**Cocoa Farmers in Irumu, Ituri: A Complex Reality**
Cocoa farmers in the Irumu territory of Ituri are faced with a complex and difficult reality. Indeed, military prosecutors posted to Komanda are accused of engaging in harassment by confiscating farmers’ crops without valid reason. This situation is fueling tensions in a region already weakened by a fragile security lull.
Christophe Munyanderu, executive secretary of the Lese-Nande agreement monitoring committee, denounced these worrying practices and highlighted the negative impact they could have on civil-military relations in the region. Farmers working on the Komanda-Luna axis are particularly affected by these arbitrary confiscations, which legitimately raises the concern of the local population.
Faced with these accusations, the interim inspector general of the military prosecutor’s office in Komanda justified the actions of his agents by calling them “routine work”. According to him, these confiscations aim to verify the legality of cocoa transactions and to ensure that farmers have the necessary documents to prove their legal status. However, this justification is not enough to allay the fears of farmers who see their livelihoods threatened.
Cocoa farming in the Irumu region already faces multiple challenges, including incursions by armed men who loot crops and attack local populations. These acts of violence exacerbate tensions and further weaken an important economic sector for the region. By adding administrative hassles to existing security challenges, the authorities risk seriously compromising the stability and livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
It is therefore imperative that measures be taken to put an end to these abusive practices and to guarantee the security and prosperity of cocoa farmers in Irumu. The involvement of the territorial administrator and the competent authorities is essential to resolve this problem and to preserve a sector vital to the local economy. It is time to put an end to unjustified harassment and to ensure an environment conducive to the sustainable development of cocoa farmers in this troubled region of the DRC.