The situation in the Djugu region of Ituri is alarming and requires concrete action by the authorities to put an end to the atrocities perpetrated by the CODECO militia. The ENTE community, representing the Hema community, calls on the Government to act to impose peace in this part of the territory.
For more than a decade, the inhabitants of Djugu and its surroundings have lived in terror, confronted with the incessant violence of the CODECO militia. Families are in mourning, displaced people and refugees are forced to flee their homes, leaving behind broken lives and deep trauma.
In a poignant statement to the press in Bunia, the president of the ENTE community, Angaika Baba, launched an urgent appeal to the country’s authorities to take urgent measures to put an end to this spiral of violence. According to him, it is time to use force to make the CODECO militia listen to reason, because it is the only language they seem to understand.
Angaika Baba also calls on the international community, in particular MONUSCO and United Nations agencies, to intervene to protect the Hema community and prevent its extermination. He calls for official recognition of the genocide suffered by his people, a recognition that could pave the way for real justice for the victims and the establishment of adequate protection measures.
Recent events, such as the assassination of three civilians in Djugu, demonstrate the urgency of immediate action. It is time for the international community to mobilize to put an end to these heinous crimes and guarantee the safety of civilian populations in this wounded region.
It is crucial that the Congolese authorities take their responsibilities and act with determination to restore peace and security in the Djugu region. The ENTE community, as worthy representatives of the Hema people, deserve to live in dignity and serenity, far from the violence and tragedies that have marked their daily lives for too long. Peace is an inalienable right, and it is time to remind people of this with force and conviction.