Africa News of Saturday, 1 May 2021
Source: africanews.com
The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a ‘state of siege’ in violence-hit eastern provinces. Hundreds of people have been killed and many displaced in mineral-rich Ituri and North Kivu provinces due to a surge in attacks in recent months
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi visited French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last Tuesday and already warned him about the armed group issue in his homeland.
Nevertheless, he reiterated his call for reinforcements.
"In my country, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a group with Islamist tendencies has been created, one with Islamist discourse and methods and which is wreaking havoc among our population. Now, I am more determined than ever to eradicate it, and I am counting on France's support."
Announcing Tshisekedi’s decision late on Friday, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said: “The objective is to swiftly end the insecurity which is killing our fellow citizens in that part of the country on a daily basis.”
He did not say what steps would be taken next under the state of siege.
Kambale Musavali, an analyst at Centre for Research on the Congo-Kinshasa, said it looked increasingly likely the government would send in more troops to the two affected regions, where government troops and United Nations peacekeepers have struggled to contain the violence.
“This is a prelude to what I believe will be military operations in the area,” Musavali told Al Jazeera. “It’s worrisome because we’ve had military operations in the DRC,” he said.
“Hearing this state of siege taking place, it may bring confidence to the population as this is a path in the right direction, but the question that must be asked is how is this military action different from previous military actions.”
On Thursday, Tshisekedi said he was preparing “radical measures” to deal with the security situation in the east of the country.
That followed the prime minister suggesting on Monday that a state of emergency might be declared in the east, “replacing the civil administration with a military administration”.
#DRCongo President Félix Tshisekedi at the Elysee Palace, #France, with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for a working visit. The two leaders held bilateral talks on enhancing economic and security cooperation. pic.twitter.com/U5rKzPRpOn
— Kibii Eliud (@eliudkibii) April 28, 2021
Congo's Felix Tshisekedi on Friday declared a state of siege over the worsening violence in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
— Saleh Mwanamilongo (@SMwanamilongo1) May 1, 2021
Announcing Tshisekedi's decision, government spokesman @PatrickMuyaya said: "The objective is to swiftly end the insecurity." #DRC #RDC pic.twitter.com/xNCoj8rPKj