2023-08-14 19:54:10
KINSHASA – By order of the Head of State, Prime Minister Jean Michel Sama Lukonde announced the organization of a round table in Kinshasa from August 14 to 16, 2023 to assess the state of siege in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. The comments of the Congolese of these two provinces remain divergent as to the lifting of this exceptional measure. The state of siege has existed in the two provinces since May 6, 2021.
For some, the state of siege in North Kivu was right given the security situation that characterizes the province because the enemy was infiltrated in almost all institutions and mainly in the army and the Congolese police. Before the state of siege, there was talk of 14,000 soldiers on the front line in Beni, but in reality up to 5,000 were not there at all. Yet the government had released rations, ammunition and salaries for 14,000 soldiers.
Facts explained to CongoForum by a civil society actor who wishes to remain anonymous. “We suggest to the government to requalify the state of siege, by appointing general commissioners. Many citizens do not want to see military governors at the head of the two provinces. Another option is the declaration of the state of war given the external threats which still weigh on us via the M23/RDF and the AFD/Nalu”, he added.
Some believe that it would be better to exclude all politicians from the round table since they are thinking more of their own interests and not of the general interest. The state of siege pushed politicians into unemployment; they would like the end of the state of siege to return to business. These people use social networks to criticize the state of siege even if this measure is constitutional.
Even less security
Citizen movements note that all governmental and non-state actors converge on the fact that the security situation has further deteriorated in eastern DRC. The state of siege has failed to end cycles of violence and restore state authority in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Indeed, based on credible data from the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), it is revealed that 6,597 civilians were killed and 3,685 were kidnapped in North Kivu and Ituri during this state of siege. The same data indicates that before the state of siege, over the same two-year period, 2,542 civilians had been killed and 1,807 abducted. These figures show that the state of siege has amplified the security crisis.
In addition, parts of Rutshuru, Masisi and Niyragongo are occupied, controlled, exploited and administered by the aggressors, the M23/RDF and troops from East African Community (EAC) countries, who commit murders, rape, looting and abuse of all kinds.
It should be added that several notables, parliamentarians and activists from the province of North Kivu and Ituri take part in these meetings in Kinshasa.
© CongoForum – redaction, 14.08.23
Images – source: DRC Presidency
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