The security situation in the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains worrying. The Minister of State in charge of Regional Integration, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisa, took the initiative to launch the work of a workshop to discuss it. He received delegates from all the Ituri communities living in Kinshasa in order to give them the opportunity to speak freely about the causes of insecurity in Ituri.
The main objective was to shed light on the resurgence of armed groups that are committing serious abuses against the civilian population. The president of the “iturian” community of Kinshasa (CIK), Félix Kabuizi, underlined the state of siege, the need for an intra and inter-community dialogue as well as the restoration of the authority of the State in the province. All these points were developed in a memo given to Minister of State Mbusa Nyamwisi.
The Minister of State in charge of Regional Integration has promised to organize a dialogue for peace in Ituri by making a plea to his hierarchy. He insisted on the importance of the cessation of hostilities to improve the security situation, the free movement of people and their goods on different roads, allow the emergence of integration projects and promote the economic development of the region.
The province of Ituri has great potential with its mining and oil resources as well as its forest ecosystem. However, for the population of Ituri to benefit from its natural wealth, it is important that peace and security be established in the region. This problem is crucial for the development of the whole country as well as for consolidating regional peace and stability.
The DRC government should work in a coordinated manner to put in place a sustainable security mechanism that meets the specific needs of Ituri. This will contribute to the stabilization of the region, economic development, the promotion of human rights and the strengthening of state authority in this regional conflict.