Bunia, 26 February 2013 - In the territory of Mahagi and in four other territories in the district of Ituri, inter-community land dispute has become commonplace over the past years, leading to violence with property destruction.

In order to address this issue, the Civil Affairs section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), within the framework of its mandate, especially its chapter dealing with "Land conflict settlement", has been organizing regular inter-community conciliation and reconciliation meetings. The most recent of these meetings brought together the Jupagasa and Jupio communities in the territory of Mahagi, about 174 km north of Bunia, in Province Oriental. Both communities clashed over administrative demarcations of their territories. Recent fighting between the two communities on 22-24 January 2013 left one dead and several wounded as well as burnt houses.

MONUSCO's mediation brought together the administrator of Mahagi territory, the representatives of both communities and members of civil society organizations in the territory of Mahagi and helped the two communities to agree to live together peacefully pending a final decision by relevant government authorities to definitely deal with the root cause of the problem.

Amadou Maïga/ MONUSCO