Insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen. According to a recent analysis by the Provincial Office of MONUSCO, 530 people lost their lives in armed violence perpetrated by militiamen in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi, north of the city of Bunia. These figures reveal that Djugu and Mahagi are the two areas most affected by this violence. The average number of deaths per month amounts to 100 people over a period of six months. These figures are particularly alarming and require real action to protect civilians.
Residents of areas affected by the violence fear for their lives and property. Displaced sites are not spared by the militiamen either. Faced with this worrying situation, MONUSCO is continuing its support for the holding of dialogues and the protection of civilians in the province. However, residents are also calling for more concrete action from the Congolese authorities so that they can live in safety and return to their daily lives.
The DRC also faces other challenges such as the protection of workers’ rights, the fragility of the local economy, the financing of development projects, the dissolution of the DRC social fund and the credibility of the elections. These issues require the immediate attention of governments and concerted action by all the actors involved to find lasting solutions.
Faced with the rise in insecurity in the DRC, it is important to remember that the protection of civilians must be the priority of all stakeholders. Urgent solutions must be found to put an end to this spiral of violence and restore hope to the affected populations