Democratic Republic of the Congo: Grand Oriental area demands an end to the state of siege

The association Espace Grande Orientale, comprising the entities of the former Orientale province, demands an end to the state of siege, the uncontrolled circulation on its territory of the Bas-Uélé and Haut-Uélé regions, “nomadic, educated, armed Mbororo terrorists” and that effective military operations be organized in conflict zones. These are some of the recommendations made in the Kisangani Declaration at the end of three days of discussion under the direction of Monsignor Marcel Otembe Tapa, Archbishop of Kisangani and President of the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO).

From all over the world, the dignitaries of the Espace Grande Oriental have noted in particular “the evident deterioration in the general condition of the territory which has been marked by a continuous breakdown of peace and security, in particular in the province of Ituri under the state of order of siege, and the provinces of Bas-Uélé and Haut-Uélé, including Tshopo, which It is exposed to attacks and raids by foreign and local armed groups. These figures indicate that the precarious situation of their space is a direct consequence of the weakening of state power over the entire national territory in general and in the great eastern space in particular.

Regarding the state of siege, without giving a specific date, President Felix Tshisekedi confirmed his intention to organize a round table to discuss the future of this exceptional measure in force in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. He had announced this on Thursday, December 22, 2022, in his framing speech at the opening of the work of the ninth session of the Governors Conference, which was organized in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province.