DR Congo Military (FARDC) soldiers in Ituri Province have been accused of setting up over 25 road barriers where they extort money from road users on the stretch linking Bunia city and the town of Mongbwalu.
At each one of the roadblocks set up by the army officers, road users are forced to pay up to 10,000 Francs to officers from the army as well as other armed groups in the region.
This act by the military officers has since caused widespread discontent among the road users who use the 85 kilometer stretch that leads to mining areas in the region.
Jean Marie Uzele, a taxi driver in Bunia, gives account of the situation and stressed that it is unacceptable for the military and armed groups to extort money from road users, especially from motorcycle transporters who already face several difficulties in their business.
“The number of roadblocks manned by FARDC soldiers that we have listed on this road amounts to 27. Drivers are forced to pay exorbitant amounts at each roadblock. Cars pay 2,000 FC, large vehicles such as MAN 5,000 FC, and trucks 10,000 FC. We ask the military governor of the province to order the removal of these barriers,” Uzele lamented.
Meanwhile, army spokesperson in Ituri Province, Lt. Jules Ngongo Tshinkudi regretted the acts exhibited by the soldiers and declared that all found guilty of illegal acts would be brought to military justice, in accordance with the law of the country.
“These allegations are being taken into account, but we welcome them, because we have done everything to remove the illegal barriers. However, certain elements of the armed forces are acting contrary to the law in these checkpoints. We condemn these acts and put to protect all those who break the law. Military justice will do its job, and the undisciplined will have only their eyes to cry with,” Lt. Tshinkudi said.
The Bunia-Mongbwalu road was recently worked on and became passable thanks to the efforts of the provincial authorities in order to serve its capital economic importance in Ituri Province.
