DR Congo Prime Minister Calls On Rebels To Lay Down Arms, Promises Re-integration
The Prime Minister's call follows a state of siege declared by the country’s President and being executed by the national armed forces.
The Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, has launched a campaign to support the country’s armed forces following the state of siege declared by President Felix Tshisekedi in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.
In an address on Saturday May 15, during the official launching of the campaign dubbed “Tolonga na mapinga, Bendele Ekweya Te” (Win with the armed forces by maintaining high the flag of DRC), the Prime Minister called on those who have taken up arms against their country to return to reason.
He promised to ensure their reinsertion into normal life to equally participate in the development of the DR Congo.
He noted that the steps being taken “now is an action of pacification and we want to see those who are within the negative forces to come back, lay down their arms and we are ready to welcome them, they are our Congolese brothers and we will be ready to reinsert them into normal life so that they can finally contribute towards the development of this country, the Democratic Republic of Congo which is very dear to us.”
At this time when the Democratic Republic of Congo leads the African Union, the Congolese Prime Minister called on partner nations to the DR Congo to support the country’s decision to declare a state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu provinces.
“Beyond this message which we have addressed to these youths, we also address it to our partners of the neighbouring countries, and all African countries because at this particular moment when we are occupying the presidency of the African Union, we have to show an example of peace, an example of security, an example of development; it is important to this cause that we can also have the support of Africa and the neighbouring countries, which cause must finally extend throughout Africa and which would permit its development to all these youths who have stayed here to construct this beautiful continent rather than allow themselves to be seduced into escaping towards migration which leads them to death.”
The occasion saw the participation of several ministers of the central government as well as military and police authorities.
A state of siege was declared in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces on Thursday, May 6, 2021 by President Felix Tshisekedi who appointed military governors to replace civilian governors in the two provinces.
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