DRC: in Beni, students spend the night in front of the town hall to demand peace
Audio 01:26
Demonstrations to demand the return of peace continue in Beni, in North Kivu.
(illustrative image) MONUSCO / Abel Kavanagh
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
Demonstrations to demand the return of peace continue.
In Beni in particular, the students decided to spend the night in front of the town hall building to demand the presence of the Head of State in the region.
Félix Tshisekedi had promised to move the army staff from Kinshasa to North Kivu, and he had announced that he would come to settle in the region himself.
This is what these young people recall in this movement which has become radicalized since Thursday, April 22.
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With our special
correspondent in Beni,
Patient Ligodi
Here, the students organize themselves.
Those considered to be the strongest stand guard.
They are called brigadiers.
They control the exits and the entrances.
The girls take care of the youngest schoolchildren, some of whom are 8 years old.
Others are preparing the food that will soon be served.
Today it will be rice and cassava leaves.
Miriam is fatherless.
Her late daddy was a soldier.
Like hundreds of other students, Miriam spends the night in front of the town hall of Beni.
She received permission from her mother, also depressed by insecurity, to participate in this movement.
“
My mother doesn't say anything because she supports me.
She would like that one day I could study in an atmosphere of peace.
I must be able to study well to finally be a great personality in this country
”.
To avoid catching a cold, other students surround the large fire lit in front of the building.
Among them, Jason.
He will not leave here, he says, until the head of state finally decides to go to Beni.
“
We have suffered enough.
We are going to school today so as not to study tomorrow because we have slaughtered or kidnapped people again.
I come here to the town hall.
I will study here while waiting for the president to come to fulfill his promise
”.
A few tarpaulins deployed, safety cordon in place.
Christian songs and prayers to their lips, these students seem determined.
The students of the city of #Beni slept Thursday at the town hall in protest against the insecurity.
pic.twitter.com/gqwH9NlTkG
- TV NEWS (@actualitecdTV) April 23, 2021
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