Reclassification of the state of siege in North Kivu and Ituri: shared opinions of local socio-political actors
A divisive decision: the reclassification of the state of siege in North Kivu and Ituri is sparking lively debates among local socio-political actors. While the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, announced this measure, some are asking questions about its legality and effectiveness.
In North Kivu, many actors question the constitutionality of this reclassification. For them, cohabitation between civil and military authorities risks creating confusion at the local administration level. Alexis Bahunga, elected provincial deputy of Masisi, affirms that legal clarification is necessary to define the terms of this cohabitation.
For his part, Espoir Ngalukiye, a local political actor, goes further by describing this reclassification as illegal. According to him, no article of the constitution mentions such a possibility, which raises questions about its legitimacy. He argues that the president should respect the recommendations of the round table which expressed the rejection of the state of siege as a whole.
In the province of Ituri, where armed groups have been rampant since 2017, the population is awaiting large-scale military operations to put an end to the abuses committed by the militia. Dieudonné Losso, coordinator of civil society in the province, believes that the reclassification of the state of siege does not meet the expectations of the population.
For Jackson Ausse, national deputy elected from the territory of Irumu, this progressive relief should be accelerated in order to respect constitutional provisions. He underlines the importance of organizing large-scale military operations to fight against armed groups and ensure the security of civilian populations.
This reclassification of the state of siege was decreed by President Tshisekedi in May 2021 to deal with persistent insecurity in North Kivu and Ituri. However, faced with the persistence of violence, many voices were raised to demand the total lifting of this exceptional regime.
It is clear that this decision gives rise to divergent opinions and raises legitimate questions. The security situation in North Kivu and Ituri remains worrying, and it is essential to find effective solutions to protect the populations and restore peace in the region. Only time will tell whether the reclassification of the state of siege will be the adequate response to these challenges.