** Towards a food security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: analysis of the bill **
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now faced with particularly alarming food challenges. Indeed, according to the World Food Program (PAM), 28 million Congolese suffer from acute food insecurity, a figure which illustrates an unprecedented deterioration of the situation. This observation brought Dominique Munongo, assistant rapporteur of the National Assembly, to underline the need for legislation dedicated to food security during an awareness workshop, confirming the registration of a bill on the subject on the parliamentary calendar of March. Can this initiative, carried by Thaddée deputies Katembo and Alexandre Muhasa, be a turning point in the fight against malnutrition in the DRC?
### a necessary legal framework
The DRC, since its independence, has not disposed of a law framing food security. Dominique Munongo recalled that access to adequate food is a fundamental right inscribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. The absence of a clear legal framework can therefore be perceived as a gap in the commitment of the State towards its citizens. The bill under discussion aspires to develop the fundamental principles which will guide public policies in food security matters.
### An alarming situation
Malnutrition figures are worrying, with an infantile chronic malnutrition rate amounting to 47.9 % according to national surveys of 2023. This major public health problem deserves sustained attention, especially since children are particularly vulnerable to its devastating effects. The law envisaged could thus offer solutions against food insecurity at household level, by responding to the underlying causes of malnutrition.
### Intersectoral collaboration
The director of the national nutrition program, Pronanut, insists on the importance of a “conjunction of forces” to improve the situation. This raises a key question: how to better coordinate efforts between the various sectors concerned to achieve food security objectives? The bill, which includes 11 titles and 51 articles, defines not only the institutional framework, but also the necessary funding, while putting particular emphasis on the mining sector, often criticized for its negative impacts on agriculture.
### The challenge of self-sufficiency
MP Alexandre Muhasa also underlined a crucial issue: the DRC’s dependence on the importation of food products. Currently, only 30 % of foodstuffs consumed in the country come from local production. This observation challenges the need for effective regulation on the food market market. The question then arises: what measures can be put in place to encourage local production, reduce external dependence and energize the agricultural sector?
### Future prospects
Beyond legislative considerations, it will be necessary to support this initiative by concrete actions in the field. Indeed, even if the bill is a step in the right direction, the success of it will depend on the ability of the authorities to mobilize the necessary resources, but also to raise awareness and train local actors. The fight against malnutrition requires a long -term commitment, both political and community level.
### Conclusion
The DRC food security bill represents a potential advance in a context where the challenges of nutrition and access to food are increasingly pressing. If it is adopted and implemented effectively, it could open the way for better food security for millions of Congolese. However, this approach must be accompanied by a strong collective will and a clear strategy to tackle the roots of the problem.
In order for positive changes to materialize, it is essential that the initiative is not considered as a simple legislative act, but as a real appeal for action for all the actors involved in the food chain and in the socio-economic development of the country. This food security challenge can only be met through a multidimensional commitment which encompasses all the strata of the Congolese company.