Kananga – 23rd September 2017: Roughly 500 people gathered at the Independence square in Kananga to brainstorm and commit themselves to Peace, a theme chosen by MONUSCO to commemorate the International Day of Peace.

A year after the waves of violence and repression hit the region, commemorating the International Day of Peace in this region has a special meaning. To date, gun firing has been silenced and no more killing is reported; the region is now struggling to come to term with the consequences of the violence committed and to reconstruct itself through peaceful coexistence.

“Acting separately will not help us achieve peace; it is together that we can achieve this objective and the commitment must be made by all the forces of the Kasaï provinces towards sustaining a climate of peace that would benefit them,” highlighted Charles Frisby, Director of MONUSCO/Kananga office at the opening the ceremony.

Inspired by this statement, representatives of youth and women Associations and the chief of the Bar Association in Kananga pledged to take an active part in the restoration of peace in the Kasaï provinces.

“No peace can be achieved if the perpetrators of the gross human rights violations do not face their criminal charges and if the heinous crimes go unpunished. The bar association in Kananga is further convinced that no repression or fair reparation can be achieved without independent and impartial judges or without functional jurisdiction. Therefore, the bar association in Kananga has committed to provide free service with dedication in terms of legal assistance to the needy and destitute in courts and tribunals,” declared the president of the bar of Kananga, Dominique Kambala.

After some musical interlude, the provincial minister of Social Affairs, Kambala Kamilolo wrapped up the commemoration of the International Day of Peace.

Anne HERRMANN