Aimé Boji

Aimé Boji Sangara, the President of the National Assembly, dedicated a significant portion of his address, delivered during the closure of the ordinary March session on Monday, June 15, 2026, to the critical security situation plaguing the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He emphatically described this as the foremost concern for the national legislature.

From the outset of his speech, Mr. Boji underscored the severe realities on the ground. The head of the lower house conveyed the profound apprehension of the National Assembly regarding the ongoing armed violence, particularly across the provinces of Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, and Ituri, where civilian populations endure persistent hardships from these conflicts.

“The security landscape in our nation’s East remains the paramount concern for the national representation,” he declared. “As we conclude these proceedings, our thoughts are immediately drawn to the eastern regions of our country. The Rwandan aggression, supported by its terrorist proxy, the AFC/M23, alongside the heinous massacres perpetrated by ADF terrorists, continues to shed the blood of our fellow citizens.”

Consistent with this stance, Aimé Boji Sangara reiterated the National Assembly’s unequivocal condemnation of the relentless armed violence and assaults targeting civilians.

The President of the lower chamber also paid tribute to the dedicated defense and security forces, as well as the self-defense groups, known as Wazalendo, who are fighting alongside the Congolese army.

“From this platform, the National Assembly reaffirms its strongest condemnation of this deadly and unjust war,” he asserted. “This is an opportune moment to deliver a heartfelt and solemn tribute to our armed forces, the FARDC, and to the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, the Wazalendo, who bravely fight day and night, risking their very lives. To the suffering populations of Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu, and Ituri, we declare: the Nation has not forgotten you.”

In a notably resolute tone, Aimé Boji Sangara called for an immediate halt to hostilities and external interference in the country’s East. He further reaffirmed the Democratic Republic of Congo’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its territorial integrity.

The representative for Walungu, located in Sud-Kivu province, and current President of the National Assembly, urged Kigali to recognize the regional imperative for fostering lasting peace among neighboring states.

“To the Rwandan aggressors and their AFC/M23 proxies, we convey that it is high time the Rwandan leadership ceases its destabilizing maneuvers, halts the plunder of our resources, and immediately ends the extermination of our people,” he emphasized in his address. “Neither expansionist ambitions nor violence will ever undermine our sovereignty. Not a single part of our territory can be relinquished. Rwanda must grasp that geography binds us as eternal neighbors. War will only perpetuate a hatred that future generations will bear the cost of; only enduring peace will benefit everyone.”

Nevertheless, the security situation in this region of the country continues its downward spiral. Despite the Washington Accord, brokered under the auspices of the United States of America, and the Doha process, spearheaded by the State of Qatar with African Union support, and notwithstanding successive evaluation meetings, the security and humanitarian conditions in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain profoundly troubling. Civilian populations in this part of the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to bear the brunt of violence and forced displacement, further exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis amidst a global environment characterized by dwindling funding for humanitarian aid.

In light of this predicament, calls persist at national, regional, and international levels, urging all stakeholders to honor the commitments made within peace initiatives. However, these appeals have, to date, yielded no significant impact. The aspiration to bridge the persistent gap between ground realities and diplomatic progress documented on paper still struggles to materialize. Each party, in practice, continues to interpret the provisions of the agreements through its own lens, rendering their effective implementation increasingly uncertain.