U.S. deploys troops amid Congo election
KINSHASA, Congo — On the eve of the first expected results of Congo’s long-delayed presidential election, U.S. President Donald Trump said military personnel had deployed to the region for possible “violent demonstrations,” while the country’s powerful Catholic church warned of a popular “uprising” if untrue results are announced.
Congo faces what could be its first democratic, peaceful transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960, but election observers and the opposition have raised numerous concerns about voting irregularities as the country chooses a successor to longtime President Joseph Kabila.
The first results are expected on Sunday, and the United States and the African Union, among others, have urged Congo to release results that reflect the true will of the people. The U.S. has threatened sanctions against those who undermine the democratic process. Western election observers were not invited to watch the vote.
Exchange talk premature
MOSCOW — Russia’s deputy foreign minister is brushing back suggestions that an American being held in Moscow on suspicion of spying could be exchanged for a Russian.
Paul Whelan, who also holds Canadian, British and Irish citizenship, was detained in late December. His arrest has led to speculation that Russia could be using him as a pawn to exchange for Maria Butina, the Russian who pleaded guilty last month to acting as a foreign agent in the U.S.
But deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Saturday that discussing the issue would be premature because Mr. Whelan hasn’t been formally charged, according to Russian news agencies.
Information leak criticized
BERLIN — Germany’s IT security agency is coming under fire for its response to a massive online leak of hundreds of politicians’ and celebrities’ private information.
Several German lawmakers on Saturday criticized the agency’s apparent failure to inform affected politicians when it first learned of the leaks.
The head of Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, Arne Schoenbohm, said the agency had been aware of individual cases of hacked data being posted online in December, but only appeared on a large scale Thursday evening.
Authorities are investigating how the data, which included private addresses, cellphone numbers, chat records and credit card numbers, was obtained and by whom.
Movement numbers down
PARIS — Hundreds of protesters are trying to breathe new life into France’s apparently waning yellow vest movement with marches in Paris and gatherings in other cities, but numbers appeared down on their first demonstration of the new year.
There were no reports of violence on the eighth consecutive Saturday of yellow vest protests, in contrast to some December demonstrations that degenerated into chaotic violence.
Authorities have warned that they won’t tolerate illegal acts. One known figure in the movement, Eric Drouet, was detained overnight this week for allegedly organizing an illegal demonstration. On Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said those still protesting “want insurrection.”
The movement is named after fluorescent vests French motorists must keep in cars.