Essay: Ethnic Violence in DRC

Ethnic Violence in DRC
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Part 1: A letter to the President
H.E. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo,
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Office of the President of the Republic,
Palace of the Nation,
Gombe, Kinshasa.
November 24, 2020.
Your Excellency,
Re: Ethnic-based Conflict in Congo
History is again repeating itself in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There is a high risk of intensifying the ethnic violence between the Lendu and Hema, and the government’s plan to address the issue seems to be failing. There is no doubt that the Nations Stabilization Mission in the Congo (MONUSCO) is failing to achieve its core mandate of stabilizing and protecting the civilians. Thousands of people are being displaced, and a lot more are dying as a result of this ethnic violence. Survivors are struggling to put food on the table due to the alarming rate of poverty in the regions. There are no jobs, no conducive environment to conduct business, and no peace in the northeastern region. Currently, the economic condition in Ituri province is a mess.
Mr. President, your people, had confidence in you when you took an oath of office in 2017. On your inauguration day, you promised the people of the DRC that each citizen would enjoy their fundamental rights. However, the northeastern part of the country seems to deny people their fundamental rights, including life, employment, and education. The conflict has stopped all activities in Ituri as many people fear for their lives while others seek asylum in peaceful neighboring countries. As I speak, more than 4.5 million people have been displaced from their legitimate homes, topping the list of countries with most IDPs in Africa. More than 826 000 are seeking refuge in other parts of Africa. As a president, you have the opportunity, the mandate, and the power to ensure that your government embarks on reestablishing the country. However, this cannot be done when peace is lacking in the country. The Lendu and Hema tribes must first unite to create peace in Ituri. Mr president, tension continues to remain high in Ituri province due to horrific violence witnessed in the recent months and years. Unfortunately, the underlying tensions have not been addressed, and perpetrators remain at large.
What worries me the most is that some government security forces have participated in committing abuses against the civilians they need to protect instead of working to restore security. Senior political and intelligence officials and security force officers have supported, orchestrated, and manipulated armed groups across the nation to gain control of the rich resources. To worsen the situation, officials from neighboring countries have also supported, financed, and militarized the abusive armed groups in the country. Senior officials most responsible for the acts have been protected, rewarded, and promoted instead of being charged for their misdeeds. The absence of independence of the judicial system means that many of these perpetrators feel they are untouchable.
Mr. President, it is time to rebuild the cou...