DRC: what assessment for the government visit to Maï-Ndombe?

The village of Kwamouth, in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Maï-Ndombe.

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Calm seems to have returned to Kwamouth, a territory of the province of Maï-Ndombe where intercommunity clashes have been reported for almost a month.

A government delegation dispatched since Thursday stayed there until Saturday.

Led by Daniel Aselo, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior and Security, it included several members of the government and the governor of Maï-Ndombe, Rita Bola.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

The toll of clashes between Teke and Yaka communities has been revised downwards.

While the figure of 35 dead had been announced previously, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior and Security spoke of around 20 people dead.

The Kwamouth Territory Administrator has been suspended from duty.   

The members of the delegation were able to meet representatives of the Teke community, who gave their version of the conflict.

They are asking the government to better protect them, so that they can access their fields and farms.

2000 refugees in Lediba territory

On the other hand, the officials were unable to speak with those of the Yaka community, which has deserted the town of Kwamouth since these events, nor to access the villages where the clashes took place, according to Daniel Aselo.

A meeting will have to be organized with the representatives of the State, in a place to be defined.

In addition, the government delegation visited the wounded treated at the secondary hospital in Lediba, the neighboring territory, where more than 2,000 people have found refuge in schools, churches and police offices.

According to national deputy Willy Bolio, elected from Maï-Ndombe, the military contingent dispatched to Kwamouth had a clash last night with a group of assailants.

Three of them were captured and brought back to Kwamouth where they are kept on a ship, awaiting presentation to the judicial authorities. 

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