The Congolese government is intensifying its efforts to fight against the “Mobondo” militiamen responsible for the growing insecurity in the province of Grand Bandundu as well as in part of the city of Kinshasa. According to the Deputy Minister of National Defense and Veterans, Samuel Adubango Awotho, this approach has already led to the arrest of some members of this militia.
The offensive against Mobondo militiamen continues with a multidimensional approach, with the aim of restoring peace and reestablishing state authority. The official account mentions the attack on the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) position at the Kwango bridge, which resulted in the capture of 19 combatants and the recovery of firearms and weapons. bladed weapons of different calibers.
In the province of Mai Ndombe, the intervention forces also arrested the leader of the Mobondo assailants, known as “Kafuti Badidiluana alias American”, in the locality of Kimpana. Other arrests and recoveries of weapons were carried out in the localities of Kinsele Masambio and in the village of Ibali, on the Congo river, in the territory of Kwamouth.
The Deputy Minister of National Defense and Veterans reaffirmed the government’s unwavering determination to mobilize all necessary resources to put an end to this violence and eradicate these pockets of insecurity across the country.
The Mobondo militia was born out of a conflict between the Teke and Yaka communities, mainly related to land disputes. According to Human Rights Watch, this conflict has already caused at least 300 deaths in less than a year. Tensions began in June 2022 in Kwamouth Territory, where the Teke sparked a hunt for non-natives due to an increase in customary dues imposed by the village chief of Masiambe. In response, the Yaka staged protests and sought to remove some customary authorities.
Faced with this situation, the Congolese government is determined to restore peace and security in the region. The capture of Mobondo militiamen and the recovery of weapons constitute significant progress in this fight against insecurity. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to end the violence and restore trust between the Teke and Yaka communities.
The Congolese people place great hopes in the measures taken by the government to ensure security and stability in the country. It is essential to continue to support efforts to end the violence and build a better future for all citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo