Patrick Muyaya (DRC): the Lukonde government still has to "find lasting solutions"

Patrick Muyaya (in 2016).

RFI / Habibou Bangré

Text by: Sonia Rolley Follow

6 mins

The government of Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde celebrates its 100 days this Wednesday.

It is the first government of the Sacred Union, the new majority desired by President Félix Tshisekedi in the conflict between him and his predecessor.

What assessment of the action of his first government?

Interview with Patrick Muyaya, Minister of Communication and government spokesperson.

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RFI: What do you think are successes over the first 100 days of the Sama Lukonde government?

Patrick Muyaya:

I really don't know if we should speak in terms of success, but rather of progress because success in our definition will be the day when the Congolese find answers to all their concerns. It's true, we have made leaps, but the leaps we have made do not allow us to find lasting and definitive solutions that the populations are waiting for. But we observe that we have started a shock therapy on the security situation which has endured for twenty years with the state of siege. Today we have recorded over 3,500 surrenders. We have taken the ordinance which creates the program of demobilization, disarmament, community and social reintegration. There are advances on that side.

You have seen that we have resumed the program after more than nine or ten years of interruption with the International Monetary Fund which gives us access to an extended credit facility of the order of a billion and a half dollars.

Regarding free [primary education, editor's note], we are going to consolidate them.

We consider that the first 100 days allowed us to have a dashboard, a compass, with known priorities.

But the difficulties which are inherent in a context where for more than a decade, we have not solved the fundamental problems, we assume them as a government and we will try to do our part to provide the answers.

► Read also:

One hundred days of the Lukonde government in the DRC: some successes and major challenges

RFI: There is beginning to be an outcry from deputies from North Kivu and Ituri. Because on the ground, even if there are surrenders, arrests of officers suspected of being involved in embezzlement of operating funds, we still see a violence that is spreading, which is becoming even harder. with bombs exploding in Béni-ville. How do you plan to react to calm these harmful effects of the state of siege?

PM:

We are reacting.

What is happening there is terrorism.

At the government level, the determination is clear.

But here it should be noted one thing, that terrorists when they act, they act in a spectacular way.

They attack the population and they communicate extensively.

It is normal that it arouses the emotion.

It is normal that the deputies of the affected provinces initially feel concerned, but we too, we feel concerned.

Perhaps with the deputies, there is a need to improve communication.

Yesterday in the Assembly, there was a closed session, where the issues were discussed in a transparent manner.

You have seen that for the fifth time, the Assembly authorized the state of siege.

One of the promises of the Sama Lukonde government was to improve respect for human rights. However, whether on the side of Human Rights Watch or the Joint United Nations Office for Human Rights (Ocha), we continue to see that there is a repression of dissenting voices, that there are arbitrary arrests and for the National Intelligence Agency to become active again in this sector. How is it that the government has not been able to stop all this?

PM:

Well, listen, for us, human rights, we do not do it out of obligation but out of conviction.

But you know we are in a process.

There have been certain habits that have taken root, it is quite normal that at one point or another there will be cases like the ones you are talking about.

But this should not be seen as a strategy or a will of the government to remain in this state.

No, it's the opposite.

Me, I am Minister of Communication, we are working so that we can arrive at the decriminalization of press offenses.

What is denounced in particular is double standards.

The fact that on the one hand for the presidential camp, there is not necessarily repression or sanctions while for the others ...

PM:

I speak as a rule.

Because it is not good practice to comment on what is being done at the level of justice.

But I'm telling you in terms of principles, we are promoting the rule of law and in the rule of law, everyone deserves the same treatment.

Justice must be the same and good for everyone.

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