In the DRC, national deputies from North Kivu and Ituri are increasingly taking a stand against the state of siege in force in their provinces since May 2021. This exceptional measure was taken by President Félix Tshisekedi to fight against armed groups in the east of the country.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
The elected officials note that the killings persist, even worsen. They tabled a bill yesterday to put an end to this measure. They rely on the constitutional provisions which stipulate that the National Assembly and the Senate can put an end to the state of siege at any time by passing a law.
Five deputies, elected from the areas of Lubero, Butembo, Beni and Irumu, carry this bill. The text they tabled in the lower house proposes the end of the military administration. If it is voted and promulgated, the provincial assemblies and the decentralized territorial entities will resume their activities normally, as will the civil courts.
Instead of a state of siege, MEPs propose in particular to strengthen the armed forces and other security services, and to better equip them.
Thaddée Katembo, elected from Lubero, in North Kivu, is one of the authors of this text. ” The army has the sovereign role of defending national integrity. This can only apply during the state of siege. It is his role. Before, during and after the state of siege, the army must continue this role “, he says.
These deputies also propose the continuation of joint military action led by the Congolese and Ugandan armies in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. ” It is appropriate today to continue to manage operations without a state of siege regime. There is coordination of joint operations between the two countries. »
The tabling of this bill comes a week after the Prime Minister’s mission to the provinces concerned.
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde had not then ruled out any option concerning the maintenance or not of the state of siege.