The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been experiencing tensions between MONUSCO and the population for several days. Faced with the deterioration of the security situation in the country’s eastern region, the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force is accused of not protecting civilians. Deployed in the DRC since 2000, MONUSCO has seen a marked decline in public opinion of its image.
The Congo Research Group and Ebuteli, its research partner in the DRC, along with the Bureau d’études, de recherche et de consulting international (BERCI) explores this growing distrust of MONUSCO in their latest analysis note, State of Siege: Congolese Increasingly Concerned by Security Situation based on a survey conducted between April and May 2022.
Key highlights from this analysis:
- 44 percent of Congolese polled believe that the UN mission should leave now, whereas almost the same number of people (45%) were in favor of the mission remaining in 2016
- Distrust also affects law enforcement and defense forces. Respondents indicated that the Congolese National Police (PNC) is the country’s most corrupt institution, followed by the army, especially in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri where they exercise important responsibilities.
- Since the establishment of the state of siege in May 2021, the administration of North Kivu and Ituri has been entrusted to military and police officers. However, only 44% of Congolese today believe that this measure is a good thing. In addition, the majority of respondents (52%) now believe that the state of siege will not lead to the total eradication of armed groups (compared to 34% in September 2021).
- This survey also reveals the rejection of the Ugandan army, authorized to carry out joint operations with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) to fight the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). At the national level, 48% of respondents somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the government’s decision to invite the Ugandan army onto Congolese soil. This disapproval is more pronounced in the provinces of North Kivu (50%) and Ituri (67%).
- Security tops the concerns of the Congolese people surveyed: 26% of respondents believe that it should be the executive’s priority, ahead of social issues (21%), infrastructure (15%), and the economy / employment (13%).
Download the analysis (French-only):
Read the second analysis note in this series on the 2023 Elections: The Congolese have No Illusions.
