The Deputy Minister of Defense, Samy Adubangu, recently undertook a poignant visit to the Plaine Savo and Lala IDP sites, located in the locality of Bule, in the territory of Djugu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These places have been the scene of violent attacks by armed groups, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least six people, according to reports from local civil society.
The inhabitants of these sites, who fled the insecurity in their home villages, expressed their distress to the Deputy Minister of Defense. They pleaded for increased security in the area, in order to guarantee their protection and well-being. These displaced populations, already vulnerable, live in constant fear of armed attacks and have been facing difficult living conditions for several months.
The president of the civil society of the Bahema Badjere chiefdom, Désiré Malodra, stressed the crucial importance of enhanced security for the displaced: “We discussed with Vice-Minister Samy Adubangu the recent massacre that occurred in Plaine Savo, during which nine people were barbarically killed by CODECO attackers. As a representative of the Ministry of Defense, we asked him to intervene with the government to increase military personnel and prevent new tragedies.”
Faced with the suffering and pleas of the displaced, the Vice-Minister of Defense, Samy Adubangu, made a clear commitment by guaranteeing concrete measures to ensure their security. He mentioned the establishment of specific defensive strategies, without revealing operational details. Stressing the responsibility of the armed groups that violate the peace agreements, he promised that the Republic would take appropriate measures to deal with these transgressions.
The Lala IDP site, which is home to approximately 7,600 people, and the Plaine Savo site, which is home to just over 10,000 displaced people, remain places where insecurity and vulnerability persist. The visit of the Deputy Minister of Defense nevertheless brought a breath of hope to the residents, demonstrating the authorities’ determination to ensure their protection and well-being in these difficult times.