The signing of a memorandum of understanding between 4 armed groups in Ituri, on Thursday June 1, 2023, is an important step forward for the province of Ituri. Militias including FRPI, FPIC, URDPC/CODECO and MAPI have demonstrated their commitment to stopping all violence against civilians and facilitating the free movement of people and goods. The agreement also provides for the return of displaced persons and the non-circulation with weapons or military signs. The militiamen say they are available to participate in the defense of the homeland in accordance with the legal texts in the matter.
The agreement finds a favorable echo with Christophe Munyanderu, an activist of the CRDH IRUMU who however expects to see these commitments respected on the ground. If the memorandum of understanding is good news for the province of Ituri, the commitments made by the militiamen must be followed by concrete actions. The Iturians believe in a solution that will come from themselves and Major General Peter Chirimwami shares their opinion.
The provincial deputy Mugisa Byarufu, elected from the territory of Djugu where CODECO operates, believes that the militiamen must be forced to lay down their arms. As long as they are supported by the government, the population will not be safe.
The meetings which began on May 26 and ended on June 1 were therefore fruitful for the province of Ituri. Let us now hope that the commitments made by the militiamen will be respected and that peace will settle in this region marked by violence.
At the same time, other news is moving the country, such as the inauguration of President Erdogan, calls for citizen mobilization before the December 2023 elections and the rehabilitation of the Kinshasa-Matadi railway. However, tragic events, such as the assassination of a former civil society president in Butuhe North Kivu and the deadly terrorist attack in Beni, show that the DRC must step up its efforts to protect its citizens. Finally, the arrest of Salomon Idi Kalonda Della raises questions about respect for human rights in the DRC.
In short, the situation in the DRC is complex and diverse with positive and negative news. But the signing of a memorandum of understanding between armed groups in Ituri is a beacon of hope for the future of this region. It remains to be seen whether the commitments will be followed by concrete actions, in order to allow lasting peace in this province in the east of the DRC.