The DRC is in mourning. On Sunday June 4, 2023, 10 Congolese were killed in a bombardment targeting the campus of the International University of Africa in Khartoum. These deadly shots, carried out by the regular army in an area occupied by civilian and unarmed populations, including foreign nationals, also seriously injured other compatriots who are currently in the Kouliyat Razi military hospital in the Sudanese capital. .
In a statement, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, expressed his “deep sorrow” and his “protest”. He demands that the Sudanese authorities shed light on this tragedy. The Congolese government is also asking the Sudanese authorities to take the appropriate measures to return the remains of compatriots who were mowed down for free with a view to their repatriation and burial with dignity in the country.
The Congolese government is also asking for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to evacuate wounded compatriots and those still stranded in Sudan. The tragedy comes less than a month after Abdel Fattah al-Burhane took power, which sparked clashes in the heart of the Sudanese capital between the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Until May 31, more than 1.6 million people have been displaced by the crisis in Sudan, and despite several truces, the fight is still raging in Khartoum.
In another register, the president of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, went to China for an official visit which arouses a new dynamism, as reported by the site Fatshi Metrie. He met with the Chinese authorities to take stock of their bilateral partnership and signed several agreements with them marking the desire for cooperation between China and the DRC. The two countries have notably decided to strengthen their collaboration in terms of trade and investment, with ambitious projects which should allow the creation of thousands of jobs in the two countries.
Beyond these highlights, the DRC also seems to be committed to a desire for pacification and economic development. Mai-Mai militiamen recently surrendered and encouraged peace in Beni; suspected members of an armed group have been arrested and actions are being taken to end the violence in the region. The Child Protection Coordination Framework was launched, with the objective of advancing children’s rights in the country.
For their part, the political authorities are also seeking to improve the complex and multifaceted situation in the DRC. Many extraordinary summits are being held to find solutions to the growing insecurity in eastern DRC, and politicians are working to give new impetus to the country. Sino-Congolese cooperation is seen as a model to get the DRC out of the economic crisis. In this context, respecting the curfew in Butembo ensures the security of the city in the face of a wave of violence.
The DRC is therefore in the process of taking a new turn, with many actors investing in improving the lot of the country. It remains to be seen whether these actions will bear fruit in the long term, but the signs are encouraging