Opposition supporters calling themselves “fighters” have intensified attacks against Congolese officials travelling abroad. Katanga Province Governor Moise Katumbi is the latest in a string of officials who have come under attack from the so-called “Patriots-Combatants”.

Etienne Tshisekedi left his home for the first time on Friday since being put under “house arrest”. Mr. Tshisekedi and his wife, Marthe, went to the residence of the German Ambassador in Kinshasa, where they were invited to dinner.

Information Minister Lambert Mende told a news conference on Tuesday that the door for dialogue with opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi remains open.

Zambia has won the Africa Cup of Nations by beating favorites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties to bring the trophy back to Southern Africa sixteen years after South Africa won the premier continental football championship.

A private jet belonging to former Katanga Province governor Katumba Mwanke crashed at 1pm on Sunday near the airport of Bukavu, South Kivu Province. According to state radio and television broadcaster RTNC, Katumba Mwanke, the pilot, and the copilot were killed.

Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo has been invited by Pope Benedict XVI to lead this year’s Lenten exercises in the Vatican. The Congolese Conference of Catholic Bishops (CENCO) announced on Friday that Cardinal Monsengwo will preach to the Pope and the Roman Curia during the weeklong spiritual exercises.

President Joseph Kabila’s party, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), and its allies will hold a majority of seats in the new parliament, according to the results of the Nov. 28 parliamentary elections published by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday.