the citizen's blog
UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix has toured Central Africa to discuss the situation in the DRC with local authorities. He visited Ituri, where over a million people are displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance. Lacroix also met with the Angolan president to discuss the deployment of Angolan soldiers to oversee the cantonment of M23 rebels in the DRC. The visit comes in a context marked by growing insecurity in the east of the country.
The article deals with the evacuation operation of French nationals in Niger following the coup d’état that occurred in July 2023. Two testimonies are presented: that of Moumouni Mahamadou, who chose to stay in Niamey and claims not to be worried of the situation, and that of Stéphane Jullien, who also decided to remain on the spot and considers the evacuation as a preventive measure. The French authorities plan to end the evacuation operations on August 2 and justify this decision by recent violence and fears of future overflows. The article underlines the uncertainty which reigns as for the future of the French living in Niger and of the country itself.
A tragic act has rocked Dakar, Senegal, where a Tata bus was attacked by a Molotov cocktail, killing two people and seriously injuring five others. Interior Minister Antoine Félix Diome called the attack a terrorist act. Seven hooded individuals set fire to the bus and stripped the passengers of their belongings. This attack comes in a context of political tensions in Dakar, following the detention of opponent Ousmane Sonko. The government is mobilizing to identify those responsible for this violence. The full article can be viewed at [article link].
In a press release published by the dynamics of citizens’ movements in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a coalition of NGOs denounces a growing restriction of civic freedoms and an ongoing electoral pressure that endangers the nation. The citizen movements recommend the suspension of the examination of the draft law on the distribution of seats to build a consensus around the electoral register and the whole process. They also invite the international community to take targeted sanctions against political and military leaders who are involved in organizing fraudulent elections and who violate public freedoms through repression.
The UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner has announced that Rwandan refugees in the DRC and those from the DRC in Rwanda may express their desire to be voluntarily repatriated. However, it is important to remember that this will be done on a voluntary basis and the terms will be communicated at a future technical meeting. With nearly 280,000 refugees divided between the two countries, joining this repatriation program is crucial to decongest the camps, stabilize security and promote reconciliation. The authorities must, however, guarantee the safety of refugees and facilitate their dignified return to their country of origin.
Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard, honorary president of the civil society of Butuhe, was assassinated at his home in the North Kivu region of the DRC. Although the motives are not clear, sources on the spot mention a land dispute. The DRC must work to stabilize its troubled regions to guarantee the security of its population. However, positive initiatives are also underway to improve the situation.
World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, brings together hundreds of thousands of young Catholics from around the world to celebrate their faith together. Despite the difficulties encountered by young Africans in obtaining their visas, their presence is a strong symbol of peace and resilience. Their commitment and their cultural diversity enrich this major religious event.
The 10th extraordinary summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) opened in Luanda with the participation of several international leaders, including the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi. The meeting aims to assess the Luanda and Nairobi processes, particularly with regard to relations between the DRC and Sudan and to promote regional cooperation and stability. The DRC is also planning to deploy forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in North Kivu province. The meeting is eagerly awaited for its results in terms of collaboration and coordination between the organizations present.
Four armed groups active in the province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a roadmap to work for peace, security and social cohesion in the region. The groups have signed a memorandum of understanding in which they undertake to cease all hostility and violence and to facilitate the free movement of people and goods. The authorities are calling for the sustainability of the achievements of this dialogue to stabilize the region, although this unification of the armed groups is an important step for the future of the Ituri region.
Rehabilitation work at the Kinshasa International Fair (Fikin) was stopped after differences between the Turkish company Milvet and the Congolese management committee. Milvet would have demanded a 6-hectare camp for a period of 10 years, as well as the possibility of buying the premises if the work took longer than expected. Fair managers accused Milvet of one-upmanship. Despite the start of work, the project remains blocked and the future of the rehabilitation of the Fikin is uncertain.