Promoting an inclusive mediation process to strengthen resilience and peace in Ituri and North Kivu

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), women and youth are the most affected by conflict, yet they are often under-represented in peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts. There is a need for them to be targeted as peace actors in the current mediation process, which is why an Ituri Mediation Advisory Group was established, with the aim of being inclusive and ensuring good representation of women and youth.

Formation of an advisory group is part of a vision of ownership and sustainability of peace efforts by local communities and of strengthening their capacity for conflict resolution. As part of this process, stakeholders were consulted and the results of this approach were validated by provincial actors from public institutions and civil society, including women and youth associations.

Among its recent activities, the group organised a workshop on 29 September, a few days after the International Day of Peace, to relay mediation and negotiation skills to women and youth. Participants were asked "What can be done for the return of peace in Ituri?” In collaboration with the Ituri provincial government, and with the support of the European Union, this meeting took place in Bunia and was facilitated by the mediation consortium composed of Interpeace and its Action for Peace and Concord (APC) partners, and the Congo Research Group (CRG) of New York University (NYU).

According to most of the participants, the workshop was beneficial in contributing to strengthening the involvement of youth and women in the existing peace mechanisms in their province. "Ever since the word 'communitarianism' was first used in Ituri, each community has used this word to arm itself to face the opposing community. But this word has already destroyed Ituri. The community should therefore not be a place of identity withdrawal against others but a space for dialogue to live together," expressed a member of the Ituri Women's Collective.

This opinion was also shared by the representatives of the public authorities. "This kind of meeting is a good opportunity to raise awareness of the culture of living together," says Esther Maturu, Deputy Coordinator in Ituri of the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Rehabilitation and Stabilisation Programme (P-DDRCS/Ituri).

The advisor to the provincial military governor in charge of youth, Irène Vaweka, reminded the assembly that "for some time now, young people have increasingly become executioners and that women are the main victims. By bringing all these people together around the issue of peace, this workshop presents a golden opportunity for the young people present to show the world that they too can commit themselves to peace.”

Facilitation of the workshop  was an important step in the work of the Ituri Mediation Advisory Group towards creating inclusivity spaces for women and youth. The group will continue its efforts to ensure that women and youth have an opportunity to build their conflict transformation skills in their communities.

Projet de dialogue, médiation et réconciliation entre les communautés, les autorités et les forces de sécurité

 

Cette vidéo présente comment la création d'espaces sûrs et inclusifs, où les citoyens peuvent gérer eux-mêmes les conflits qui les affectent de manière constructive, a posé des bases solides pour une paix durable dans la région du Kasaï en RD Congo. 

Entre 2016 et 2018, cette région a été le théâtre d'un conflit violent,déclenché par une dispute entre le gouvernement et le chef coutumier influent du territoire de Dibaya, le Kamwina Nsapu Jean Prince Mpandi. Ce conflit s'est rapidement propagé dans la région, avec des conséquences négatives sans précédent pour la paix et la cohésion sociale dans la région. 

En 2019, Interpeace et ses partenaires locaux (APC, CDJP et TDH) ont initié un programme visant à renforcer la confiance et la réconciliation entre les communautés, les autorités et les forces de sécurité dans les provinces du Kasaï et du Kasaï Central. Cette initiative, la première du genre dans la région - par son contenu et approche participative - a réuni des acteurs communautaires, provinciaux et nationaux pour identifier conjointement les causes des conflits et les efforts à fournir pour consolider la paix de manière durable et inclusive. 


This video presents robust outcomes for sustainable peace in RD Congo’s Kasaï region, where Interpeace and its partners have created safe spaces for communities to manage their conflicts themselves in a constructive manner. 

Between 2016 and 2018, the Kasaï region was the scene of violence triggered by a dispute between the government and the customary chief of the Dibaya territory, Kamwina Nsapu Jean Prince Mpandi. The conflict spread rapidly, disrupted social cohesion and left the region with an unprecedented negative impact on peace and social cohesion.  

In response, Interpeace and its local partners (APC, CDJP and TDH), began implementing a trust-building programme in 2019, in the Kasaï and Central Kasaï provinces. This initiative was the first of its kind in the region, in terms of content and its participatory approach. It brought together community, provincial and national actors to jointly identify the causes of conflict and the efforts required to consolidate and sustain peace in an inclusive manner.

Discussion paper for peace education in the Great Lakes Region

Terre, identité, pouvoir et mouvements de population dans la région des Grands Lacs - Forum des parties prenantes régionales

Le “Forum régional des parties prenantes” constitue à la fois un mécanisme et une étape clé du processus de mise en œuvre de ce programme. Il valide les résultats des actions de rechercheaction participative (RAP) sur une problématique de recherche identifiée de manière inclusive. Cette recherche est menée à la base, auprès des citoyens et des communautés souvent les plus directement et lourdement affectés par les conflits.

Forum Régional de Kinshasa

Coverage of the Great Lakes Regional Stakeholders' Forum on Radio Spot.

La paix par le dialogue et l'education - credo commun à 7 organisations dans la région des Grands Lacs

Coverage of the Great Lakes programme Regional Stakeholders' Forum in the Journal Indépendant d'Informations Générales.