The mining town of Durba, located in the Kibali sector, Watsa territory, Haut-Uele province, has been paralyzed in recent days due to a two-day ghost town movement decreed by the Synergy of Young Vigilantes of the sector. The reason for this radical action: the worrying resurgence of insecurity in the region, marked by the brutal murder of two young people in the space of 72 hours by armed individuals, whose identity remains unknown to this day.
The inhabitants of Durba expressed their anger and dismay by storming the streets. Barricading the roads, setting fire to tires, the young people wanted to make themselves heard in the face of the growing insecurity that is plaguing their daily lives. This first day of ghost town has therefore turned into a demonstration of their despair and frustration in the face of an untenable situation.
However, before these events, the administrator of the Watsa territory had called on the population to resume a normal life. An invitation to calm and restraint that unfortunately failed to ease the palpable tensions in the region. In an attempt to find concrete solutions to this security crisis, an expanded security meeting was convened, bringing together local authorities and the Synergie des jeunes vigilants du secteur de Kibali.
The situation in Durba highlights the challenges faced by many communities in the DRC and more broadly in Africa. Insecurity, violence and social tensions have a devastating impact on the daily lives of residents, hampering the economic and social development of these already fragile regions.
It is therefore imperative to take immediate and effective measures to guarantee the security and stability of these vulnerable areas. The action of local authorities, law enforcement and civil society is crucial to restore citizens’ confidence and ensure a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
Ultimately, the situation in Durba underscores the urgency of action to end the insecurity that prevails in many parts of the DRC, in order to allow communities to live in the peace and dignity to which they are entitled.