The president of the DR Congo Senate, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, addressed the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, on October 6. He urged over 1,500 delegates to take parliamentary action in support of the DR Congo. Sama Lukonde emphasized the need to address the security situation in the eastern region, where the country has been plagued by conflict for over three decades.
Sama Lukonde's intervention focused on several key areas, including decentralization, social inclusion, redistribution of resources, and youth empowerment. He highlighted the government's efforts to bring the state closer to its citizens, citing the Program for Local Development of 145 Territories (PDL-145T). This initiative aims to reduce territorial disparities and extend essential infrastructure beyond major urban centers.
The Senate president also mentioned various social measures aimed at expanding access to rights and essential services. These include the creation of a ministry dedicated to people with disabilities, the adoption of a law protecting their rights, free education, universal health coverage, and free maternity care. Sama Lukonde stressed that good governance can only be achieved when women, young people, vulnerable individuals, and indigenous peoples participate fully in decision-making.
However, Sama Lukonde's address took on a more critical tone when he addressed the security situation in the eastern DR Congo. He called on parliamentarians to use their voices to demand action, specifically requesting the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to their support for the AFC-M23 terrorist group. This demand is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2773, the Washington Peace Agreement, the Doha Declaration of Principles, and the African Union process.
Sama Lukonde also touched on the issue of resource sharing, citing the mining royalty paid to local communities and administered through a multipartite citizen committee. He presented this mechanism as a way to increase transparency in a sector that accounts for over 30% of the country's GDP. Additionally, he mentioned support for private initiative, including the law on start-ups, the Entrepreneurship Guarantee Fund, and the Special Fund for Youth Promotion.
The Senate president's speech was met with enthusiastic applause from the delegates. Sama Lukonde sought to leverage parliamentary solidarity as an additional tool to address a crisis that has long surpassed the DR Congo's borders. He emphasized that without security, there can be no solid governance; without stability, no sustainable development; and without a resolution to the crisis in the east, the ambition of a truly inclusive state remains incomplete.
The DR Congo has been embroiled in recurrent conflicts for over three decades, which continue to weaken its social and institutional fabric. The country faces ongoing challenges, including armed violence, killings, and human rights abuses. Sama Lukonde's call for action highlights the need for international cooperation and collective responsibility to address these pressing issues.
Key points
- The DR Congo Senate president, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, urged the international community to take action against Rwandan troops in the country's eastern region.
- Sama Lukonde emphasized the need for parliamentary mobilization to address the security situation in the DR Congo.
- The DR Congo has been plagued by conflict for over three decades, with ongoing challenges including armed violence, killings, and human rights abuses.
