In the Faradje territory, located in the Haut-Uele province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, elected official Etienne Andrito recently stressed the urgent need to repatriate Congolese refugees in Uganda to escape the exactions of the rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
These refugees, displaced by the violence and atrocities committed by the LRA, live in precarious conditions at the Golu transit center in Uganda. Faced with this alarming situation, Etienne Andrito presented a motion of information before the National Assembly to draw attention to the suffering of these abandoned compatriots.
The elected official criticized the indifference of the Congolese government towards these refugees and emphasized the crucial role of the NGO Pax of the Netherlands in supporting them while awaiting their return to their regions of origin in the DRC.
Etienne Andrito also called for justice and accountability by urging the Congolese government to file a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Joseph Koni, the leader of the LRA, for his war crimes and attacks on humanity in the Haut and Bas-Uele provinces.
He recalled the multiple atrocities committed by the LRA rebels in these regions, causing untold suffering to the local population. This approach aims to ensure that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable before international justice.
Thus, Etienne Andrito’s call for the repatriation of Congolese refugees and the prosecution of those responsible for LRA atrocities highlights the paramount importance of protecting civilian populations in conflict situations. It also underlines the need for the Congolese authorities to take concrete measures to guarantee security and justice for all citizens, without distinction.