Bunia, 10 July 2014: The project codenamed “islands of stability” was launched on 10 July 2014 in Geti, the territory of Walendu bindi in the south of Irumu by political and administrative delegation from Bunia along with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) under the leadership of the Chief of MONUSCO/Bunia office, Mr. M’hand Ladjouzi and the district commissioner of Bunia.

The Chief of MONUSCO office in Ituri highlighted during the exchanges with the local leaders and civil society actors that the aim of the project was to restore state authority in a territory that has long been subjected to armed conflicts. He further said the stabilization of Geti would lead to its development.

Ladjouzi also said through this project as well as others yet to come, “MONUSCO is trying to put together efforts and different resources in Geti for the development of this territory.”

Such an achievement, he said, would require full involvement of the district authorities and effective ownership of the project by both the local authorities and the population of Geti. This is what prompted the productive exchanges between the delegation and the local leaders in walendu bindi on the one hand, and on the other hand, the local security forces, the local leaders, the civil society members and the delegation.

Mr. Ladjouzi welcomed the project and called for its appropriation, indicating that a meeting would be organized to identify the necessary actions to help implement islands of stability in Geti in collaboration with district authorities and MONUSCO in Bunia. Local leaders, on their part, made the commitment to debrief and sensitize their respective communities insofar as the project would help reduce poverty. Mr. Akobi Kimanda, one of the local leaders said “when young people have a job, they would stop thinking of returning to the bush. This is how we can help militia members leave the bush.”

Laurent Sam OUSSOU