Category: International

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP) is joining forces with the French Development Agency (AFD) to improve road safety through the creation of automobile technical inspection centres. The Governor of Kongo Central recently visited the INPP Provincial Directorate accompanied by the Deputy Director General and AFD partners to discover this new technical control service whose opening is imminent. This initiative will reduce road accidents in the DRC through fruitful collaboration between national and international organizations.

China-Africa cooperation is based on the win-win principle and has helped to improve trade and export earnings of African countries. The SICOMINES joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a model of cooperation and sustainable development for the African continent. China also encourages companies to invest in the DRC, thus contributing to the economic diversification and industrialization of the country.

The extraordinary summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region was held in June 2023 in Luanda. The President of Angola, João Lourenço, reported on his work as the AU-appointed facilitator to address growing security issues in eastern DRC. Nevertheless, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula, underlined that the road to obtain the expected results is still long. The DRC is a key player in the fight against climate change and the sustainable management of its forests and mineral resources, and its political and security challenges must be addressed while pursuing its economic initiatives towards a more sustainable future.

The city of Beni, in North Kivu, has been affected by a wave of insecurity for several days, with the murder of three people. The commander of the Congolese National Police (PNC) in the city claims that the new animators of the small territorial area appointed by the president are the cause of this insecurity, while some residents blame the elements of the police. Armed groups proliferate in the region despite the presence of security forces and Monusco. The situation highlights the security difficulties of the DRC and calls for the continuation of preventive actions and stabilization efforts to allow the population to live in peace and security.

Militiamen from the cooperative for the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Codeco) attacked displaced people from the Bule site in the village of Kpawi, killing three people according to a provisional report. This attack comes shortly after the visit of the UN Deputy Secretary General to the Djugu region to take stock of the issues related to security and humanitarian issues. The unstable security situation in the DRC does not prevent the country from carrying out actions to strengthen its economy, benefiting in particular from growing financial support from the African Development Bank for the implementation of economic projects. The country has also just signed historic agreements with China for global and strategic cooperation, and is part of a transitional context for the protection of civilians.

Monsignor Marcel Utembi, president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), called for a fraternal life to help people affected by armed violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri have been under siege for two years and are the scene of violence perpetrated by more than a hundred local and foreign armed groups. The region also suffers from the communal conflict between Teke and Yaka. Faced with this worrying situation, Monsignor Marcel wishes to make the whole world aware of this suffering.

North Kivu, a province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is plagued by clashes between armed groups, government forces and international forces. EAC troops have had their mandate extended until September and SADC troops are also expected in the region, which may cause tension and clashes. Experts fear the region could turn into a battlefield. Troops from the various organizations involved must work together to protect civilians and maintain peace and stability in the region.

The Kinshasa Military Court rejected for the second time the request for provisional release of MP Edouard Mwangachuchu, suspected of being linked to the M23 rebels and prosecuted for treason, participation in an insurrectionary movement, espionage and illegal detention of weapons of war. The weapons were found in the residence of Edouard Mwangachuchu in Kinshasa as well as in the premises of his company SMB in Masisi, in North Kivu. The judicial situation in the DRC remains tense despite calls for international cooperation and democracy.

The Tenth Extraordinary Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) was held in Luanda on June 3, with the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the political crisis in Sudan as central topic. Although no final communiqué was published, several principles and recommendations were recalled, such as the execution of the Luanda joint roadmap, the obligation for M23 members to truly withdraw from occupied areas, or support for the deployment of Angolan troops to ensure security in the region. A quadripartite coordination meeting is also scheduled for 23 June.