This is good news for residents of the South Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). For several months, they have noticed a drop in insecurity along the road which crosses the Ruzizi plain. This valley located between the Mitumba mountain range and the Ruzizi River serves as a natural border between the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda.
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With our special correspondent in the Ruzizi plain, Coralie Pierret
This area of the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been a crossroads of conflict and violence for more than two decades. To try once again to put an end to it, on August 15, 2022, a joint operation between the Congolese army and Burundian soldiers was launched. The main and official objective of their presence? Fight the numerous foreign armed groups, including the Burundian Red Tabara, refugees in the region. They have since strengthened their position along the main road to the Ruzizi plain.
Until a few months ago, Kijemba Kaliogo, a cattle breeder, did not go a week without seeing robberies, targeted assassinations or even the looting of livestock by men who were always armed, but rarely identified. “ They came, they stole, but this year, things are a little better. But in the days gone by, the cows suffered. There were cow thefts and many breeders lost their entire herd », he notes.
More visible soldiers
It is difficult for Kijemba Kaliogo to date the decline in insecurity in his village of Luberizi and the surrounding area. But he specifies that the presence of Burundian soldiers alongside the Congolese army contributed to it. Discreet at the start of the operation in August 2022, they are now visible along national road no. 5.
“ I wouldn’t say there is total security today. But let me tell you that at least we have seen a little improvement compared to past years. In the past, there were many armed groups. This Ruzizi plain served as a passage but since then, incursions have been reduced. At least the population can move around all day and night without being worried. », notes André Byadunia, former coordinator of local civil society.
For the moment, no end date for this operation has been made official. The text of the agreement between the DRC and the Burundi was never made public.