Kinshasa, July 22, 2026 (TOP243NEWS)–The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Security, Decentralization and Customary Affairs, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, on Wednesday officially opened a community consultation workshop dedicated to the rapid restoration of state authority in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, two regions severely affected by insecurity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Scheduled to run for three days, the workshop brings together representatives of public institutions, local authorities, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify practical solutions aimed at restoring peace, security, and effective state governance in conflict-affected areas.
In his opening address, Deputy Prime Minister Jacquemain Shabani emphasized that the diplomatic progress achieved under the leadership of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo provides a significant opportunity to accelerate the gradual restoration of state authority in crisis-hit territories.
The Interior Minister urged participants to adopt an inclusive and results-oriented approach. He called on them to formulate recommendations that will strengthen social cohesion, facilitate the voluntary return of internally displaced populations, and support long-term stabilization efforts in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
The initiative forms part of the Congolese government’s broader strategy to consolidate peace, restore public services, and reinforce the effective presence of the State in violence-affected regions.
It complements ongoing diplomatic and security initiatives aimed at achieving lasting stability in the eastern part of the country.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS