Fate Of State Of Siege In Eastern DR Congo To Be Determined Before End Of Current Assembly Session

The future of the state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu provinces in eastern DR Congo would be decided before the end of the current session of the Congolese National Assembly after the end of the roundtable conference announced by President Felix Tshisekedi, authorities said.

The decision by President Tshisekedi to convene a roundtable on the state of siege was taken after the president received a detailed report by the joint mission piloted by Prime Minister Michel Sama Lukonde and national parliamentarians as well senators from the restive provinces.

Bertin Mubonzi, President of the Commission on Defence and Security of the Congolese National Assembly, has revealed that the extension of the state of siege would continue until the holding of the roundtable conference which would finally decide on the future of the military action.

“The government has deposited the report and given some orientations which would now permit it to decide on the options,” Mubonzi said.

“The head of state has taken note and he has said that he would very rapidly organise a roundtable during which we would again be summoned so that he decides on what next would be reserved for the state of siege. That would be done before the end of the current parliamentary session.”

According to Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesperson, President Tshisekedi has been receptive to the different proposals that have been made to him in order to decide on the options that would lead to the restoration of peace in the eastern DR Congo.

“We have made concrete proposals to the president of the republic on the future of the state of siege based on past experience, progress realised, the difficulties faced and the necessity to examine how we would in future terminate this operation with the sole objective of bringing back peace,” Muyaya said.

The government spokesperson told the press at the end of a meeting presided over by the President on Wednesday, May 4, that political leaders would have the opportunity to meet with members of government and the members of the different caucuses and the commission on defence and security of the National Assembly and the Senate to discuss during the roundtable.

The state of siege was extended by the National Assembly for the 23^rd time last Tuesday, May 3, 2022 to last for a further 15 days, effective May 5, 2022.

Friday, May 6, 2022 makes it exactly one year since President Felix Tshisekedi proclaimed the state of siege in the restive provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.