The state of siege in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising debates and expectations. Yesterday, the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, chaired the opening of the work of the Round Table on the state of siege in the congress hall of the People’s Palace.
In his speech, President Tshisekedi recalled that the state of siege was established two years and three months ago to deal with the increase in insecurity in this part of the country. The objective was to restore the authority of the State, to secure people and their property, and to put an end to the violence and massacres to which the population has been victims for decades.
However, the President stressed that this exceptional regime was not intended to last forever and that it was necessary to take stock of the situation to ensure the survival of the nation. Thus, the participants in the Round Table were called upon to decide on three proposals concerning the state of siege: its maintenance, its reclassification or its pure and simple lifting.
These are based on the results of the roaming missions carried out by the Prime Minister, Jean Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, in the provinces concerned. These missions aimed to collect the opinions and suggestions of the population on the state of siege. In total, four missions were organized, and the different proposals were summarized into three categories.
The work of the Round Table will take place over three days and participants will therefore have the opportunity to debate these proposals and make a decision which will impact the future of the state of siege in the provinces of Ituri and the North. -Kivu.
The state of siege is an exceptional measure which aims to guarantee the security and protection of citizens. However, it is necessary to find a balance between the effectiveness of this regime and respect for the rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals. The decision that will be taken at the end of this Round Table will therefore be crucial for the future of these provinces and for the stability of the country as a whole.
It remains to be seen which proposal will be accepted and what the consequences of this decision will be. In the meantime, the population is impatiently awaiting the results of this Round Table which could mark a turning point in the fight against insecurity in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.