Democratic Republic of Congo

The Provincial Inter-union of the Primary, Secondary and Technical Education Union (EPST) has announced the suspension of its strike, which was set to take place today, 22 May 2023. The suspension is due to the Government’s response following a notice of strike. The Government, through the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, has reiterated its commitment to issue the outstanding payments of the teachers, including staff members of the EPST. According to the Spokesperson of the EPST union, Gabriel Apama, the strike has been suspended until further notice.
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President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is expected to embark on a working visit to the Republic of China on 24 May 2023 until 29 May 2023, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This follows as the DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula have been in China since 21 May 2023, aimed at establishing bilateral relations with China. In addition to the visit, discussions will focus on the $6.2 billion infrastructure-for-minerals agreement with China.
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Protest expected throughout the national territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) today, 22 May 2023. Members affiliated with the Inter-Union of the Primary, Secondary and Technical Education Union (EPST) are expected to embark on an indefinite strike due to the Government’s failure to respect the agreement signed with members of the EPST trade union bench, in the province of Kongo-Central, on 18 November 2021, in Mbuela Lodges, which includes the salary regularization of new units and unpaid, with the retroactive effect of one month. As part of the strike, the union will be expected to halt all work throughout the Republic from 22 May 2023, who include the teachers and staff working in schools, inspection, in all managing offices and those of the central services of the EPST to observe the strike. Furthermore, the Congo Teachers’ Union (SYECO) and the Union of Catholic Teachers, (SYNECAT) in the Butembo-Lubero region of North Kivu, are expected to hold a peaceful demonstration. The general public is expected to remain cautious of the planned strike.
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The President of the Leadership for Governance and Development (LGD) political party, Augustin Matata Ponyo, has announced plans to hold a sit-in demonstration outside the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on Thursday, 25 May 2023. The members, led by the LGD party, will be staging a protest to denounce the alleged bad governance, which has allegedly led to delays and alleged irregularities in voter registrations towards the General elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 20 December 2023. This follows after the march held on Saturday, 20 May 2023, had been repressed in Kinshasa by security personnel which resulted in several injured and detained. In addition, motorists are advised to exercise caution in the vicinity of Kinshasa. Police are expected to be deployed to the area.
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The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) announced that the incoming Commander, Aphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, had assumed office in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This follows a week after President Felix Tshisekedi cast a shadow over the mandate of the EACRF deployed to DRC’s conflict-ridden eastern region. Tshisekedi stated that EACRF is likely to leave the country in June 2023 if the results of its mission are not satisfactory. Reports indicate that Kiugu had previously been deployed as a Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation Officer while serving with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). Kiugu stated that he intends to continue cooperating and collaborating with all stakeholders operating in the region, including the various civil society entities, so so as to leverage each other’s efforts and ideas. Kiugu noted that the common objective is that of enabling the citizens of eastern DRC that are affected by insecurity to realize peace.
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Protest expected throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday, 22 May 2023. The Inter-Union of the Primary, Secondary and Technical Education Union (EPST) is protesting due to prior agreements made on 18 November 2021 related to inadequate salaries not being fulfilled. EPST Spokesperson Godefroid Matondo has advised parents to keep their children at home.
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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested an urgent increase in funding to combat the increase of sexual assault attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) North Kivu. UNICEF Representative in DRC Grant Leaity has stated that reports have increased by 37 per cent compared to the same period a year ago. UNICEF has increased their activity in high-risk areas to prevent and respond to the attacks, providing essential medical and psychosocial services to affected girls and women at the four largest displacement camps near Goma.
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The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sama Lukonde, has chaired a security meeting between the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Government to reassess the withdrawal of MONUSCO. Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Bintou Keita has stated that both parties have agreed and are expected to communicate freely. Minister of Communication Patrick Muyaya has stated that the departure of MONUSCO has been accelerated due to the request of Congolese citizens. Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs Peter Kazadi Kankonde, Minister of Justice Rose Mutumbo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula, and Minister of Human Rights Fabrice Pwela have also attended the meeting.
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The province of Ituri, particularly the Bunia and Aru regions, received, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, vaccinations and medicine kits to prevent poliomyelitis. This is part of the second phase of the Expanded Vaccination Program (EPI). According to the interim head of the EPI/Bunia, the packages delivered consist of approximately 546 packages of vaccines and other medical supplies. The vaccination campaign is expected to occur from 01 June 2023 until 03 June 2023 and concerns children between 0 months to 5 years old.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, under the mediation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recorded the voluntary repatriation of refugees. Reports indicate that both Governments are committed to recognizing the rights of return and to ensuring respect for the principle of voluntary return in safety and dignity. Reports also indicate that the two countries also planned to begin a constructive dialogue in order to create favourable conditions for the sustainable return of the refugee populations in the two countries. The dialogue is expected to include, within a month from the publication of the joint communique, a tripartite technical meeting in order to define practical modalities for the reactivation of all the commitments and structures contained in the 2010 tripartite agreements and to develop a comprehensive roadmap relating thereto. This document further states that the technical meeting is also expected to relaunch the process of facilitating the voluntary repatriation of Congolese refugees in Rwanda and Rwandan refugees in the DRC.
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