The echo of recent clashes between the Lengola and Mbole communities still resonates in the territories of Ubundu and Opala, located in the province of Tshopo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These clashes have had devastating consequences for the education sector, particularly with the start of the school year scheduled for September 4, 2023.
The testimonies collected on the ground reveal a distressing reality. Schools were burned and looted along the road between Ubundu and Kisangani. Paul Banzanzu, teacher at Ubundu 1 division, deplores the situation: “Several schools were affected during the clashes, notably those at PK 73, 69, 37, 25 and 21. While some responsible for these acts have been identified, others still remain in the shadows.”
The violence led to the flight of teachers from the Mbole community, who faced real threats. Only teachers from the Lengola community still seem to be present in certain schools. Some teachers, like a schoolteacher from PK 82, had to take refuge in Kisangani after their house was burned.
Héritier Isomela, president of the NGO “Sauti ya Lubunga”, based in Lubunga, underlines the impact of this insecurity in peripheral areas. He wonders how children will be able to get to school if their safety is not guaranteed. Parents, concerned about the situation, choose to keep their children at home.
These clashes have compromised the start of the school year in many schools. Enrollments are declining, even in central Ubundu. In addition, many students have become orphans as a result of this violence, making their access to education even more precarious. Parents in Opala and Ubundu areas are calling on authorities to restore security and peace.
These clashes take place in a complex context. They reflect the conflicts between the Teke and Yaka communities in the Bandundu region, exacerbated by Mobondo’s activism. In addition, the CLC (Secular Coordination Committee) recently denounced “generalized insecurity” in the country, which has intensified in the East but also in other regions.
Faced with this crisis, the government announces that it is taking measures to find a lasting solution to insecurity, in order to allow all students to return to school in a peaceful environment.
Gabriel Makabu, Kisangani