Title: State of siege in North Kivu and Ituri: towards a new diplomatic, political and military approach
Introduction :
Since May 2021, the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri have been placed under a state of siege, an exceptional measure aimed at combating recurring violence in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the evaluation of this state of siege raises questions about its maintenance, its requalification or its lifting. In this context, the Minister of Industry, Julien Paluku, proposes a new approach combining diplomatic, political and military actions to face the persistent challenges.
Maintenance, reclassification or lifting of the state of siege:
The state of siege was instituted to concentrate power in the hands of the military and eradicate the causes of violence in the region. However, the implementation of this measure did not meet the expectations of the President of the Republic and the people. Thus, the question arises of maintaining, requalifying or lifting the state of siege.
Diplomatic and political proposals:
In his proposals, Minister Julien Paluku highlights the continuation of the Nairobi and Luanda processes, involving concrete financial means to support the Development Plan for the Provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. It also underlines the importance of giving a role to the civil authorities in the territorial administration, in particular the newly appointed authorities, in order to accompany the military actions.
New military approach:
Faced with persistent threats to the integrity of Congolese territory, Julien Paluku proposes specific measures outside the state of siege. He suggests the creation of an advanced General Staff in Beni, under the direct command of the Supreme Commander, with exceptional powers to manage operations in Ituri and North Kivu. This General Staff would rely on local authorities for intelligence and would operate with two resistance centers in Goma and Bunia.
Conclusion :
The assessment of the state of siege in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri is in progress, giving rise to debates on the follow-up to be given to this measure. Industry Minister Julien Paluku proposes an approach combining diplomacy, politics and military to deal with persistent challenges in the region