Since Sunday, a new deadly attack attributed to suspected Ugandan rebels of the Democratic and Allied Forces (ADF) has been recorded in the chiefdom of Walese Vonkutu, in the territory of Irumu. This attack took place in the village Pinzili 2, and caused deaths as well as the burning of seven vehicles. This region has recorded in recent days a dozen deaths and extensive material damage.
The inhabitants of this region were forced to move to the center of Komanda located 75 km from the city of Bunia, the provincial capital. ADF Islamist fighters and their auxiliaries, who are active in this region, are singled out for these attacks. The situation is becoming worrying despite efforts to maintain security, and some regions of the DRC are experiencing significant unrest.
At the same time, the DRC is preparing to diversify its economy to stimulate growth, while the political situation remains somewhat unstable. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, for example, called for urgent action to restore security in Kwango. The violent repression of an opposition march and the massacre in the Bashu chiefdom are other examples. These tragic events which endanger the lives of the inhabitants are to be watched closely.
Economic diversification could be a long-term solution for the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this light, Felix Tshisekedi’s state visit to Gaborone was seen as an opportunity for the DRC to learn from Botswana’s economic model in the mining sector.
In short, the security situation in certain regions of the DRC remains worrying despite the efforts made to maintain peace. The violence attributed to suspected Ugandan rebels of the Democratic and Allied Forces (ADF) is increasingly worrying. The DRC is also looking to diversify its economy to spur growth, and tragic events that endanger the lives of residents need to be watched closely.