Ituri civil society demands effective removal of illegal roadblocks

Civil society groups in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo are urging authorities to enforce the closure of illegal roadblocks that plague the region. The provincial coordination of the Civil Society Forces Vives of Ituri has called on officials to strictly implement the military governor's decision to eliminate these unauthorized checkpoints, which are reportedly operated by certain law enforcement agents.

Dieudonné Lossa, the coordinator of the Civil Society Forces Vives, stated in an interview that the removal of illegal barriers is a primary concern for the people of Ituri. He reported that in some areas, military personnel continue to extort money from residents, despite the official directive. "We want this decision to produce concrete results quickly," Lossa emphasized, highlighting the population's desire for tangible action.

According to Lossa, these illegal roadblocks facilitate harassment and exacerbate the insecurity within the province. Civil society organizations are therefore imploring the provincial authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the governor's order. The governor's official directive, circulated on social media on July 25th, explicitly commanded the cessation of harassment and extortion on the province's roads and instructed military, police, and administrative officials to dismantle all illegal barriers on major routes.

Despite these official announcements, reports from Radio Okapi reporters on July 27th indicated that military harassment persists, particularly on the Bunia-Bogoro axis. This suggests a gap between the stated policy and its on-the-ground execution, fueling frustration among the populace and continuing the cycle of insecurity and illicit financial gain facilitated by these checkpoints.

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The suppression of illegal roadblocks is one of the main concerns of the population of Ituri. We are informed that, in some places, military personnel continue to collect money from residents. We want this decision to produce concrete results quickly.