On the evening of Tuesday, March 28, an unusual atmosphere prevailed in the capital of the Mambasa territory in Ituri province. A strong delegation of six factions of the Mai Mai armed groups (a community-based militia group) made a historic decision to end hostilities and join the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Reintegration, and Stabilisation Programme (P-DDRCS). The signing of this act of commitment was witnessed by several political, administrative, and military authorities, as well as representatives of various segments of the community.
This breakthrough came after two days of consultation in Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by the provincial coordination of the P-DDRCS, as part an initiative within the project “Support to Mediation for Resilience and Peace in Ituri and Greater North Kivu,” currently funded by the European Union and implemented by a consortium consisting of Interpeace, Action for Peace and Concord (APC), the Pole Institute, and the Centre for International Cooperation of New York University.
At the signing of the act of commitment, the armed groups of the Babila Babombi chiefdom emphasised that they were motivated by the Congolese government's call to restore peace and put an end to the many abuses suffered by the civilian population.
"We have seized the opportunity given to us by the Head of State in launching the call for demobilisation. We are committed to joining the P-DDRCS programme and the Congolese government unconditionally," said the delegation's spokesperson in his speech.
“This decision was made at the invitation of the provincial coordination of P-DDRCS during the two-day consultation meeting. We are armed groups that act only for self-defence. We want peace to return to our community," the spokesperson added.
Commitment by peace actors
For the provincial coordinator of the P-DDRCS in Ituri, Willy Abibo Sebo Maese, this act of commitment marks the integration of these armed groups into his programme. “The government will now take care of these groups, ensuring their safety and well-being,” he stated.
At the ceremony, Colonel Mwimba David, the representative of the 32nd main defence brigade of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), reassured the signatories and promised them the army's unwavering support throughout the process. Senior Superintendent Matadi Muyampandi Jean-Baptiste, the administrator of the Mambasa territory, called on all stakeholders to unite around this process to ensure lasting peace within the community.
The armed Mai-Mai groups, which come from six factions, have made several recommendations to ensure lasting peace. These include the employment of young people and the release and care of their fellow prisoners. The restoration of state authority in their entities, which have been invaded by the Democratic Forces and Allies (ADF), and the construction of a disarmament and demobilisation site in Mambasa are also among their wishes. In addition, they suggest suspending the activities of mining companies, which, according to them, create conflicts within the community.
Community systems welcome the commitment
The local civil society, along with the Youth Parliament, the Territorial Youth Council, and members of the community, expressed their satisfaction with the commitment made. They urged the armed groups to honour this pledge and uphold their responsibilities towards the community.
Marie-Noëlle Anotane, the acting coordinator of the Civil Society Forces Vives in Mambasa territory, commended the Mai-Mai entities for their commitment and called on other armed groups to follow suit. This sentiment was echoed by the head of the Mambasa Youth Parliament, Sulemani Onokoko, who praised the courage of the young people who left the bush and encouraged others to do the same or legally join the army.
During the two-day consultation leading up to the signing, approximately 50 participants were given detailed explanations of the national strategy of the P-DDRCS.
Wajir County in Kenya has been plagued by conflicts for years, with scarce resources, clannism, and political instability being the main drivers. According to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Wajir is among the top ten counties with the highest conflict rates in Kenya, with most conflicts being intercommunal.
In 2020, the Wajir County Peace Actors Forum (WCPAF) was established with the aim of addressing the issue of conflict in the region. The forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, traditional leaders, local media, as well as both National and County Governments. The collaborative efforts of these stakeholders were aimed at effectively managing conflict in the region. Unfortunately, the forum's potential was hindered by the insufficiency of funding and the lack of physical presence in Wajir. As a result, the coordination mechanisms deteriorated, thereby impeding the forum's effectiveness in managing the prevailing conflict concerns.
The formation of the WCPAF was inspired by the success of the Mandera County Peace Actors Forum (MCPAF), which streamlined peacebuilding efforts in the county. By reducing competition and duplication, the MCPAF enhanced programmatic synergy and ultimately contributed to the creation of trust-based engagements, sustainable peacebuilding programming, and enhanced community ownership.
Interpeace, the Network for Peace, Cohesion, and Heritage (NEPCOH) Trust, and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) recently collaborated to revive the Peace Actors’ Forum in Wajir aimed at addressing existing and emerging conflicts in the county. As part of the ongoing peacebuilding programme supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, a series of meetings were held to develop plans for monthly coordination meetings in 2023. During these meetings, stakeholders developed a framework for collaboration and coordination of all peace initiatives in Wajir.
At the resumption meeting, peace actors discussed emerging and existing conflicts in the county, analysed various conflicts drivers, and updated on ongoing interventions. They also established future areas of collaboration and programmatic synergies. A key agenda item highlighted for future collaboration was the passing and operationalisation of the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Policy and Bill. This peace policy and act will streamline peace infrastructures in FCDC Counties, institutionalise the county peace directorate/departments, and help allocate funds for peacebuilding initiatives.
A secretariat and technical team have been established to manage and operate the Peace Actors Forum. These actors have developed a collaborative framework and ethical guidelines to guide their peacebuilding efforts. One of the most notable achievements of the forum is the collective effort made by the peace actors to ensure that the current Wajir County Executive ratified the peace policy and bill, which is now being discussed in the Wajir County Assembly for enactment. To expedite the process, the programme sought the support of the FCDC Sector Forum for Peace and Cohesion and the Wajir Department for Cohesion.
The Peace Actors Forum is an essential platform for coordinating, collaborating, and complementing peacebuilding efforts. Its significance cannot be overstated. With the enactment of the peace bill, the forum will be institutionalised and provided with a legal framework.
"The revival of the WCPAF will enable coordination, cooperation, and synergy building between various peace actors in the county. The forum will go a long way in enhancing timely information sharing, in addition to resource mobilisation for an effective response, especially in case of emergencies," said Adan Abdi Ahmed, Deputy Director of Peace and Security in Wajir County.
Speaking about the revival of the Wajir Peace Actors Forum, Hassan Ismail, Interpeace's Kenya Country Representative, indicated how its success, along with that of the Mandera County Peace Actors Forum, creates a unique opportunity for the Kenya programme to create roadmaps for other counties. "The remaining FCDC counties and the three non-FCDC counties of Baringo, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and Laikipia will be trained to establish and operationalise County Peace Actors Forums during an induction meeting organized by FCDC and facilitated by Interpeace," he said.
"At the end of the training, a roadmap will be developed to roll out the Peace Actors Forums and expedite the enactment of peace policy and bill in all the FCDC and the three non-FCDC counties. This will ensure that peacebuilding efforts are coordinated, effective, and sustainable across all regions."
Geneva (15 April 2023) – As of today, current Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Simon Gimson will lead Interpeace as Acting President until the organisation welcomes its new President later this year.
An open recruitment process led by Interpeace’s Governing Board is underway to identify the next President.
Simon Gimson was appointed Vice-President and COO of Interpeace in October 2018, having previously served as Vice-President and COO of the International Crisis Group. Mr. Gimson has focused on multilateral diplomacy, peacebuilding and organisational management throughout his career, including in roles at the Commonwealth Secretariat. He was formerly a New Zealand diplomat with appointments in Papua New Guinea, France and Britain.
“It is a privilege to bridge the leadership and enduring peacebuilding impacts of Scott Weber with those we anticipate from our next President. This is an important transition period for Interpeace as we approach our 30th anniversary year. The Interpeace team together will continue to innovate and respond energetically to new peacebuilding challenges, to deliver the results of our five-year Strategy, and to justify the confidence invested in us by the communities we serve and our generous financial supporters,” Mr. Gimson said.
Commenting on the transition, the Chair of the Interpeace Governing Board, Mr. Amre Moussa, said: “Scott Weber’s unwavering commitment and outstanding service to Interpeace over the last 23 years has transformed the organisation from an innovative start-up project of the United Nations to an established and significant international organisation creating positive change at the community level and in the international system. With Simon Gimson’s support, I am confident that Interpeace will continue to build on its vision and mission over the transition period.”
Mr. Gimson will work closely with the Governing Board and with the incoming President, once identified, to ensure a smooth transition.
Contact: Luvini Ranasinghe, Head of Communications, ranasinghe@interpeace.org and +41 794756495.
There has been a rise in theft of livestock, killings, and violent crime in the North Rift region. In response, the government has implemented a heavy-handed police-led operation and a dusk-to-dawn curfew jointly with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), effective 14 February 2022. These measures, which target parts of Turkana, Samburu, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, and Laikipia counties, are intended to restore a level of safety and stability. The curfew may help to establish a sense of normalcy for a few months and even assist in the retrieval of illegal firearms, but the situation in the North Rift region requires a more comprehensive and strategic approach that involves all stakeholders. Indeed, incidents of violence have been on the rise since the establishment of the security operation.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC)/Interpeace Kenya Peacebuilding Programme has been facilitating community peace dialogues across the North Rift region counties of Baringo, Samburu, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot since 2019. This has resulted in several peace agreements between communities with long-standing grievances – bringing about periods of relative peace and stability in parts of the North Rift that saw the reopening of schools and roads, as well as increased interactions between groups. While the current surge in violence mainly takes the form of commercialised livestock raids and (counter-)attacks between armed groups and the government, it has undermined these peace gains and risks further derailing peace processes between communities.
The underlying causes of insecurity in the North Rift are multifaceted and interconnected, rooted in a long history of marginalisation and violence that has engendered a deep-seated mistrust of the government and a belief that communities must take responsibility for their own security. This lack of trust is also reflected in the relationships between communities, which have been characterised by violent clashes for a long time. Revenge attacks are often linked to livestock raids, which have evolved from a cultural practise to a primarily commercial activity. Youth are particularly vulnerable to engaging in these raids due to a lack of economic opportunities. Climate change further exacerbates this dynamic, as it reduces the viability of pastoral livelihoods and lifestyles and can trigger violent encounters as communities with deep-seated grievances compete for increasingly scarce water points and pasture areas. This situation is further exacerbated by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which are easily accessible due to porous borders and years of armed conflict in neighbouring countries.
The Kenya Country Representative of the Interpeace Peacebuilding Programme provides invaluable insights and recommendations to assist all stakeholders working with the government in resolving conflict in the North Rift.
Given the numerous challenges, the hard security approach announced by the government is unlikely to be successful in the long term. While it may provide temporary stabilisation, disarmament exercises will be doomed to fail if the underlying motivations for owning weapons, such as community safety and livelihoods, are not addressed. Excessive use of force could further exacerbate underlying conflict drivers and entrench resentment against the government. Therefore, the security operation should prioritise trust-building with communities and an effective response to early warning information. Additionally, these efforts should be part of a comprehensive approach that is enacted through partnerships across silos and focuses on the economic development of the North Rift, the reduction of communities’ vulnerability to climate change, and the deepening of trust-building and peace processes between communities.
In 2017, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) established the Consultative Commission for the resolution of customary conflicts (CCRCC) through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security, and Customary Affairs. Despite its intentions, the commission has not been as effective as hoped, particularly in the Kasai region. One of the main issues is the resistance of traditional leaders to decisions made by the committees, which has led to a lack of cooperation and progress. Additionally, political interference has further complicated matters, making it difficult for the commission to function as intended.
The provincial government of Kasai has made a noteworthy commitment to support the CCRCC. This decision was reached during a recent workshop held in Tshikapa, the capital of Kasai situated in the western region of the DRC. The workshop was attended by around 40 participants, including traditional chiefs and community leaders from all territories in Kasai.
The initiative is spearheaded by Action for Peace and Concord (APC) and Interpeace, in partnership with Kasai’s provincial authorities. This effort is a crucial component of the project aimed at enhancing inclusive governance for peace in the DRC, which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The primary objective of the meeting was to update the list of CCRCC members in the territories of Mweka, Tshikapa, and the administrative divisions incorporated in the city. In addition, the gathering facilitated the establishment of a provincial committee and the definition of strategies to effectively operationalise the plan in all relevant entities. The meeting also served as an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the CCRCCs' strengths and weaknesses and identify priority activities.
One of the proposed activities is the revitalisation and establishment of CCRCC committees in all sectors, chiefdoms, and the town of Tshikapa. This initiative will receive technical and financial support from APC and Interpeace. The primary focus will be to enhance the knowledge and capacity of committee members in customary law, conflict resolution techniques, land law, and securing rural land. Additionally, it is crucial to promote the ministerial decree that created the CCRCCs and other related legal instruments through traditional media and popular meetings.
In a final communiqué issued at the conclusion of the workshop, traditional leaders and government officials pledged to revitalize the CCRCCs to mitigate the impact of customary conflicts. The deputy governor of the province, Gaston Nkole Tshimaunga, also confirmed the unwavering support of the provincial government in the implementation of all proposed activities. The success of these peacebuilding efforts hinges on the commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders involved. By working together, we can create a safer and more stable future for the people of Kasai.
