Governor Raises Alarm Over 750 Police Officers, Soldiers AWOL In Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
The soldiers and police officers have been away without permission and pose security threats according to the Governor of Haut-Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Jacques Kyabula Katwe, the governor of Haut-Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, says a total of 750 soldiers and police officers are on irregular absence without leave (AWOL).
Governor Katwe said the affected security operatives have moved from Kasai to Katanga with the possibility of being responsible for insecurity in the province.
âAs concerns the question of security, we have discovered that the massive movements which have just taken place in Kasai towards Katanga include armed police and soldiers who have moved along with the civilian population in Haut-Katanga,â he said at a press conference held on Monday, May 2.
âWe have more than 750 armed police officers and soldiers who have moved on their own to Katanga. And when they arrive in Katanga, they have nothing to do, they have nothing to eat nor where to sleep. That is how they could naturally create insecurity.â
The press briefing follows a round table on peaceful cohabitation within communities in Kasai and Katanga.
âThis is the reason why you see that things linked to insecurity have not been under control up till date. Once things are under control at a given time, there are new arrivals. On the security plan, we have also had to treat this situation,â the governor added.
The inter-provincial conference between the provinces of Kasai and Katanga was summoned by President Felix Tshisekedi who wanted to understand and find solutions to the tensions existing between the two provinces.
At the end of the conference, President Tshisekedi called for humanism and tolerance between the two areas and also for the respect of the laws of the republic.
The roundtable agreed that a roadmap be created to control the movement of the populations.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
