The Presidency, Republic of Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC issued a statement confirming the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) launched large scale counter insurgency operations in Ituri and Kivu prefectures. The provinces are home to hundreds of militant groups. Kivu, a flashpoint and the epicenter of Ebola disease is now a base to Islamic States terrorist organizations branch in Central Africa, ISCAP.
President Tshikendi ordered FARDC TO carryout large-scale operations in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi” in the restive Ituri province and extend to South Kivu province to end the reign of militias operating in the mineral-rich regions. Intelligence reports show that the operation will however include United Nations Mission in Congo MUNUSCO as well as Uganda and Rwanda.
However, Amnesty International East Africa issued a statement warning the operation would put lives of civilians in danger. In the statement Amnesty International claimed that DRC should withdraw FARDC which it claims has a long history of using excessive force. The human rights group further claims that FARDC deployment was meant to forcibly remove artisanal miners trying to earn a living from the Tenke Fungurume mines and military should not deploy at the mines.
However, the threat of terrorism in Kivu is real and growing by the day. Amnesty International’s sentiments largely focuses on the cobalt mining in Lualaba Province and gold excavation activities in Ituri prefecture. In Kivu the militancy and terrorism poses an immediate significant threat to the great lakes and East African region and a ruthless counter insurgency is urgent to decimate militant’s gains.
