Ituri district, 23 June 2015 – “Give up weapons and join the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process to give a chance to peace”. This was the message Martin Kobler, Head of MONUSCO, delivered to militiamen of the Force de resistance patriotique en Ituri (Patriotic Resistance Force in Ituri, FRPI), during his two-day visit to region, which included visits to the localities of Aveba and Bukiringi in Irumu territory.

Mr. Kobler arrived in Bunia, capital of Ituri, on 22 June 2015, and immediately went to Aveba, which lies 70 kilometers to the south, where he met and interacted with representatives from the local population, at a local church.

According to these local representatives: «The Congolese Government must be more engaged in bringing an end to the activities and abuses being committed by the FRPI militiamen in this region, for we are tired of this conflict that has continued for 15 years now." « This conflict has created instability in the lives of the people in Walendu Bindi, » one woman added when questioned by Radio Okapi.

Martin Kobler, for his part, said he was « pleased to note that the population has returned to Aveba after the 3 June 2015 clashes in the center of Aveba between the FARDC and the FRPI militiamen.” He said the purpose of his visit to southern Irumu was threefold: “to get first-hand information on the situation on the ground; to maintain a relationship with civilians with a view to the restoration of State authority to be undertaken after the military operations; and to encourage the FRPI to surrender, and to get the message across to them that peace is better than war.”

On 23 June 2015, Martin Kobler met with community leaders in Bukiringi, 80 kilometers south of Bunia, where the FARDC, backed by MONUSCO, are hunting down the FRPI militiamen. Mr. Kobler called on these community leaders « to raise awareness among these militiamen so that they join the DDR process for a better future. »

It should be recalled that on 3 June 2015, the FARDC, supported by MONUSCO, launched an all-out offensive on the positions of the FRPI militiamen. Colonel Shiko Tshitambwe, deputy operational zone commander of the FARDC 32nd Military Region, said that as of 22 June, « more than 40 FRPI militiamen have voluntarily surrendered to the FARDC since the launch of the operations.” These militiamen, he added, have handed in 15 heavy and light weapons and their ammunition.

Laurent Sam OUSSOU