#drc

#drc

An outbreak of Ebola has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with 47 confirmed cases, including 25 deaths, as of yesterday, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are also a probable 10 additional cases and deaths, the WHO says. On 4 September, the DRC's Ministry of Health confirmed that the outbreak was caused by the Zaire ebolavirus, the most dangerous and common of Ebola virus strains, which was also responsible for the 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa.

Representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia signed a provisional ceasefire in Qatar, committing to a permanent truce by August 18.

While the White House may be celebrating its diplomatic triumph in brokering a peace deal between tense neighbours DRC and Rwanda, for sceptical observers and people caught up in conflict and deprivation in eastern DRC, the mood is bound to be far more muted. "I think a lot of ordinary citizens are hardly moved by the deal and many will wait to see if there are any positives to come out of it," said Michael Odhiambo, a peace expert for Eirene International in Uvira in eastern DRC.

Qatari diplomat Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi expressed Qatar's commitment to mediating regional conflicts, highlighting the importance of the peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC.