** Ugandan conflict in the DRC: an alarming escalation that redefines local dynamics **
On March 26, the cities of Arr and Djidda, located in the Walendu Djatsi chiefdom, were the scene of intense bombardments by the Ugandan army (UPDF) as part of military operations targeting Codeco militiamen. These recent escalations of violence, marked by significant human losses, raise questions not only on the evolution of the conflict in the Djugu region, but also on the broader geopolitical implications which result from it.
Justin Gudza, the chief of the chiefdom, confirmed the air strikes: “There were indeed bombings of the Ar, Djidda villages and others where we have dead but the exact figure is not yet known because the excavations continue”. These words reveal not only the severity of the situation, but also accentuate the difficulty of accessing specific data in a context of persistent violence. The need for transparency in human loss relationships is of crucial importance to assess the impact of the conflict on local communities, which, let us remember, are often left behind in the accounts of modern wars.
### Impact on traffic flows and local savings
Traffic on the national road 27 (RN27), the main artery connecting Mahagi to Bunia, was also affected. Due to military operations, several dozen vehicles have remained blocked, requiring military escorts to ensure their security. This phenomenon is not simply a logistical inconvenience: it has direct consequences on local economies which depend on these axes to transport goods and products. At a time when food insecurity remains a major challenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), each interruption of commercial roads contributes to exacerbating an already alarming humanitarian crisis.
In fact, the situation in this region is all the more worrying when it is considered that millions of Congolese live below the poverty line. The possibility of accessing local markets is crucial for their survival. Military operations, although they are presented as a necessary response to the violence of CODECO militiamen, must therefore be measured in terms of their repercussions on civilian populations.
### Bloody statistics of an evolutionary conflict
In just one week, at least 9 CODECO militiamen were killed, added to more than 200 other dead in previous clashes near the village of Bethlehem. These figures are indicative of a dynamic of violence which seems to be at the climbing stage. If we examine wider statistics, we see that the DRC has experienced an increase in community conflicts in the East, especially since 2017, with violence that caused thousands of deaths and leading massive displacements of populations.
It is imperative to question the UPDF military strategy. The question that arises here is: to what extent are these operations really effective in reducing violence and restoring peace in the region, or are they simply a reactive response to a much more complex dynamic which requires a multisectoral approach, including diplomacy and development?
### A global approach: towards sustainable reconciliation
What would be truly innovative would be to see local actors, the international community, as well as the governments involved working together to develop long -term solutions. This could include disarmament and reintegration programs, but also economic development initiatives which aim to eradicate the roots of violence.
The current approach, centered on military strikes, seems to be a temporary solution to a structural problem. A real peace in the region can only be reached by investing in the education, health and economic development of the areas affected by the conflict. Local populations, which directly undergo the consequences of tensions, must be integrated into the peace process.
In conclusion, recent bombings in Arr and Djidda are only a point in a much larger and complex table of violence in the DRC. The future of this region, as well as that of its inhabitants, lies not in purely tactical military responses, but in a reassessment of peace and security strategies which include the voice of citizens, paying attention to their needs and aspirations. The road to stability involves commitment to sustainable, humanitarian and economically viable solutions.