Goma : the state of siege divides in North Kivu and Ituri

From November 22 to 24, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa visited the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri as part of the assessment of the state of siege in force since May 2021. The issue is divisive in the two eastern provinces of the vast central African country, which have been plunged into insecurity for three decades. The grievances of different groups will be analyzed by the Congolese government’s “defense and security” commission before a final report is presented to President Tshisekedi for appropriate solutions.

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Upon her arrival in the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu on November 22, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa was greeted by demonstrations hostile to the state of siege.

“We want to see civil authorities resume their functions as was the case before the state of siege was declared,” shouted several civilians, placards in their hands. But another party felt that the state of siege should be maintained to “allow the smooth running of military operations.”

According to some opponents such as Wilson Twitegure, a leader of the party “Ensemble pour la République” of the opponent Moïse Katumbi, the state of siege must be lifted.

“I oppose the maintenance of the state of siege… Since this measure was decreed 3 years ago, the enemy continues to reclaim areas in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru and Walikale. Contrary to our hopes of seeing the army chase away the aggressor, we are seeing the opposite on the ground,” said Mr. Twitegure, who is asking the Congolese government to lift this measure “which only multiplies the misfortunes of the Congolese people.”

But youth groups find that maintaining the state of siege is necessary. They believe it would help the FARDC “continue their operations against armed groups without hindrance.”

“Rebels keep taking over areas. We are asking the government to keep a military leader in charge of the province with a civilian as deputy governor. The governor would take care of all security issues while the vice-governor would take care of the administration,” said Baudouin Ntasugi of the Youth Dynamics for Sustainable Development in Masisi.

Judith Suminwa ended her tour with an assessment of the state of siege in Ituri province. She told the press that the grievances and recommendations of different groups will be analyzed by the Congolese government’s “defense and security” commission before a final report is presented to the head of state, Félix Tshisekedi.

“[…] It was very important to be able to hold these consultations, especially to listen to people. Now that we have done this, we are returning to Kinshasa…And we are going to make recommendations that will be submitted to the Head of State,” said Ms. Suminwa from Bunia, the capital of Ituri.

According to participants in these consultations, lifting the state of siege was the only recommendation of almost all the vital forces and provincial deputies of Ituri.

“The number of deaths and militias has increased during this period of the state of siege as has the level of violence. Even war displaced persons settled in sites have been victims of attacks by local and foreign militias. We deplore hundreds of deaths in camps for displaced persons alone. This was not the case before the implementation of this measure,” regretted Pellet Kaswara, rapporteur of the Provincial Assembly.

Protesters in the city of Goma during the arrival of Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, November 22, 2024

However, the Caucus of local customary chiefs finds that “the state of siege must remain in force until militias are disarmed.”

“The government should instead increase the number of military personnel and accelerate the disarmament and demobilization process in order to consolidate peace and preserve the gains of the state of siege,” according to Kataloho Takumara, spokesperson for traditional authorities of Ituri. He claims that the measure has allowed the pacification of a large part of the province.

On November 25, the National Assembly authorized a new extension of the state of siege in the two eastern provinces of the vast central African country, despite the negative assessment made by the national deputies elected in the constituencies of these two regions very rich in minerals.

“The state of siege has shown its limits. This measure no longer has any reason to exist. The management of the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu must be entrusted to civilians so that the military can concentrate on military operations only,” several elected officials from the two provinces wished.

Since May 2021, the action of the civil courts has been replaced by that of the military courts. By establishing a state of siege, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi had committed to “finding a solution to the unacceptable situation in the east”.

The provinces of North Kivu and Ituri are plagued by repeated attacks by around a hundred local and foreign armed groups, including the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) of Ugandan origin with Islamist practices and the genocidal Hutus-FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda). It is also in this part of Congo that the main Congolese armed group is located – the M23 – which has taken over several areas of North Kivu since mid-June 2022, including the city of Bunagana, on the border with Uganda, where it has set up its headquarters. Congolese authorities accuse Rwanda of supporting this Tutsi rebellion, which the Rwandan government continues to brush aside.

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The arrival of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, Saturday, November 23, 2024, in Bunia (Ituri). Radio Okapi/Ph. Isaac Remo