Title: The devastating consequences of the state of siege in the DRC: Corneille Nangaa’s call for the resignation of the government
Introduction :
Since May 3, 2021, a state of siege has been in effect in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This exceptional measure, supposed to restore peace and fight against armed groups, has caused much ink to flow. Corneille Nangaa, former president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and current president of the political party “Action for the Dignity of Congo and its people” (ADCP), strongly criticized the state of siege. In a recent statement, he pointed to the tragic consequences of this measure on the population and called for the resignation of the government.
The ineffectiveness of the state of siege against crime:
Corneille Nangaa stressed that the state of siege has not achieved its primary objective, namely the eradication of negative forces and the restoration of peace. On the contrary, he observed an increase in crime in the provinces under militarization, with an increase in human losses and a deterioration of the security situation. The former president of the CENI notably noted the M23 attack in Bunagana and the rise of CODECO in the region, thus demonstrating the ineffectiveness of the state of siege in the fight against armed groups.
A political and repressive measure:
Corneille Nangaa also denounced the use of the state of siege for political and repressive purposes. According to him, this measure served to suppress internal political dissent and to collaborate with military institutions of aggression. He underlined the paradox of seeing the negative forces that the state of siege was supposed to combat become allies of the regime in place. This instrumentalization of the state of siege has caused a restriction of political and economic freedoms in the provinces concerned.
The call for the resignation of the government:
Faced with these findings, Corneille Nangaa called for the resignation of the government of Sama Lukonde, current Prime Minister of the DRC. He believes that this state of siege has weakened the foundations of state sovereignty and has had tragic consequences for the population. Nangaa also calls for the reinstallation of the regular civil administrations to ensure better management of the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.
Conclusion :
The state of siege in force in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in the DRC has provoked strong criticism, in particular from Corneille Nangaa. The ineffectiveness of this measure in the fight against armed groups, its use for political and repressive purposes, and the tragic consequences it has generated have led Nangaa to call for the resignation of the government.. It is now essential to reassess this measure and find more effective solutions to restore peace and security in the provinces concerned