Kinshasa, March 30th, 2021 (CPA) – The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in charge of Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Gilbert Kankonde, on Monday invited the participants to the inter-community dialogue for peace and security in the high and middle Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga (Itombwe) plateaus, make firm commitments for the restoration of peace, during the opening ceremony of the said works at Beatrice hotel, in Kinshasa.
« We expect from you (the participants) firm commitments, a change in mentalities oriented towards the culture of peace and peaceful cohabitation, realistic recommendations on the relevant actions to be carried out », said the Deputy Prime Minister.
While underlining the clear vision of the Head of State, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on the restoration of peace throughout the national territory, in general, and in the east of the country in particular, where there is violence inter-community groups which are the subject of these meetings, Deputy Prime Minister Kankonde deplored the atrocities, killings, massacres and displacements that the populations of the high and middle plateaus of the aforementioned territories have been experiencing for several months.
« The time is no longer for clashes or quarrels », he said, believing that the path of violence has accentuated the crisis instead of resolving it.
For him, the three days of the works constitute a window of opportunity to engage in constructive and frank discussions using a potential oriented towards innovation to find consensual solutions likely to restore peace in the area and put an end to the Conflicts.
On this occasion, he invited the participants to undertake disarmament work.
Modeste Bahati pleads for a meeting of truths
The president of the Senate, Modeste Bahati, for his part, pleaded for a meeting of truths, believing that without peace, there is no development.
« I urge you (the participants) to be more sincere, convivial, not hypocrisy », Bahati underlined, before calling on everyone to put into practice the resolutions that will be taken during these meetings.
The President of the Senate also denounced the calculations of each community to protect their own, before recalling that several organized dialogues have failed.
For his part, the head of interpeace in DRC, Pacifique Borauzima, suggested that this work is part of the dialogue efforts to reach a compromise.
He praised the proven skills of the Head of the Civil House of the Head of State, Dr Bruno Miteyo, not originally from the region, who is the mediator, before thanking the President of the Republic for having accepted to sponsor these activities.
Funded by the United Kingdom, these meetings, which are part of the « Roadmap for peace in the high and middle Plateaus of Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga (Itombwe)) project, will end on Wednesday with the signing of an engagement Act.
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