IRDH denounces the policy of breaking national cohesion to capture provincial governorates. – Independent Congo

2024-03-16 15:03:52

The general secretary of the UDPS, Mr. Augustin Kabuya, has the duty to strengthen national consciousness, in accordance with article 6 of the Constitution.

Maître Tshiswaka Masoka Hubert

Lubumbashi, March 14, 2024. The Institute for Research in Human Rights (IRDH) denounces the policy adopted by Mr. Augustin Kabuya Mwana Bute, Secretary General of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), consisting of dividing Congolese citizens on the basis of origins of their parents. Wearing a shirt bearing the image of President Felix Tshisekedi, at the headquarters of the presidential party, the authorized mouth of the UDPS held a public speech, in front of elected officials, executives and activists of his party. In essence, “the political morning” aimed to convey the key message: Leave the exercise of political rights “to the natives”. “If you are not Katanga, let the natives choose the leaders in Katanga”. Thus, he unearthed the feeling of latent intercommunity hatred in Katanga, thinking of exposing those in his party who accuse him of being corrupted by the governor of Haut Katanga, [Jacques] It disappeared.

The IRDH recalls that the political philosophy criticized above was the leitmotif of the ethnic cleansing of the 60s and 90s. In the same electoral context, pretexting to react against increased participation of politicians of Kasai origin in elective assemblies, “indigenous” politicians, notably Tshombe and Munongo (1960s), as well as Nguz-a-Karl i bond and Kyungu wa Kumwanza (1990s) had carried out ethnic cleansing against an innocent population, causing, in turn, hundreds of thousands deaths and millions of internally displaced people.

Mr. Kabuya is aware that everywhere in the DRC, there is a feeling of hatred of others, based on the withdrawal of identity that any politician who has a minimum sense of responsibility has the duty to stifle or abstain from. exacerbate. The Enyele are against the Munzaya (Ecuador), the Mbole against the Lengola (Tshopo), the Hemas against the Lendus (Ituri), the BaTeke against the BaYaka, the Bena Kapuya against the BenaShimba (Kasaï-Oriental), BaTende against BaNunu (Yumbi), Northern Katanga against South Katanga, the Bantu against the Pygmies (Tanganyka), etc.

The IRDH is concerned that once in power, the UDPS representative will lose sight of the spirit of the Constitution adopted in 2006, after the two wars of 97-98. This recognizes the sovereignty of all the Congolese people. It establishes political parties, requiring them to contribute to civic education and national consciousness (art. 6). Its articles 11, 12 and 13 guarantee all Congolese the same civil and political rights. They exercise and enjoy them equally, without any discrimination, whether resulting from the law or an act of the executive, or because of family origin, social condition, residence, opinions political, belonging to an ethnic group or a tribe.

The reminder of basic history should help the Secretary General of the UDPS to know that the population described as “the Kasaians of Katanga” has always lived with other Congolese. It is made up, mainly, of Balubas with whom we associate other nationals of Grand-Kasaï.

Before colonization, the BaLubas inhabited a large area, stretching from Lake Tanganyika to Lake N’samba. First, conflicts over succession to the throne, then raids by slavers pushed them away from each other, or forced them to flee from the Lubilash River (Lubilanji) towards the Kasai River, the Angolan border.

The first administrative subdivision took place on August 1, 1888, under the Congo Free State (1885 – 1908). The country had 11 Districts and most of the Baluba territory was put under the Lualaba District, administered from the Lusambo post. This District extended from Sakania to Sankuru. The Kasai District, for its part, took up part of current Lualaba/Kolwezi, a large part of Grand-Kasaï and Grand Bandundu. The movements of the population from the north of the said Kasai and Lualaba Districts were justified either by forced transfers to the mines in the south of their District, or by escapes from mistreatment by settlers.

The second administrative subdivision of 1895, under the Belgian Congo, shows 15 Districts. The Lualaba District loses the current province of Tanganyika to Stanleyfalls (current Greater Kivu and Ituri), but continues to depend on Lusambo. The Kasai District also loses Kwango which becomes a separate District. However, the start of mining coincided with the acceleration of the transfer of the population subjected to forced labor.

In 1914, the Belgian Congo increased to 22 Districts. The large Lualaba District disappears in favor of small districts. Kasai loses the part of current Kolwezi which becomes Lulua District. The colonial administration controlled more of the territory and improved its settlement policy, which became incentive rather than restrictive. Mine workers are increasingly encouraging their loved ones to join workers’ camps.

In 1924, the Belgian Congo was reconfigured into four Districts: Congo-Kasaï, Équateur, Katanga and Orientale Province. The District of Lualaba disappears in favor of the name of Katanga which appears, for the very first time, as an administrative district. It inherits the populations and territories of part of the District of Lulua, Lualaba and Stanleyfalss and takes the form of greater Katanga. Private companies are carrying out massive recruitment of workers, in order to increase production for the benefit of Belgium.

The geographical form of Katanga survived the successive administrative subdivisions which took place in 1935, 63, 66, 71, 88 and 97 until 2015. From 2015, greater Katanga was divided into large provinces.

The IRDH notes that for almost a century, the Congolese have lived a common history, on the same territory, under the same laws. The different geographical subdivisions only served the good administration of the large national territory. This people collectively obtained their independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960. That day, they agreed to begin a new common life, within the borders of the former Belgian Congo, under a new state called the Republic of Congo. However, from July 11, 1961 to January 15, 1963, a fringe of politicians almost created the State of Katanga. But since then, all Congolese have been equal and governed by the same laws.

The IRDH also reminds Mr. Kabuya that the Constitution in force in the DRC recognizes, in article 207, customary authority and its mode of devolution, “in accordance with local custom, provided that it is not contrary to the Constitution, the law, public order and good morals”. Customary authorities also have a duty to promote national unity and cohesion.

In view of the serious deviation of his speech which exposes the country to implosion, the IRDH recommends:

To the UDPS political party, to withdraw from its Secretary General, Mr. Augustin Kabuya Mwana Bute, any possibility of addressing the Congolese public;

In the National Assembly, to prevent him from accessing the position of Vice-President of the Assembly, his speech having disqualified him from the race;

In the Provincial Assemblies, not to elect its candidates for Governors and Vice-Governors whose mission is to implement this policy of stigmatization and division of communities, to rule.

Maître Hubert Tshiswaka MasokaDirector General of IRDH
Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]

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