Fatshimetrie: The challenges of identifying local armed groups in eastern DRC
The security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo remains worrying, with the presence of numerous armed groups operating in the region of Beni-Butembo and Lubero. Recently, the FARDC Northern Front command raised a crucial issue by asking local armed groups, known as Wazalendo, to identify themselves to the army units closest to their areas of activity.
This request for identification follows accusations that certain members of the Wazalendo groups could collaborate with the enemy, particularly in the context of clashes between the FARDC and the M23 around Kanyabayonga. This situation raises concerns about the loyalty and cooperation of local armed groups with national security forces.
Colonel Mack Hazukay, spokesperson for the Sokola 1 Grand Nord operational sector, stressed the importance for Wazalendo groups to identify themselves and present their fighters with distinctive signs to the military authorities. Certain groups, such as the Front of Patriots for Peace/People’s Army (FPP/AP) of Kabido and the Union of Patriots for the Liberation of Congo (UPLC) of Kambale Mayani, are particularly targeted by this measure.
The 48-hour period allowed for this identification is crucial, because the recalcitrants could be considered enemies of the FARDC. This approach aims to strengthen control and transparency in the region, while ensuring that all armed actors act in the interest of the stability and security of the population.
These recent developments highlight the complexity of the security situation in eastern DRC, where the presence of multiple armed groups makes it difficult to consolidate peace and security. It is essential that all stakeholders, including local armed groups, fully engage in actions aimed at restoring stability and ending the violence that has caused so much suffering to local populations.
Ultimately, the identification of local armed groups is an important first step in consolidating peace and security in eastern DRC. It is essential that all stakeholders engage constructively and transparently to overcome the challenges hindering the region’s stabilization process. Only close collaboration between military authorities and local armed groups will create the conditions conducive to real progress towards lasting peace and security.