The Governor of Ituri, Lieutenant-General Johnny Luboya N’kashama took advantage of the visit of Prosecutor Karim Khan to issue an ultimatum to the armed groups operating in his territory. He announced that he will put an end to impunity and the violation of human rights in the region and that the criminals will be brought before national and international justice.
The Governor gave these armed groups a chance to choose dialogue and join the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization (P-DDRCS) programme. Failing to adhere to this program, they will be confronted with the military operations which will resume in the region.
This declaration comes a few days after the extraordinary summit of the East African community which resulted in significant progress for security in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This shows that the Congolese authorities are more than ever committed to the fight against the insecurity that reigns in certain regions of the country.
Indeed, Ituri has been one of the provinces most affected by violence linked to armed groups for several years. The efforts made by the government to put an end to this scourge are therefore commendable. It should also be emphasized that the presence of the ICC prosecutor in the region is a strong signal sent to the executioners who thought they were free by committing crimes against the civilian population.
This determination to fight against insecurity in the DRC is salutary and must be supported by the international community. Military operations in Ituri are necessary to guarantee peace and security in the region, but for a lasting result, a political solution must also be found to these conflicts which have persisted for decades in the DRC.