The news in the DRC is marked by a worrying situation in the province of Maniema. Since last Sunday, the city of Kindu, capital of this province, has been the scene of violence which has led the authorities to decree a curfew. According to local media, the decision was taken due to the presence of an insurgent movement in the city.
According to the interim Governor of Maniema, Affani Idrissa Mangala, “the curfew has just been reinforced from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. for 10 days with a very robust joint police-army patrol movement to restore everything order and after 10 days we return to square one from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.”. This decision comes after the shooting death of two young people in the Bloc 3Z district.
Tension is high in Kindu where the provincial headquarters of the UDPS Maniema was set on fire by demonstrators angry at the insecurity. If the mayor of the city spoke of a situation of insurgency, civil society reported three deaths and called for the intervention of the President of the Republic.
This situation is all the more worrying as the city of Kindu has been experiencing growing insecurity for several months. In many neighborhoods, young people organize civilian patrols to ensure their own safety.
In a difficult context, the DRC must face many security and socio-economic challenges, particularly in the east of the country. Fortunately, several initiatives have been put in place to deal with it, such as the recent bill aimed at better regulating matrimonial practices or the Marathon XXL Energy Congo River cycling race which aims to promote sport and tourism in the country.
It is also time to ensure the safety of miners and responsible exploitation of mineral deposits to avoid tragedies like that of Mpata where a double murder linked to a romantic relationship took place.
Education is also a major challenge for the future of the DRC. The inclusion of girls who are victims of social constraints and the implementation of innovative solutions to improve the education system are avenues to be explored.
It is time for the DRC to think outside the box and think about sustainable solutions to overcome the challenges that arise. And to achieve this, it is essential that all players mobilize to work together in the interest of all.