Butembo, in the province of North Kivu, has been facing growing insecurity for some time. Civilians and economic operators are regularly victims of armed robbery, accompanied by assassinations. Local authorities point to the low number of soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), some positions of which have been cleared to deal with the M-23/RDF rebels. Lieutenant-General Constant Ndima Kongba, provincial authority, plans to strengthen the military and police in the city to stem the phenomenon.
The insecurity has dramatic consequences for the inhabitants of Butembo, who live in constant fear of attacks and violence. This situation must be taken seriously and concrete measures must be taken to guarantee the safety of the population. It is essential to allocate the necessary resources to the security forces so that they can carry out their mission and protect the lives and property of the inhabitants.