After days of tensions leading to the death of men in Malemba Nkulu, a town located in the Haut-Lomami province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, several local NGOs are mobilizing to promote peace and peaceful cohabitation.
These organizations took measures on Wednesday, November 15, to restore peace and ensure that those responsible for these acts do not go unpunished.
Tensions were triggered by the discovery of the lifeless body of a young motorcyclist from the city, who was allegedly killed by two individuals presumed to be of Kasaïan origin, before stealing his motorcycle.
In response, some young people from Malemba Nkulu carried out reprisals by attacking the residences of Kasai nationals.
The president of Malemba Nkulu’s nationals, Jétron Muyombi, called for peace and tranquility: “We must all seek calm and peace. We need to live together. I have sent messages to several personalities, including including local customary chiefs, to encourage them to calm the situation in Malemba Nkulu and to use legal channels to express their demands.”
In response to these events, the NGOs “Humanism and Human Rights” and “Action Against Human Rights Impunity” visited the commander of the 2nd Defense Zone to discuss the situation.
“We are surprised to note that the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) took immediate measures from the first day the images began to circulate. They gave instructions to the soldiers present on site to reinforce the forces of police who were overwhelmed. They managed to calm the situation and other units even arrived on site,” declared Hubert Tshisuaka, president of the NGO “Humanism and Human Rights”.
For its part, the Katangaise Foundation, bringing together all socio-cultural associations in the Greater Katanga region, called on everyone to reason. It advocates dialogue and mutual respect as ways forward to promote peaceful coexistence.
It is essential that tensions in Malemba Nkulu are eased and measures are taken to prevent further acts of inter-communal violence. Peace and peaceful coexistence are not only beneficial for the local population, but also for the development of the region as a whole.