DRC approves use of new Ebola vaccine

By Godfrey Olukya

ARU, Democratic republic of Congo

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have approved the use of a new vaccine to counter an outbreak of Ebola in its northeast

The Health Ministry approved the vaccine, developed by Merck, on Monday. According to the World Health Organization, four deaths linked to Ebola have been recorded in the northeast.

In a report released last week, the think tank Chatham House said the DRC had "a track record of controlling Ebola", having successfully controlled eight outbreaks.

In other news, authorities in the DRC and France Sunday revealed militiamen had set free a French national and three Congolese workers who had been kidnapped early March in the eastern part of the country.

A security officer in Kinshasa ,Paul Kale has told Anadolu that the militiamen had kidnapped the Frenchman on March 2 with three Congolese and a Tanzanian national.

"The militiamen have set the Frenchman and three Congolese free after negotiations with the authorities. The Tanzanian was set free a few days after they were kidnapped.'' said Kale.

The five kidnapped worked for Banro, a Canadian gold mining corporation that operated two mines in eastern DRC, reported a French regional daily Monday

Radio France International (RFI) said that the office of French President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday that the Frenchman had been set free.

RFI said: "Macron praised the DRC authorities for their mobilization and the effectiveness of their action in obtaining the hostage's release."

Both the DRC government and France did not reveal the names of the kidnapped or the identity of the militiamen.

The eastern DRC, which has several gold mines mostly managed by foreign companies, is home to numerous groups of rebels who often attack the miners.