the citizen's blog
The eleventh Pan-African Music Festival (Fespam), to be held in Brazzaville from July 15-22, will celebrate Congolese rumba as an intangible heritage of humanity, according to UNESCO. Researchers believe that Congolese rumba should be promoted, to bring the energy of young people from urban music to rumba. Fespam should also make it possible to promote Congolese culture on a pan-African scale.
During their 60th ordinary plenary assembly in Lubumbashi, the Congolese Catholic bishops of CENCO raised the issue of security in the DRC. They expressed concern over the resurgence of the M23 rebel movement, the Mobondo militia in the western part of the country as well as the UDPS Special Brigade. The bishops also addressed other topics related to the socio-pastoral situation of the country and welcomed the development initiatives of President Félix Tshisekedi while highlighting the major challenges of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Félix Tshisekedi went on tour in the Kasaï region, notably inaugurating an anti-erosion project financed by the World Bank. He also visited infrastructures under construction, such as the University of Kananga and laid the foundation stone of a new city in Mbuji-Mayi. This tour is part of its policy of modernization and development of the country’s infrastructure. Other events, such as the electoral process and the Francophonie games, also mark the news in the DRC.
The province of Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo is plagued by a clash between the Teke and Yaka communities. The conflicts have given rise to the phenomenon called “Mobondo”, where armed young people threaten the security of the population. Twelve people were sentenced to death for terrorism by the Bandundu-Bagata-Mai Ndombe garrison military court. The Catholic Church and the Congolese authorities put forward different hypotheses as to the causes of the conflict. Despite the extension of insecurity in the commune of Maluku and the outskirts of Kinshasa, initiatives such as the “Festiras 2022” festival could contribute to the search for peace and societal cohesion in the DRC.
In the DRC, the 2022-2023 state exam has started with the participation of more than one million students in more than 8,000 exam centers. In some places, displaced students receive full payment of examination fees. The Minister of EPST, Tony Mwaba, has launched the state examination tests in Mbuji-Mayi, in Kasaï-Oriental. This year, the event takes place against a backdrop of growing tension in view of the general elections. Despite the difficulties, the government and heads of establishments seek to guarantee equitable access to the examination for all candidates.
The Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, Tony Mwaba Kazadi, is on tour in the different provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Mbuji-Mayi, he launched the State Examination, Edition 2023, at the Mazarero Professional Technical Institute. The exam is of paramount importance for the future of Congolese students. The choice of Mbuji-Mayi for the launch of the State Examination is strategic, because Minister Mwaba wishes to meet students and teachers from different provinces. In addition, some articles published on Fatshimetry’s blog illustrate the armed conflicts, humanitarian crises and electoral issues facing the DRC.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has called voters for the next legislative elections scheduled for December. The CENI President reassured stakeholders about the integrity of the vote and highlighted the innovations introduced to respond to criticism of past elections. The BRTCs will receive candidates’ files for 20 days, allowing the constitution of the electoral register and the election of governors and senators. However, the security situation is deteriorating, with deadly clashes between FARDC and Twa militiamen, as well as growing insecurity in Butembo. The country is also facing socio-economic challenges and must find solutions to ensure a more stable, more prosperous and more serene future for all Congolese.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is of concern to the international community, in particular human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law by armed groups in the eastern part of the country. Following the report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC, the UK expressed concern and condemned the external support given to armed groups. The UK’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes has called on all parties to the conflict to deliver on their commitments under the Nairobi and Luanda regional diplomatic peace processes to achieve a lasting peace, with an immediate de-escalation of all parties and respect for Congolese sovereignty. The UK stands with those who seek a more peaceful future for the region.
The counting of the presidential elections in Sierra Leone has started after a day of peaceful voting, but with some logistical problems reported. The outgoing president, Julius Maada Bio, is in the running for a second term, but faces 12 candidates, including his main opponent, Samura Kamara. The first results should be announced in the next few hours, while the population is concerned about the high cost of living and rising inflation in the country. Sierra Leone, which experienced a protracted civil war from 1991 to 2002, hopes these elections will strengthen the country’s political and economic stability.
In a difficult political context, the candidacy of outgoing President Félix Tshisekedi is being strengthened by the support of the Alliance of Actors Attached to the People (AAAP). The party, made up of several political parties and independent figures, hails the president’s remarkable record, in less than five years, in the fight against corruption and diplomatic isolation, as well as the significant progress in education and security . This membership reinforces Tshisekedi’s position in his presidential campaign next December.