In a letter addressed to the Auditor General of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) on March 2nd, Maître Achille Kapanga, a lawyer and political figure in the region, vehemently denounced the scandalous activities persisting in the Kasindi-Lubiriha region.
The lawyer Achille Kapanga directly implicated several high-ranking officials, including the acting military governor of the North Kivu province, the military administrator of the Beni territory, and members of the local judicial system. He accused them of being involved in reprehensible acts such as extortion, arbitrary arrests, and even human rights violations.
At the heart of this issue is the conflict surrounding the demarcation of the Virunga National Park, known as Congo ya Sika. The lawyer Achille Kapanga highlighted attempts by certain authorities to take over land to the detriment of the local population. He shed light on dubious maneuvers aiming to illegally parcel and sell portions of the park, which were originally occupied by the community.
Achille Kapanga stressed the need for investigations by the FARDC’s Auditor General to be based on facts, particularly regarding the competence and authority to cede a part of the Virunga National Park. He emphasized the complaints of the former occupants regarding the illicit division and demarcation of the park.
The lawyer urgently requested the FARDC’s Auditor General to conduct thorough investigations to establish individual responsibilities. He also called for the immediate suspension of all activities in the region pending the conclusions of these investigations.
While these allegations rocked the Beni region, there were voices questioning the true motivations behind the letter. Some suggested it could be a political maneuver to discredit the current authorities, while others saw it as an explosive revelation of abuses of power and political machinations.
As the results of the FARDC’s Auditor General’s investigations are awaited, this matter continues to provoke strong reactions within the local community and beyond. The coming weeks could reveal the shocking extent of corruption and abuses of power that seem to be plaguing this province.
By Fred MASTAKI