At least 75 Congolese soldiers will stand trial for deserting their posts as M23 rebels advance in eastern Congo, the military prosecutor's office said. The troops face charges including murder, rape, and looting following their retreat from the frontline in South Kivu.
Congo’s military authorities announced the trial of 75 soldiers accused of fleeing as M23 rebels seized the town of Nyabibwe, located 70 km north of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. The troops also face charges of violence against civilians, including looting and murder.
The United Nations has reported widespread human rights violations following the M23 offensive, implicating rebels, Congolese forces, and pro-government militias in abuses such as summary executions and sexual violence. Congo has not responded to allegations against its soldiers but has called for a U.N. investigation into crimes it blames on M23 rebels and Rwanda.
Rwanda, which denies supporting M23, has rejected any responsibility. The rebel group has not commented on the accusations. Despite announcing a ceasefire, M23 forces continue advancing south toward Bukavu, raising fears of further instability.
Local civil society groups report ongoing looting by deserting soldiers, with at least 10 civilians killed in Kavumu, a town near Bukavu’s airport. Provincial army spokesman Nestor Mavudisa assured that rogue troops would be punished and urged civilians to remain calm.
Meanwhile, fighting over the weekend remained sporadic, with clashes reported in a national park 30 km from Bukavu. In a bid to ease tensions, African leaders convened a rare joint summit last week, urging direct talks between the warring parties. The Congolese government acknowledged the summit’s resolutions but has yet to outline its next steps.
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Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
Russian parliamentary elections have delivered a comfortable win to the ruling United Russia party, which is closely aligned to President Vladimir Putin. With more than 95 per cent of ballots counted, United Russia has taken 57.83 per cent of the vote, up from the 49.8 per cent it won in 2021.
A powerful typhoon was approaching Japan’s Pacific coast on Monday, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and a heightened risk of landslides across the Kanto region, including Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 21 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in sports.
Baku is preparing to host its 10th Formula 1 race, with the city’s streets once again set to transform into one of the most demanding circuits on the F1 calendar.
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