Title: The inhabitants of the chiefdom of Banyari Tchabi still waiting to return home, prey to threats from ADF rebels
Introduction :
The situation in the Banyari Tchabi chiefdom, south of Irumu in Ituri, remains worrying for residents who have been waiting for five years to be able to return to their villages. Constant threats from ADF rebels prevent these thousands of people from returning to normal lives. The situation is even more difficult in the Tondoli group, where health structures, schools and houses were burned by the ADF. Despite promises to deploy joint FARDC-UPDF forces and the governor of Ituri, the population remains waiting for a solution to this conflict which forced them to flee.
Painful memories:
In 2019, the majority of residents of Banyari Tchabi were forced to flee their locality to take refuge in neighboring chiefdoms, such as Bahema Boga, Walendu Bindi and Bunia, due to incessant attacks by ADF rebels. Since then, some have been able to return and resettle in the Buleyi and Boyo groups along the road. However, in the Tondoli groupement and other localities such as Keti and Vukaka, no return movement has been observed for around five years due to recurrent ADF attacks and the absence of the army.
Call for the deployment of joint forces:
The inhabitants of the Banyari Tchabi chiefdom are calling for the deployment of joint forces, particularly in the Tondoli group, in order to guarantee their security and encourage their return. They ask the military authorities to become more involved in the fight against the ADF rebels, who continue to sow terror in the region. Recent attacks, resulting in the kidnapping of seventeen people and the murder of a youth, have added to the urgency of the situation.
Government promises of support:
The governor of Ituri, Lieutenant General Johnny Luboya, visited Tchabi last Saturday, December 9. During his visit, he announced an imminent deployment of a significant number of armed forces to dismantle ADF rebels and restore state authority in southern Irumu. The residents hope that these promises will come to fruition quickly in order to end their forced exile and rebuild their lives in their original villages.
Conclusion :
The situation of the inhabitants of the Banyari Tchabi chiefdom remains uncertain, even though they have been waiting for five years to return to their villages. Constant threats from ADF rebels have caused massive population displacements and the destruction of local infrastructure. It is crucial for the military authorities to take concrete measures to ensure the safety of these residents and facilitate their return.. The population hopes that the promises of support from the governor of Ituri will quickly translate into effective actions on the ground.