Kakule Mbalikiriri Moïse Léonard, honorary president of the civil society of Butuhe was assassinated by armed men. The victim was hit by bullets in the leg and chest. Local authorities have raised the possibility of a land conflict in the region. As North Kivu is regularly plagued by violence, the work of civil society is essential to defend the rights of local communities. The authorities need to protect them from violence.
Category: International
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the Democratic Republic of Congo was commended for its efforts in the electoral process by the embassies and the European Union delegation, despite logistical and technical challenges. However, the Western partners have concerns about the electoral register and recommend that the CENI strengthen the confidence of the population by organizing consultation frameworks with civil society and political parties. Western partners affirm their commitment to democracy and transparency in electoral processes in the DRC.
Suspected ADF fighters attacked the locality of Museya on the night of Thursday, June 1 in the territory of Beni, killing nine people, including four women, and several injured. The inhabitants of the region live in constant fear of attacks by armed groups such as the ADF and the Mai-Mai. There is an urgent need for the government to intervene to strengthen security and protect vulnerable populations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched an international call for tenders for the acquisition of computer equipment for the Technical Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of Reforms (CTR). Candidates must provide administrative, financial and technical evidence to meet the requirements of the contract. Tenders must be submitted no later than June 29, 2023 at 11 a.m. local time to the CTR address in Kinshasa. In addition, the DRC is currently facing several challenges at the national level.
The ICGLR Interministerial Committee met in Luanda to review the security situation in eastern DRC. It has been reported that the warring parties are currently respecting the ceasefire, while the M23 elements are pre-cantoned in Rumangabo and cantoned in Kindu, according to the agreements. However, the humanitarian situation remains alarming, with the massive displacement of the population and the food crisis in the DRC. Prime Minister Laurent E. Tshisekedi urged the international community to mobilize to fight against poverty and exclusion.
The rehabilitation of the Kinshasa International Fair (Fikin) was interrupted due to differences between the Turkish company Milvet and the Congolese authorities. The Milvet company has exceeded the authorizations given for the works, extending them over an additional area of 6 hectares. She also requested additional space for her headquarters and agreed to pay 60,000 US dollars per month for the rental of these 6 hectares. Work is on hold pending a decision from the Fikin management committee.
The National Service of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is inspired by the Tanzanian model to reinforce its importance and its effectiveness. The Commander of the Congolese National Service, General-Major Jean-Pierre Kasongo Kabwik, recently visited a Tanzania National Service training camp to observe their activities. The Tanzanian model imposes a mandatory three-month service on high school graduates, emphasizing patriotic values and providing training in entrepreneurship. Major General Kasongo Kabwik believes that the DRC could benefit from this approach to strengthen peace, security and development in the country. This initiative also shows the Congolese government’s commitment to investing in young people and building a promising future for the country.
The rehabilitation project for the Kinshasa International Fair (Fikin) is encountering difficulties with the Turkish company in charge of the work, Milvet. The latter requires a space of 6 hectares to set up its camp there and plans to buy this space if the work takes longer than expected. The work has been stopped but the project to build an arena, an exhibition center, an amusement park, a shopping center and a hotel remains an important issue for the attractiveness of the city. Stakeholders must quickly find common ground to continue this project, which can create job opportunities for young people and contribute to the economic development of the country.
The embassies of the United States, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the European Union have decided to support the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023 by making them competitive, peaceful, inclusive and transparent. The embassies also expressed concern about the commitment of the political class to a peaceful process, while stressing the responsibility of all political leaders in maintaining peace during the election campaign. The embassies also stressed the importance of a healthy and robust debate on matters important to all citizens while respecting the constitution and electoral laws of the DRC.
A delegation of Belgian parliamentarians recently met with President Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss cooperation. The security of the DRC in the face of aggression by Rwanda, corruption and the 2023 elections were at the center of the discussions. The delegation also visited the Independent National Electoral Commission to follow the electoral process. The DRC continues to face challenges, including crimes against humanity in some provinces, but initiatives to strengthen peace and rebuild the rule of law are also underway.