Tommy Tambwe is leaving the head of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS) in Ituri, and this news is welcomed as good news by socio-political actors in the region. His appointment was criticized from the start, notably by the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege, who denounced the act of rewarding criminals rather than bringing them to justice.
The announcement of the replacement of Tommy Tambwe by Jean Bosco Bahala was made by the President of the Republic on October 16, 2023. This decision is welcomed with relief by the active forces of Ituri, one of the priority provinces of the P- DDRCS.
The P-DDRCS is an important program for the province of Ituri, according to national deputy Jackson Ausse. However, he also believes that there has been a delay in this replacement and is waiting to see what the new team will bring.
Former P-DDRCS coordinator Tommy Tambwe was criticized for his alleged links with the M23, an armed group active in the region. Some local armed groups even disavowed its authority during the Nairobi peace consultations in December 2022.
This news is not unanimous. Some political actors and members of civil society welcome the departure of Tommy Tambwe, while others want the entire Ituri team to be replaced. Some are also calling for the release of Willy Abibu, provincial coordinator of P-DDRCS in Ituri, who is currently in preventive detention for alleged embezzlement.
The P-DDRCS is a program aimed at promoting the peaceful cohabitation of populations in Ituri and promoting sustainable development. However, there appear to be payment issues for many agents, who complain that they have not been paid for over a year.
It is also worth noting that Tommy Tambwe’s appointment had been contested by organizations such as Human Rights Watch, which had expressed serious concerns about the matter.
In conclusion, the departure of Tommy Tambwe from the head of P-DDRCS in Ituri is seen as good news by many socio-political actors. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen what the new team’s actions will be and whether additional changes will be made to the program.