In a bare classroom in the Ndolo neighbourhood of Kinshasa, a handful of young people take notes at ancient wooden desks.
Yves Diabikulwa paced the room and gestured dramatically as he instructed the listeners how to go about changing their country. “Everything starts from culture,” said the 23-year-old, delivering the lecture with the ease of a professor and the intensity of an activist. “Culture can change behaviour, which can change politics. If we can change the culture, we can change everything.”
This was not a school lesson. It was a Saturday, and outside in the sandy schoolyard, children played football. The gathering was a meeting for new members of Lutte Pour le Changement - or Struggle for Change, known as Lucha. It is a grassroots movement of young people pushing for democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Across this vast nation, pro-democracy groups like Lucha are growing, gaining followers despite the threat of arrest and death. But overcoming an entrenched political status quo is a daunting task, and their mobilisation capacity is limited. Still, their activism is building awareness in society, encouraging citizens to become engaged and demand a government that serves the people, instead of politicians.
Joseph Kongolo, head of the Center for Studies in Political Governance and Leadership in Kinshasa, said their activism contributed to the decision of Congo’s president of almost 18 years, Joseph Kabila, to step down after an election next week. “This is not a gift, but it’s due to the actions of the pro-democracy movements,” he said.
The government’s crackdown on the activists, arresting and jailing them, shows it considers them a serious threat, he said. The movements’ rejection of political parties and commitment to peaceful protest has won them followers in a country where many citizens are tired of years of conflict, and consider political parties corrupt.
The DRC, a central African nation larger than Western Europe, has vast reserves of mineral wealth, but its 80 million citizens are some of the poorest in the world. Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, corrupt authoritarian rulers and years of conflict have stunted development. Armed insurgencies rage in several regions of the country, and an Ebola outbreak in the east is now the second worst in history. Observers fear that deeper political instability could fuel wider conflict that could destabilise the entire region. A war in Congo from 1998 to 2003 drew in neighbouring countries and killed millions of people.
On Sunday voters will go to the polls to choose a new president. But the election is not a guarantee of real change. Mr Kabila chose as his preferred successor his former interior minister, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who is under European Union sanctions for directing violent crackdowns on protesters. In interviews earlier this month, DRC’s longtime leader hinted he might run again in 2023, when permitted by the constitution.
The opposition and international observers have voiced strong concerns about the credibility of the election. Opposition candidates have been prevented from campaigning,including by police using live ammunition and tear gas to disperse their supporters. Security forces killed at least seven opposition supporters, wounded more than 50, and arbitrarily detained dozens of people last week, according to Human Rights Watch. Many Congolese fear the electronic voting machines, due to be deployed for the first time in an election here, could allow the government to rig the vote. A fire at a national electoral commission warehouse in Kinshasa last week reportedly destroyed thousands of the voting machines that were scheduled to be used in the capital, leading to fears the election could be postponed.
Speaking to The National, Communication Minister Lambert Mende insisted the persecution of political activists is not among his country's problems however. "I don't see anyone who has been arrested, and sued in court, just because of saying what he thinks," he said. "The activist has nothing to fear because if they did have something to fear, they could not [be] going and speaking with you openly as they are doing."
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Read more:
Nobel Peace Prize 2018 winners call for an end to rape in conflict
Fears over Ebola containment after deadly virus spreads to DRC city
Belgium's Africa museum: a fitting tribute or a testament to colonialism?
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The pro-democracy activists organised and participated in protests demanding Mr Kabila’s departure, but they have also built a following by focusing on more basic issues as well. Many people in the DRC struggle for access to electricity and clean water. In the capital, garbage is a persistent problem, festering in piles along roads and clogging drainage canals. Lucha activists often organise clean-ups in neighbourhoods across the city to serve their communities and highlight government failure. Such activities help them recruit, too. Eunice Etaka, a 25-year-old member, said the group always makes sure to work in public areas, and they pass out flyers to those who want to learn more. She helps lead the group that trains new members, known as the “Luchology” cell. One of the things that attracted her to the group was its “horizontal” structure – there is no leader who dictates decision to members. “Everyone is equal,” she said.
That the activists take people’s concerns seriously has given them credibility with citizens that politicians lack. Gloire Watshipa, 32, founded activist group Cocorico when he saw youth from his neighbourhood turning to drugs and gangs when they were unable to find jobs. Named for the sound a rooster makes, Cocorico aims to “wake up the people”, said Mr Watshipa.
“This situation has to change, and we are the ones who can change it, because we are the ones who experience this situation,” he said. “If I become a politician, my life will improve, but the remaining people’s lives will not change. That’s why we refuse politicians’ offers and keep struggling.” One of Cocorico’s activities is street protests urging taxi and bus drivers not to cheat passengers.
The commitment of activist groups to non-violence is significant in a country where dozens of rebel groups wage insurgencies. Activists have maintained that commitment despite being arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Four members of pro-democracy group Filimbi, arrested while mobilising a protest calling for elections, are serving a year in prison. Alain Mulumba Kabeya, a 28-year-old Filimbi leader, said the activists will be watching the election closely, and are determined to keep up the pressure for real change.
With Mr Kabila’s promise to step down, “We can say that we have won one battle,” he said. “But our fight is not yet over.”
Reporting for this story was supported by the International Women’s Media Foundation
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
Results
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
MO
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
More coverage from the Future Forum
Vikram%20Vedha
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The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Company%20Profile
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Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
