DR Congo lawmakers extend state of siege in restive provinces

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo adopted a bill Tuesday that extends the state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu restive provinces.

President Felix Tshisekedi proclaimed a “state of siege” in May, replacing senior civilian officials in the state with army officers in a bid to curb growing insecurity.

Of the 335 MPs who voted, 334 voted in favor while one abstained.

The 15-day extension, and sixth since the first declaration, awaits Senate approval before being sent to the president for promulgation, according to parliamentary rules.

The latest extension is being implemented in the backdrop of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the siege as demanded by MPs and several other organizations.

The evaluation is being done in parliament’s Defense and Security Committee.

The committee summoned several government officials to give their views on the state of siege.

The findings of the committee will be tabled before the House plenary which will offer a new direction to the state of siege in the two provinces.

The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office in DR Congo in a recent report said it had not seen a significant impact of the state of siege on the protection of civilians.

It noted that "although neutralizations and surrenders of combatants of armed groups have been noted in North Kivu and Ituri, attacks against civilians, in their homes and farms as well as on roads, have increased in the provinces under siege."

The report said the situation is particularly worrying in the territories of Irumu in Ituri and Beni in North Kivu.

But the army said Monday that more than 600 Mayi-Mayi militiamen have surrendered in Masisi territory since the establishment of the state of siege last May and nearly 400 weapons have been recovered.​​​​​​​