Faced with the renewed insecurity in Butembo, Beni and Lubero, several economic operators are announcing a 7-day strike movement starting on Monday, October 10. Members of the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC), the latter intend to question once again the President of the Republic on this situation which paralyses their activities.
The mood movement starts next Monday and this, for 7 days. By this drastic measure, these economic operators want to raise their voice after several vain attempts.
In a letter addressed to President Tshisekedi, they regret that the Congolese government has not taken into account their demands described in their letters of April 14, April 15, September 20 and August 10, 2022, in which they expressed their concern about the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Insecurity makes life difficult in Butembo, Beni and Lubero
Since 2014, Butembo, Beni and Lubero, all localities in North Kivu, have been facing a deteriorating security situation. There are endless killings and kidnappings of civilians as well as the burning of people’s goods.
“For more than 7 years now, we have been suffocated by the massacres that have been ravaging the economy of our two cities of Butembo, Beni and the two territories on a daily basis. Our goods are looted and burned, including our vehicles. Our clients are killed and massacred. Our former clients have become our current displaced persons, a circumstance that is almost difficult from an economic, commercial and financial point of view, since their capital is destined for consumption,” explain these economic operators.
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Further on, they complain about their inability to submit to their civic duties by paying the various taxes since they no longer make a profit.
7-day strike with cessation of all commercial activities
On the side of the executive, there has been no reaction to the situation so far, despite the numerous steps taken in the meantime. And so to push the Congolese president to accede to their demands, in particular that of seeing this zone declared a disaster area, these economic operators have decided to cease all commercial activities between October 10 and 17, with the exception of pharmacies and schools. They also announced that they would not pay taxes until security was fully restored.
It was eight years ago last Sunday, October 2, that the first massacres of civilians by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels were recorded in the Beni region. Thousands of people were killed and hundreds of private and especially commercial vehicles were also burned. This has greatly weakened the economy in most parts of Greater North Kivu.
