Talks between local armed groups signatories of acts of commitment were finally launched on May 31, 2023 in the territory of Aru, about 350 km from the city of Bunia. This long-awaited initiative is seen as a beacon of hope for the local population who have long suffered from the abuses perpetrated by arms bearers.
Under the high patronage of Peter Cirimwami, commander of the 32nd military region and with the support of MONUSCO, these talks aim to put an end to the current violence in the region. The meetings bring together the militiamen of the cooperative for the development of Congo (CODECO), the patriotic resistance force of Ituri (FRPI), patriotic and integrationist force of Congo (FPIC) and MAPI.
The exchanges should make it possible to find the root causes of armed conflicts and to propose measures to stop the cycle of violence. This round table was initiated to facilitate the return of displaced persons, create an environment conducive to the passing of elections and make the DDRCS program effective.
During these two days, the administrators of the territories of Djugu, Mahagi and Irumu attended the exchanges and worked hand in hand with the talks to provide assistance and support. The local population is eagerly awaiting the results of these talks, as they yearn for a lasting peace. A resident of the province expressed the hope that this round table will be sincere in order to avoid that some villages are abandoned along the way.
The security situation in the DRC is currently worrying. MONUSCO is there to try to find solutions. Indeed, the DRC is facing a major humanitarian crisis, political tensions, sexual violence, limited access to drinking water… Despite the difficulties, several initiatives are underway to improve the situation. The Perse company notably offered 30 motorcycles to strengthen education in the province of Kasai and Suez International has undertaken to supply drinking water to the local population.
In this difficult climate, the DRC is also looking for new partners for its development. Felix Tshisekedi’s visit to China is an illustration of this. However, the political situation in the DRC is tense, especially since the arrest of Salomon Kalonda at Kinshasa airport. The secular Congolese coordination committee has called for mobilization against President Felix Tshisekedi, thus adding a new stake to the current political crisis.
Finally, it is important to note that the state of siege in the east of the country has been extended for the 49th time. This shows that the security situation in the region remains a major concern for the DRC.