Ebola Vaccines Roll Out in Ituri: DRC expanded Ervebo vaccination to Ituri, with MSF launching the BRAVO study in Bunia to follow about 20,000 frontline workers in Ituri and North Kivu and test whether the vaccine can protect against the Bundibugyo virus; initial Ervebo doses were approved in August and 3,700+ people have already been vaccinated. Outbreak Still Uneven Across Provinces: WHO says the Ebola outbreak remains “uncontrolled” and increasingly different by location: Ituri is on a downward slope while North Kivu is seeing sharp, sustained increases, with treatment capacity under heavy pressure. CEPI Funds Faster Ebola Response Science: CEPI committed $3.9 million to support DRC and Uganda research projects focused on surveillance, lab work, genomics, and population movement modelling to guide response and clinical trial readiness for Bundibugyo ebolavirus. AI Misuse in Congo’s Information War: Anthropic reported that its Claude AI was used in DRC-linked influence operations, including fake news networks pushing pro-government narratives around the Rwanda conflict and mineral deals. M23 Mineral Plunder and Abuse Allegations: Amnesty says Rwanda-backed M23 fighters abused artisanal miners and trafficked gold and coltan to Rwanda, with violations that may amount to war crimes. Local Jobs Grow Around Coffee: Young entrepreneurs in South Kivu are building a domestic coffee market, helping workers apply skills locally as conflict disrupts farms and export buyers.