the United States confirmed the first Ebola case. The current West Africa Ebola outbreak is likely to continue for another six – nine months before it is completely contained, with World Health Organization (WHO) officials predicting upwards of 20,000 cases.
Affected countries currently fall into two categories: Those with widespread and intense transmission – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – and those with either an initial case or cases, or with localized transmission – Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria; Dakar in Senegal; Dallas, Texas in the United States. The capital cities of Guinea (Conakry), Liberia (Monrovia) and Sierra Leone (Freetown) have all been affected by the current outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified three patterns of transmission:
- In rural communities, which is facilitated by strong cultural practices and traditional beliefs;
- In densely populated urban communities;
- Cross-border transmission
- Countries with Widespread and Intense Transmission
Guinea
Total Cases: As of 23 September 2014
1074 clinical cases (876 confirmed; 162 probable; 36 suspected); 648 deaths (481 confirmed; 162 probable; 5 suspected)
Current Affected Areas: Conakry, Coyah, Forecariah, Gueckedou, Kouroussa, Macenta, Siguiri, Pita, Nzerekore, Dubreka, Youmou, Kerouane.
No Longer Active: Boffa, Dabola, Dinguiraya, Kissidougou, Telimele
In September, the district of Kindia reported its first confirmed case of EVD. While there have been a number of other areas across the country that have not reported any new cases of EVD, currently there is no indication of a sustained reduction in case incidence in Guinea.
In mid-September, eight people, involved in Ebola awareness-raising activities, were killed near Womey, near the town of Nzerekore in the Forest region of Guinea. Police officials in the region have confirmed that the team was targeted on suspicion that they were attempting to spread the virus. In a separate incident on 24 September, a Red Cross team was attacked while collecting bodies believed to be infected with Ebola in south-eastern Guinea. Further such incidents in the coming weeks are likely to occur.
Land borders with Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone have been closed. Health screenings at all border crossings have been set up and all travellers displaying a fever, or EVD-like symptoms, will be subject to quarantine and/or denied entry/exit, from the country. Expect to experience delays at land border crossings. Enhanced screening measures have been introduced for outbound passengers at Conakry airport.
Liberia
Total Cases: As of 23 September 2014
3458 clinical cases (914 confirmed, 1539 probable, 1005 suspected); 1830 deaths (792 confirmed; 623 probably; 415 suspected)
Current Affected Areas: Lofa, Montserrado, Margibi, Bomi, Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe, Gbarpolu, Grand Kru
Liberia remains the most-affected country in the current Ebola outbreak. The number of newly reported cases continues to rise on a week-to-week basis. This is primarily driven by a continuation of a recent surge in cases in the capital city, Monrovia, coupled with a lack of capacity in Ebola treatment centres.
In September, six confirmed cases of EVD and four deaths were reported in the district of Grand Kru, a rural area located near the border with the Ivory Coast. This is the first time the EVD cases have been reported in this area of the country.
Since 20 August, a state of emergency has been in place, with security forces enforcing a nationwide curfew. Between 11PM and 6AM every night no movement is allowed anywhere in the entire country. Liberian authorities have set up road blocks in a bid to restrict movement around the country while security forces have been deployed in order to enforce quarantine for certain areas, including Lofa county. In Monrovia, the army and police have sealed off the neighbourhood of West Point with the area being placed under quarantine. There have been a number of outbreaks of violence, with civilians rioting at hospitals and attacking health workers.
All borders of Liberia have been closed, with the exception of major entry points, including the Roberts International Airport and James Spriggs Payne Airport. The Bo Waterside Crossing to Sierra Leone remains closed along with the Foya Crossing to Guinea. Any remaining border crossings may be closed with minimal notice. The Liberia Airport Authority has introduced enhanced screening measures for both inbound and outbound travellers at airport facilities.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has established hotlines for the public to get basic information on Ebola: Call 0770198517 or 0777549805 or 0886530260 or 0886549805.
General medical facilities throughout the country are currently under severe strain as a result of the Ebola outbreak. Dedicated healthcare facilities for Ebola are overwhelmed and may not accept further cases.
Sierra Leone
Total Cases: As of 23 September 2014
2021 clinical cases (1816 confirmed, 37 probable, 168 suspected); 605 deaths (557 confirmed; 37 probable; 11 suspected)
Current Affected Areas: Kailahun, Kenema, Kono, Kambia, Bombali, Tonkolili, Port Loko, Pujehun, Bo, Moyamba, Bonthe, Western Area
EVD cases in Sierra Leone continue to increase. Transmission remains high in the capital city, Freetown, and in the surrounding urban areas. Although over the past several weeks the number of newly reported cases in the districts of Kailahun and Kenema appear to have stabilized, a number of other districts have reported an increase. These include Port Loko, a district adjacent to Freetown, Bo, Bombali and Tonkolili.
Between 19 – 21 September, the Sierra Leonean government imposed a three-day nationwide shutdown. During this period, civilians were required to remain in their homes while Ebola awareness teams were deployed across the country to search for possible EVD patients. The government has since deemed the programme a success, adding that further such shutdowns may be implemented in the near future.
- Countries with Initial Case/Cases or Localized Transmission
Three countries, Nigeria and Senegal and most recently the United States, have reported a case or cases imported from a country with widespread and intense transmission.
Nigeria
Total Cases: As of 23 September 2014
20 clinical cases (19 confirmed; 1 probable; 0 suspected); 8 deaths (7 confirmed; 1 probable)
Current Affected Areas: Lagos and Port Harcourt
While Nigeria has not reported any new EVD cases since the first week of September, the country has not been deemed Ebola-free however the spread of EVD has been contained. All EVD cases in Nigeria occurred in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Nigeria’s first Ebola case was an imported one and all cases in the transmission chain have been linked to a single person. Contact tracing and follow-up is on-going. In Nigeria, 847 contacts (out of a total of 872) have now completed the 21-day follow-up (349 contacts in Lagos; 498 in Port Harcourt). The last confirmed case in Lagos was reported on 5 September while the last confirmed case in Port Harcourt was reported on 1 September. In Lagos, all contacts have completed the 21-day follow-up.
Senegal
In Senegal, all contacts have now completed the 21-day follow-up and there have been no further reported cases of EVD. The last confirmed case of EVD was reported on 28 August. While the country has not been confirmed to be Ebola-free, the spread of EVD has been contained.
United States
Total Cases: As of 23 September 2014
1 Confirmed Case; 0 deaths
Current Affected Areas: Dakar
On 30 September, officials confirmed the first Ebola case in Dallas, Texas. Officials have confirmed that the unidentified male patient is being kept in isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. It is believed that the man contracted the virus in Liberia prior to travelling to the US nearly two weeks ago. He arrived in the US on September 20. Symptoms of the virus became apparent on September 24 and the patient was admitted and placed in isolation on 28 September. While previously US aid workers have come back to the US, after catching Ebola in West Africa, this is the first case of a patient developing the virus on US soil. Health officials are currently identifying all people who came into contact with the unnamed patient while he was infectious. Those people will then be monitored for a period of 21 days.
Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Total Cases: As of 24 September 2014
70 clinical cases (30 confirmed; 26 probable; 14 suspected); 40 deaths
Current Affected Areas: Equateur province
An epidemic has since been declared in the region of Djera, in the territory of Boende in the province of Equateur. Officials however believe that the infections are of a different strain to those in the outbreak in West Africa. One of the two cases tested positive for the Sudanese strain of the disease, while the other tested positive for a mixture between the Sudanese and the Zaire strain. The outbreak in West Africa is due to the Zaire strain.
Ebola Death Toll Nears 2,000 Mark
September 5, 2014 in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West AfricaAccording to new figures released Thursday by the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1,900 people have died in West Africa’s Ebola outbreak. There have also been 3,500 confirmed or probable cases reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WHO chief Margaret Chan warned Thursday “the outbreaks are racing ahead of the control efforts in these countries,” adding that at least US $600 million (£360 million) is needed in order to fight the virus. Ms Chan has described the current outbreak as “the largest and most severe and most complex we have ever seen.”
The latest statistics represent a significant increase from the 1,552 deaths and 3,069 cases that were reported by the Geneva-based organisation last week. According to the WHO, more than 40% of the deaths have occurred in the three weeks leading up to 3 September. This indicates that the epidemic is fast outpacing efforts to control it. According to Ms Chan, the WHO “…would like to reverse the trend in three months” in those countries where there is a “very tense transmission.” This includes Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. In countries with “localized transmission,” such as Senegal, where so far only one case has been reported, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which now has reported 31 deaths, the WHO “would like to stop all transmission within eight weeks.”
The speed of the deadly virus has prompted WHO officials to meet on Thursday in order to examine the most promising treatments and to discuss how to fast-track testing and production. According to sources, disease control experts, medical researchers, officials from affected countries and specialists in medical ethics will be represented at the meeting, which will take place in Geneva.
The Ebola virus has continued to spread in Nigeria, despite WHO officials stating that they were hopeful it would remain under control. On Wednesday, Nigerian authorities reported two additional cases in the city of Port Harcourt. Until the Port Harcourt case was announced, Nigeria’s government had indicated that the virus was contained in Lagos. On Thursday, the WHO warned “the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Port Harcourt has the potential to grow larger and spread faster than the one in Lagos.” The UN health body has disclosed that the virus’ arrival in Port Harcourt, located 435 kilometres (270 miles) east of Lagos and home to oil and gas majors including Chevron, Shell and Total, showed “multiple high-risk opportunities for transmission of the virus to others.” Out of 255 people currently under surveillance for signs of the disease, 60 are considered to have had “high-risk or very high-risk exposure.
