The situation in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still worrying. During a hearing held on June 9, the public prosecutor denounced the complicity of the police authorities in the offenses alleged against MP Edouard Mwangachuchu. The latter is accused of having maintained links with the M23 rebels and of illegally possessing weapons of war, which led to the death of several people.
Faced with this situation, the Court ordered the three police officers in North Kivu to present signed contracts with the mining company SMB, with which Edouard Mwangachuchu had business ties. This would verify their involvement in security breaches and mismanagement of ammunition and police elements.
These accusations highlight the complexity of the security situation in the DRC. Armed rebellions and mining conflicts continue to cause violence in unstable provinces, particularly in the east of the country. The civilian populations are the first victims of these clashes and are often left to fend for themselves.
Faced with this situation, the DRC and the European Union recently signed a strategic partnership for a responsible value chain of critical minerals, aimed at ensuring product traceability and guaranteeing decent working conditions for workers in this sector. Similarly, the modernization of the population identification and census system will also make it possible to better combat trafficking of all kinds, particularly that of arms.
However, these measures cannot bear fruit without a firm commitment from the Congolese authorities to restore security and put an end to the violence. It is urgent that the authorities take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population and allow them to live in a secure and peaceful environment. The recent violence in Tshikapa (Kasai) against a peaceful demonstration against the rising cost of water, which was violently repressed by the police, shows that the situation is far from resolved. It is now up to the Congolese authorities to act to guarantee the safety and well-being of the population.