Thousands of high school students in the eastern Congo, which are controlled by the rebels, conducted entry exams for the university this week, in a complex logistical operation that requires rare cooperation between the government and the M22 rebels.
The exams, a national condition for joining the university, started on Monday and will continue until mid -June.
Its administration in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the M22 movement controls vast lands, that education officials transfer documents and materials from the capital Kinshasa to the movement -controlled cities and towns.
“Thanks to the joint efforts of our teams and our partners, services have been provided to all the 111 positions that we cover,” said Jean -Marie Mawisi, an educational official in the South Kevo region, which is largely controlled by M22.
The Congolese government, under the leadership of President Felix Chisicide, has exempted students in the northern and southern region of Kivu from the usual exam fees of more than $ 40 due to continuous insecurity.
Despite their stated goal of the overthrow of the Cisicid government, the leader of the M22, Bertrand Pisimoa, stressed the group’s recognition of responsibility Kinshasa On national exams. “Teaching our children is not political,” Bisimo said, stressing the protection of children’s interests.
Xaus Katti, one of the students who underwent exams in Boukavo, the capital of the southern Kivu region, which fell in the hands of M23 in February, the presence of civilian M -23 officers guaranteeing security outside the school.
Maaisi stated that nearly 42,000 students out of 44,000 students registered in his area attended the exams, suggesting that the absence of the remaining students is due to displacement due to fighting.
This cooperation comes amid continuous efforts by African leaders Itaperus Nearjahje To mediate a peace agreement to end the conflict in the region, whose roots belong to Genocide In Rwanda.
Human rights organizations have accused the M22 by execution of civilians, including children, accusations denied by the movement.