Ituri, a province in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has for decades been the scene of violence between different armed groups, which has led to the death of several thousand people and the massive displacement of civilian populations. Faced with this situation and the impunity enjoyed by these groups, the governor of the province, Lieutenant-General Johnny Luboya N’kashama, recently issued an ultimatum to the armed groups, affirming that those who did not put an end to the abuses would be prosecuted by national and international justice.
This statement was made on the occasion of the visit of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, in the region. For the governor, the presence of the prosecutor is a strong signal sent to the armed groups, which must understand that their acts will not go unpunished. He also proposed to the armed groups to put an end to the violence and to adhere to the program of disarmament, demobilization, community recovery and stabilization (P-DDRCS), under penalty of being prosecuted by justice.
Despite this ultimatum, the situation remains worrying in Ituri, where armed groups continue to oppose the security forces and commit abuses against the civilian population. Faced with this observation, it is urgent to put in place effective measures to fight against impunity and protect the most vulnerable populations.
Beyond the security aspect, it is also important to highlight the economic and social challenges faced by the inhabitants of Ituri. Indeed, the situation of permanent conflict has disastrous consequences on the development of the province, which is one of the poorest regions of the country. It is therefore crucial to implement economic and social development policies and programs in order to meet the needs of the population and foster peace and stability in the region.