Category: Challenges

Deputy Bernard Kayumba has submitted a bill aimed at banning the consumption of alcohol and drugs in professional and educational settings in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This measure aims to protect Congolese youth against harmful practices. The member even proposes the installation of testers to detect offenders. This bill can contribute to the fight against alcoholism in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but it must be applied with moderation and intelligence to avoid penalizing workers excessively.

The arrest of Salomon Kalonda Idi, when he was about to leave Kinshasa with Moïse Katumbi, caused the international community to react. Together for the Republic, party of Moïse Katumbi, condemns this arrest as well as the growing insecurity in the DRC and calls for help from the international community. Congolese officials want to continue their occupation of power through fraud and violence, thus creating a climate of instability. With the arrest occurring ahead of elections next year, observers fear worsening political and security instability will hamper the holding of free and fair elections. This arrest calls on the international community to support democratic and peacebuilding processes in the country.

A draft revision of certain provisions of the Constitution was announced by MP Alphonse Ngoyi Kasanji in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This initiative, led by a civil society organization, aims to strengthen the fight against external conspiracies and restore the country’s institutional stability. The DRC is facing a major humanitarian crisis and political, economic and social instability. The revision of the Constitution could contribute to offering a better future to the younger generations and building a better future for all Congolese.

The city of Butembo is plunged into insecurity with three murders recorded in the space of three days. Local authorities have launched an investigation to find the perpetrators of these terrorist acts. These tragic events paralyzed activities in many schools in the region, which were in the middle of the end-of-year exam session. Insecurity is a scourge that has dramatic consequences on the lives of citizens of North Kivu and on the socio-economic development of the region.

The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains critical, mainly in the province of North Kivu where women and children are the most vulnerable, suffering daily sexual violence. Fighting between the Congolese army and the Rwandan-backed M23 has forced the displacement of more than one million people since March 2022. Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, calls on the Rwandan government to withdraw its troops from the DRC and on the Congolese government to better protect its vulnerable citizens. The international community must also act and support the Congolese people. The withdrawal and disarmament of the M23 in accordance with the Luanda communiqué is urgent, and all parties must commit to the Luanda and Nairobi processes.

The city of Kinshasa has been chosen by the Southern African Development Community Organization (SADC) to organize a meeting to assess the implementation of the common plan for gender equality in government programs. Senior executives and secretaries general of the gender ministries of the member countries of the organization meet to take stock of the actions carried out and define the points for improvement, as well as to evaluate the evolution of government programs. The Secretary General, Esther Kamwanya, stressed the importance of this meeting which prepares that of the ministers, with a theme related to industrialization for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The DRC, at the head of the organization, officially launched the meeting on the morning of May 30. The meeting will provide recommendations to Member States that are struggling to make progress in addressing gender issues in their programs.

The Minister of State in charge of Justice, Rose Mutombo, accompanied by the Attorney General of the ICC, visited the Panzi hospital in South Kivu to comfort survivors of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV ). During her visit, she delivered memoranda calling for justice and reparation for survivors, as well as investigations to identify and punish those responsible. The Minister expressed her deep regret for the suffering suffered by the victims, encouraged the survivors to remain strong and to believe in the future and reminded them that their lives do not end here. This visit was an opportunity to raise public awareness of SGBV and to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the fight against this violence. It also shows the importance of collaboration between different actors to protect vulnerable people and maintain the commitment to the protection of human rights in the DRC.

Karim Khan, the Attorney General of the International Criminal Court (ICC), recently visited Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to meet survivors of sexual violence. The victims had traveled from various parts of the province and demanded justice and reparation. Khan said he would work to prevent these crimes from happening again. Although the ICC has no ongoing investigations for serious human rights violations in the DRC, the attorney general has advocated for cooperation between the ICC and the country to arrest perpetrators.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, paid an official visit to China to discuss the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit highlighted the importance of protecting the achievements of revitalizing their strategic partnership. Félix Tshisekedi met with the municipal authorities of Shanghai who wish to become a centerpiece in the Sino-Congolese partnership. Although the issue of the Sino-Congolese mining contract was not discussed with President Xi Jinping, Felix Tshisekedi’s visit to China was fruitful, with interesting prospects for the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi, paid a four-day official visit to China to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and sign bilateral agreements. In a speech addressed to the Congolese community living in China, he denounced the collaboration between the elements of the contingents of the Regional Force of the East African Community (EAC) and those of the M23, which continue to sow desolation in the east of the country. He also denounced Rwanda’s aggression and presented a strategic action plan to preserve the Democratic Republic of Congo.