Kalemie, 24 September 2015 - MONUSCO helped set up a Conflict Resolution Commission in Mukebo, district located 160 Km from North east of Manono in Tanganyika province. The Commission is made up of 14 members drawn from two communities: the Pygmies and the Luba, with a view to reviving inter-communal talks.

The formed joint Commission Pygmies-Luba will help consolidate the implementation of the action plan for the resolution of inter-communal conflict launched a few months ago by MONUSCO-Kalemie office in support of the political and military officials in the Tanganyika province. The said plan is part of the previous actions carried out as part of the efforts for establishing islands of stability in Mpyana, territory of Manono, deemed successful by the territorial Official. Thanks to the established island of stability, security situation is now being stabilized in Mpyana once subjected to exactions from the Maï Maï and other Bakata Katanga groups. Deployment of the National Police officers trained by MONUSCO civilian police and of the Army officers helped traditional leaders recovers their traditional territories after several years of absence.

After Mpyana, pacification efforts are now concentrated on Mukebo, in the territory of Manono where the Commission will have the role of promoting dialogue between the Pygmies and the Luba communities, with a view to facilitating reconciliation and peaceful co-existence. The civil society coordinator and head of the commission, catholic priest Moïse Kiluba provided some clarifications when the commission was set up: “the conflict resolution commission is now in place; we have achieved the first step by setting up this commission comprised of 7 members from the Pygmy tribe and 7 from the Luba tribe; the role of the commission is to receive complaints to be filed by each tribe; to convene them and solve the problems.” The commission is comprised of 14 members including 6 women.

The Commission has been set up at a time when the populations after fleeing exactions are demanding more security in their villages; No police unit has been deployed in that area. For the provincial Commissioner of the National Police, actions are envisaged to secure the population. Yav Mukaya promised to deploy the police in some areas. PNC provincial Commissioner also believes good relationships between the police and the joint Commission is of essence: “each week, the commission must hold a review meeting for us to know what we can do for them; the population turn to the police for it is the police role to ensure their security.”

The formation of the conflict resolution commission in Mukebo was facilitated by MONUSCO and a provincial Risks Analysis Commission team (CAR). The latter must ensure follow up on a number of indicators according to the Inspector from the Ministry of Planning, Crispin Ilunga who confirms that: “the analyses will focus on the primary, secondary and tertiary stakeholders with a view to tracking down those who mastermind the conflict.”

Amuri Aleka / Kalemie