More than 10,000 people are finally returning to their localities in the chiefdoms of Babelebe and Baboabokoe, located in the Bayana grouping of Irumu territory, in the province of Ituri. This long-awaited return was made possible thanks to the efforts of the provincial government, which initiated several ceasefire meetings between the leaders of the armed groups FPIC and CODECO.
This good news is welcomed with relief and gratitude by the head of the Bayana group, Ihana Biabo Abdou, who expresses his gratitude to the Ituri provincial authorities. It commends their determination and tireless efforts to preserve unity and promote peaceful coexistence in this area.
However, despite this long-awaited return, the head of the Bayana group is appealing to people of good will to come to their aid in order to prepare the children for the start of the school year. It also underlines the urgency of rebuilding the dilapidated schools that prevent children from having access to quality education in the region.
“We appeal to all those who are still on the move to return to their localities so that we can work together for the development of our community. The main problem in our entity is the lack of schools. For example, in the village of Akodabo, there are only three schools, and all of them are destroyed, so we ask the authorities to support us in this reconstruction,” says Chief Abdou.
For his part, the commander of the 32nd military region, General Peter Chirimwami, calls on young people who still have weapons to return them to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Community Reintegration Program (PDDRC-S). It also encourages them to actively engage in development actions for the region.
To guarantee the security of the population in a sustainable manner, the Congolese army announces that it has reinforced its personnel in the area. It is committed to ensuring the protection of the inhabitants and to fostering an environment conducive to the development and reconstruction of the region.
This return of residents to the localities of Babelebe and Baboabokoe is a ray of hope in a region marked by armed conflict. It testifies to the concerted efforts to restore peace and stability in the province of Ituri. Let’s hope that this encouraging progress continues and contributes to the reconstruction and development of the region