News in the DRC: the Sacred Union calls for an end to the state of siege in North Kivu
Since the establishment of the state of siege in the province of North Kivu, several voices have been raised to question its effectiveness. This time, it was the provincial coordination of the Sacred Union which issued a statement calling for the end of this exceptional measure which, according to it, was the source of many slippages.
The Sacred Union denounces in particular the spoliation of state land by the authorities of the state of siege, as well as the involvement of the latter in the dispossession of public property. The commission of inquiry set up to investigate these practices and other excesses linked to the state of siege is also singled out, with the provincial coordination seeing it as complicity.
Still according to the Sacred Union, the soldiers supposed to restore the authority of the State have instead indulged in practices of profiteering, thus encouraging the growth of phenomena such as thefts, kidnappings and killings.
This declaration comes after that of civil society and citizen movements demanding the return of the civil administration in the province of North Kivu. The Congolese authorities must now respond to these requests in order to restore the confidence of the population of North Kivu in the action of the Head of State and the effectiveness of his measures.
These demands are all the more important as the DRC faces other challenges, particularly in the area of security. The attacks on eco-guards in Virunga National Park are an example of this, as is growing concern about insecurity in Lubumbashi.
Despite these difficulties, encouraging signs are emerging, such as the commissioning of the flagship factory in the Musienene special economic zone and the conclusion of an agreement between the DRC and the World Bank for the continuation of important development projects.
However, the credibility of the elections in the DRC is also in question, and the debates around the appointment of an international body to audit the electoral register are not likely to reassure citizens and the international community.
In this context, the Congolese authorities have a heavy responsibility to find lasting solutions to guarantee the safety and well-being of all Congolese.