President Tshisekedi continues his visit to the east. After Goma, he arrived in Beni on Tuesday. He is coming to assess the measures related to the besieged state that has been decided since May 6 in two provinces in the eastern part of the country, Ituri and northern Kivu, of which Beni is the capital, plagued by gang violence. Despite the establishment of the siege, the situation on the ground does not change. But the displacement of the head of state raises a lot of hope among the locals.
With our special correspondent in Beni, Patient Ligodi
An impressive security device was deployed at Benis Airport on the arrival of Félix Tshisekedi. Land units specially supported by helicopters ensured the security of the President of the Republic in this area, which for a long time was characterized by the activity of ADF combatants. His long procession was greeted throughout the journey by the residents of the city who hope that the presence of the head of state will provide concrete answers to the recent violence in Beni.
“Targeted murders, arbitrary arrests, burglaries, armed robberies, the city is shaken by this insecurity that is characterized by this increased crime,” explains Kizito Bin Hangue, president of the city’s civil society.
We have always asked the head of state to meet us, see us […] We believe that together with him we will evaluate all the operations he has carried out, that he has initiated to define our strategy that can enable the army to be up to its mission. […] We want the head of state to be able to feel all these difficulties for the population […] At the level in Beni, since the siege was declared, we have not yet seen, we have not yet felt the impact, the results of this siege permit.
Members of the Muslim community in Beni are among those who expect the most from this visit. Society lost two of its leaders and preachers last month, both were shot dead in the city.
“What the ADF is doing here is not Islam. We ask the Head of State to continue his mission to put an end to the insecurity in the region, “said Abdoulaziz Basayi, Secretary of State for the Islamic Community in Congo, in Beni.
In the region, this visit by the head of state is seen as an opportunity to give new impetus to the fight against the various forms of violence that have been raging for several years.
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Despite the siege, new violence has been recorded in recent weeks, especially in the Rwenzori territory. One of the attacks on civilians in this area dates back to three weeks ago. At least four people were killed in the town of Kylia. The situation is also unpredictable on the Beni-Kasindi road. The section between the Semluki Bridge and the city of Bulongo is still dangerous.
The Army is focusing its efforts on this level. According to some FARDC officers, the intention of the ADF fighters is to shield the city of Beni from all food and fuel from Uganda via Kasindi. This is to raise the population towards the new authorities. The army is more deployed in the area where ambush is sometimes placed against vehicles transporting goods. Coordination and combat patrols are organized.
The other hot spot in the region remains west of the city of Oïcha. The army accuses Mai-Mai militiamen of supporting ADF fighters.
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