Currently, the news is marked by a massive displacement of the population of Minembwe, in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This situation is the result of persistent insecurity caused by clashes between the Congolese army, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), and the Twigwaneho militiamen.
According to information from a local civil society actor, many residents of Minembwe have fled to the neighboring territory of Mwenga. Among the displaced, there are mainly men and young people. Some found shelter in the village of Kalingi, about 16 kilometers southwest of Mikenge, while others were registered at the Mikenge IDP camp.
Faced with this worrying situation, representatives of local communities, the FARDC, the police and MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) met to discuss the measures to be taken. The objective is to welcome the newly displaced with dignity, to ensure their registration and to prevent any disruption of the calm observed in Mikenge.
The secretary of civil society of Mikenge, Nixon Byaese Alaka, underlined the urgency of the situation by declaring: “Since last Monday, many displaced people from Minembwe have arrived in Mikenge due to clashes between the FARDC and the Twigwaneho militiamen. Women and children represent a large proportion of those housed in the village of Kalingi.”
For his part, the president of the internally displaced persons of Mikenge, Mr. Yoshua Basanda, confirmed that many people coming from Minembwe have been registered. He insisted on the need to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to these displaced populations who lost everything in their flight.
This dramatic situation once again highlights the persistent instability affecting certain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Congolese authorities and the international community must redouble their efforts to put an end to this violence and protect the civilian populations who are the first victims of these clashes.
It is essential to provide emergency assistance to internally displaced people by providing them with shelter, food, clean water and medical care. In addition, it is essential to work on the return of displaced populations to their communities of origin by ensuring their security and promoting reconciliation between the different ethnic groups present in the region.
In conclusion, the situation of internally displaced persons in Minembwe is a major concern which requires an urgent and coordinated response. The authorities and the international community must act quickly to protect vulnerable populations and work towards lasting peace in the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.