AFRICA/DR CONGO - "The State of siege to stop violence risks being a failure"

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - " Can the militarization of civil administrations and intensification of armed pressure be enough to end the spiral of violence that has plagued the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 20 years? Difficult to say ... "says a communication from the Peace Network for Congo on the state of siege in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, in the east of the country, which came into force on May 6 (see Fides, 7/5/2021).
"It seems surprising to entrust full powers to the military, when the national security forces seem to be responsible for almost half of the violence committed", said the note sent to Agenzia Fides.
In its March 2021 report, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (BCNUDH) stated that 47% of human rights violations were committed by members of the state security forces (members of the army and police) and the remaining 53% by the various armed groups.
"The powers of attorney to the military are therefore not only of great concern to human rights organizations, but also to the local population themselves," emphasizes
Pece Network for Congo. "Especially since the measures taken in the context of the state of siege (with the imposition of martial law) are particularly radical.
According to Human Rights Watch, "military authorities can conduct house searches day and night, prevent publications and gatherings that might be considered a violation of public order, restrict movement of people, and arrest anyone suspected of violating public order. In addition, civil courts are being replaced by military courts, which is contrary to national and international norms".
Peace Network for Congo also recalls that "many soldiers in the Congolese army are former members of armed groups who were integrated into the army following successive so-called peace agreements between the government and the armed groups. The integration of former members of armed groups into the army has always been a failure, both for their lack of professionalism and discipline".
"Trying to rebuild peace with the same actors who have been sowing chaos for twenty years is a risky bet for President Tshisekedi", says the Network which is sponsored by missionaries in the region. "To believe that the military solution is the only way to bring peace to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a mistake. Other political and economic solutions must also be sought, because the causes of uncertainty are indeed manifold : lack of state authority, illegal exploitation of natural resources, land conflicts, political rivalries, failure of disarmament / demobilization programs / reintegration, nepotism. Without this broader and more global approach, the state of siege (martial law) could be yet another failure", concludes the statement. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 29/5/2021)

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