The city of Beni, located in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been at the center of socio-economic news in recent days. Indeed, the city has experienced a series of acts of urban crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies and murders, which have prompted local civil society to declare dead city days. After five days of protests, activities resumed in Beni.
According to civil society in Beni, their action was 80% successful. Shops and stores have opened, Kilokwa’s central market is operating normally, motorcycle taxis are circulating in the streets and students have returned to school. However, civil society believes that the authorities must redouble their efforts to put an end to the persistent insecurity in the city.
In recent months, civil society in Beni has recorded more than 850 cases of urban crime, including murders, burglaries and armed robberies. The mayor of Beni himself acknowledged the upsurge in crime in his city and explained that the presidential pardon granted a few months ago led to the release of criminals who have returned to the population.
Demands from Beni’s civil society for greater security have been heard, but much more needs to be done to return the town to the peace that prevailed in the 1980s. Residents of Beni now hope the authorities will continue to work to ensure security and peace in their city.
This situation is unfortunately recurrent in the DRC, where violence and insecurity tend to plunge the population into a state of permanent stress.