The recent appointment of Judith Suminwa Tuluka as Prime Minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sparked strong reactions within civil society in Ituri. This region in the east of the country is plagued by chronic instability due to the activism of numerous local armed groups. Faced with this worrying situation, the civil society forces of Ituri expressed their expectations of the new head of Government, hoping for a significant improvement in the security situation to allow the return of thousands of displaced people to their original homes.
In a memorandum read to the press in Bunia, Dieudonné Losa, president of Ituri civil society, underlined the capital importance of restoring security to guarantee the stability of the region. He pleaded for Judith Suminwa Tuluka to address the root causes of insecurity in Ituri in order to break the cycle of violence and instability which hinders the development of the province.
The civil society of Ituri, through this memorandum, also called for geopolitical balance in the formation of the next Government. It is crucial that Ituri is adequately represented within the national executive to ensure effective consideration of local issues and promote balanced development of the country.
Dieudonné Losa highlighted the feeling of marginalization felt by the population of Ituri, denouncing the abusive political exploitation of the province by certain elites without ensuring their well-being. He highlighted the political weight of Ituri, with its 28 national deputies, 47 provincial deputies and 23 municipal councilors, as a legitimate argument to demand significant representation in the management of public affairs.
The civil society forces of Ituri therefore urge Judith Suminwa Tuluka to remain vigilant regarding the geopolitical balance when composing her Government. It is essential that the provinces are no longer victims of exclusion or discrimination in the distribution of ministerial positions, thus guaranteeing fairer and more inclusive governance for the entire country.
In conclusion, the appointment of Judith Suminwa Tuluka as Prime Minister arouses both hope and expectation of change in the Ituri region. Civil society, by expressing its concerns and demands, demonstrates its desire to actively participate in building a more secure and prosperous future for all the inhabitants of the DRC, particularly those in the east of the country.