** walikale-center: precarious tranquility at the heart of insecurity **
On March 20, 2024, Walikale-Center found himself under the yoke of the rebels of the AFC/M23 armed movement, a situation which, although marked by an apparent calm, suggests a latent concern among the residents who remained on the spot. While shots have been killed, the inhabitants, reclusive at home, illustrate a more complex reality than no other. Indeed, this “tranquility” is a reflection of an anxiety of anxiety and uncertainty that hangs over the city.
For decades, the Kivu region has been the scene of recurring conflicts, confronting ethnic rivalries, struggles for the control of natural resources and persistent insecurity which weakens the social fabric. The control of Walikale-Center by the AFC/M23 is not an isolated fact, but is part of a larger regional dynamic involving not only armed groups, but also state and international actors.
### Geopolitics in the background
The strategic importance of Walikale-Center is based on its position at the crossroads of several provinces: North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo and Maniema, an essential intersection for trade and communications, connected by the national road 3 (RN3). In a context where roads are often anarchically controlled by rival factions, this axis represents a vital issue for economic flows, as well as for the transit of humanitarian aid. Taking Walikale-Center by rebels therefore embodies a skilful maneuver to strengthen their power over an essential articulation of the Congolese landscape.
### Silence heavy with meaning
The silence that envelops Walikale-Center is not just the result of the lack of immediate violence. He also underlines a superficial serenity, a calm of facade which hides a palpable tension. The observation of the inhabitants, as a resident reports at Fatshimetrie.org, highlights a culture of fear that has settled, where uncertainty has become the norm. The reluctance to go out, even for urgent medical care, underlines an underlying hostility towards the rebels, but also a distrust of the police, which seem to have abandoned the city.
### Historical points of view
It is interesting to compare this situation with other revolts in the country, such as those of the 2000s. Conflicts that rocked the Kivu have often been fueled by promises not held of peace and stabilization. The climb of the AFC/m23 is not the result of chance, but the result of an accumulated frustration. The populations, often left behind by a state with limited capabilities, see in these armed movements a glimmer of hope for better governance, despite the inevitable consequences.
### Outlook for the future: a local or international response?
While the situation in Walikale-Center evolves, the question remains: how will the inhabitants react to this new reality? To avoid an endless cycle of violence, reconciliation and dialogue efforts are crucial. Civil society actors as well as NGOs have a role to play in promoting dialogue between the different factions.
Internationally, the presence of independent observers and local elected officials could also provide a counterweight to the excessive claims of armed groups. Diplomatic pressures focused on neighboring countries with interest in the stabilization of the region could prove beneficial, but the sustainability of such a process will inevitably depend on tangible commitments on the part of all the actors involved.
### Conclusion
Walikale-Center represents a tragic facet of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the quest for control comes up against the legitimate aspirations of the populations. The apparent calm of this day of March 2024 is a reminder of the fragility of situations during conflict. The voices of the inhabitants, silent but powerful, represent a call to a future where human security and dignity take precedence over territorial control. In this tumultuous era, the duty of the media and the international community is not to let Walikale-Center fall into oblivion, but on the contrary to remember, to listen and above all to act.