Category: International

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.

The city of Butembo is facing growing insecurity with armed assassins robbing and targeting civilians and economic operators. The low numbers of the army are singled out. However, the World Bank, political actors and civil society have taken initiatives to deal with it. The Episcopal Conference of the DRC calls for an urgent resolution of the crisis in the east of the country. Young people from Lituri testify to a promising inter-community dialogue for peace. Police reform is underway to strengthen peace and security. Finally, Emmanuel Macron launched a world summit for a new financial pact in favor of a green and sustainable economy. The DRC must face up to primordial issues of security, political stability and the environment, which require constant attention and effective initiatives at all levels.

The World Bank is continuing its projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the insecurity situation in the country. The Board of Directors approved a Country Partnership Framework running from 2022 to 2026, to support the government’s strategic priorities and governance reforms. The administrator of Virunga Parks discussed with the Head of State the situation of insecurity in this region, where eco-guards are in danger. Security is also an important issue for the presidential elections of December 2023. Political actors and the World Bank are working on initiatives to respond to this major challenge.

The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, accompanied by three ministers, participated in the summit for a new global financial pact in Paris, co-organized by the SDSN and the French government. The main objective was to rethink the global financial architecture to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. The participation of the Congolese government demonstrates the country’s commitment to the fight against global warming and sustainable development, in a context marked by multiple crises.

The Catholic clergy of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) have called for an urgent resolution to the security crisis in eastern DRC. They believe that the resurgence of the M23 and the appearance of the Mobondo militia show that diplomatic, political and military initiatives are not enough. They deplored the occult economic and political interests that feed these conflicts, as well as their instrumentalization by certain politicians for electoral reasons. CENCO continues to call for more concrete actions on the ground to bring peace and stability to this region of the country.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have recovered two strongholds of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the territory of Beni, North Kivu, which were used to launch attacks against the population. The remains of 13 citizens who had been taken hostage by the ADF-MTM were also discovered. These discoveries are an important step in the fight against armed groups, but the threat remains very real for the security of the population. However, several initiatives have been implemented in different regions to strengthen peace, security, and the rule of law in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This article deals with an “Intercommunity youth dialogue for peacebuilding” organized in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the province of Ituri. Young people from different communities came together to discuss peace and peaceful coexistence in the region, and more than 140 young people signed a pledge to support the peace process and get involved in the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation Program Community and Stabilization (P-DDRCS). However, despite the efforts of local, national and international organizations, the province continues to suffer from general insecurity.

The EAC Regional Force conducted a reconnaissance mission to assess the suitability of Rumangabo as a pre-cantonment site for the M23 armed group. Monusco continues its efforts for disarmament, demobilization and stabilization. The UN Security Council reaffirmed last March the importance of a political settlement of the current crisis. The implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program will be essential to allow a de-escalation of the conflict in the DRC. The Regional Force remains determined to support the peace efforts implemented by the various actors.