Insecurity in the Grand Bandundu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become more concerning with the spread of the “Mobondo” phenomenon, which has its roots in the bloody conflict between the Teke and Yaka communities in Kwamouth, in the province of Mai-Ndombe. The “Mobondo” are militiamen who fought during this conflict and who then regrouped in Batshongo in the province of Kwango. Recently, the phenomenon has spread to other localities, including the commune of Maluku, on the outskirts of Kinshasa.
The recent report of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Peter Kazadi, on the state of the administration of the national territory, confirms the beheading of the customary chief, Mona Mikeme Nku, in the groupement of Mbankana located in the commune of Maluku, east of the city province of Kinshasa, on Tuesday, June 06, 2023. But that’s not all, because the Mobondo attackers also killed his son and daughter-in-law. Edged weapons were used to commit these atrocities.
Government authorities have declared that the security situation is worrying and have put forward the thesis of political manipulation with the aim of sabotaging state authority and weakening state institutions. The head of the Territorial revealed during a press briefing that according to the information at his disposal, certain political and notable personalities would have a link with these interethnic conflicts, thus intoxicating the populations and inciting them to commit massacres.
It should be noted that insecurity in the Eastern region has also increased with the presence of armed and terrorist groups in the provinces of Ituri and Tanganyika, as well as elements not yet identified in the Kongo-Central province, mainly in the territory of Lukula.
Faced with this alarming situation, the Deputy Prime Minister traveled to Kwamouth to take stock of the situation there and see the progress made by the security services. It is therefore essential that concrete measures be taken quickly to resolve this security problem which makes the lives of the populations extremely difficult.