Bukavu youth council opposes academic suspension, fears for 25,000 students

The urban youth council of Bukavu has voiced strong opposition to the Congolese government's decision to temporarily suspend academic activities in public institutions in Goma and Bukavu. In an open letter released Wednesday, August 26, the council highlighted the severe consequences this measure will have on the affected students.

According to the youth council, the suspension impacts more than 25,000 students in public institutions. They are particularly concerned about the logistical and financial challenges students will face if forced to continue their studies in other cities. "Nothing is said about the support mechanism: will the government ensure their housing, food, and academic fees where they go?" the council questioned, emphasizing the already significant economic hardships faced by families in Bukavu.

The council described the decision as "suicidal" for the students and urged elected officials from South Kivu to advocate for their constituents' interests in Kinshasa. They are calling on these representatives to defend the young people affected by the ongoing security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege also condemned the suspension, alongside the appointment of new academic authorities by armed groups in occupied zones. He stated that the closure of universities, following airport and bank closures and restrictions on humanitarian aid, "tightens the noose" on 12 million people in North and South Kivu. Mukwege lamented that crushing the students' hope to learn and aspire is an "unacceptable red line."

The government's decision, outlined in a decree dated August 20, cites security concerns as the reason for suspending activities in 11 public higher education institutions in Goma and Bukavu, cities currently under the control of the M23 armed group. The measure was enacted by the Minister of Higher and University Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation.