In Ituri, mediation efforts led by the Network of Women Mediators (REFEMI), with the support of MONUSCO, are fostering a positive momentum toward reconciliation between the Walendu Tatsi sector and the Bahema Banywagi chiefdom—two communities long divided by tensions.
“There is more to gain from peace than from war. Peace imposed by weapons is often fragile, but peace achieved through dialogue is more sustainable,” explains a member of the Ituri Women Mediators Network.
After more than five years of conflict, communities in these areas of Djugu territory, in Ituri province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, lived in deep mistrust, avoiding any
form of contact. The tensions stemmed from incidents including killings, sexual violence, and looting attributed to members of both communities. Disputes related to crop destruction by cattle further fueled hostilities, deepening mutual suspicion.
Four groupings were particularly affected: Tsala and Tambaki in the Bahema Banywagi chiefdom, and Penyi and Bedu-Ezekere in the Walendu Djatsi sector.
Dialogue as a pathway to peace
To reverse this trend, REFEMI, with support from MONUSCO’s Gender Section, organized several intra- and inter-community dialogues. These forums enabled stakeholders to identify root causes, assess consequences, and jointly develop sustainable solutions.
According to Marthe Dheve, a member of the Ituri Women Mediators Network and facilitator of the process, these dialogues marked a critical step in rebuilding trust.
“Dialogue has enabled communities to see each other differently, to understand the suffering experienced on both sides, and to recognize that seeking shared solutions is more beneficial than maintaining divisions. Training on the roles of the Joint Monitoring Committee, the use of neutral third-party approaches in conflict resolution, conflict analysis, and alternative dispute resolution methods has strengthened local actors’ capacity to become true peacebuilders,” she explains.
She also emphasized the importance of neutrality: “Mediation is not about declaring winners or losers, but about supporting parties to find their own acceptable and lasting solutions. When communities take part in building peace, they also become responsible for preserving it,” adds Marthe Dheve.
Visible signs of rapprochement
Today, tangible progress is visible. Members of both communities once again attend the same markets. Herders move livestock across neighboring areas without major incidents, and young people collaborate at some artisanal gold mining sites. Social interaction is gradually resuming.
“Thanks to dialogues supported by MONUSCO, the situation has completely changed; peaceful coexistence between the two communities is now a reality. People interact freely, even in Peny. In the past, there were many problems due to armed group atrocities and mistrust. Today, all that is behind us. Communities interact even late at night. People travel from Bunia through Mandro to Peny, others go from Mandro to Ezekere, and vice versa, without any problems. This is the result of awareness efforts and MONUSCO’s support,” confirms Paul Mandro Gokpa, president of civil society in Bedu-Ezekere and the Walendu Tatsi sector.
Alain Rubenga, head of MONUSCO’s Gender Section in Bunia, also welcomed this progress: “We are now seeing the barriers that once existed between communities begin to fall. The return of economic and social exchanges shows that trust can be rebuilt when commitments made through dialogue are respected,” he said.
Sustaining peace efforts
To consolidate these gains, a Joint Monitoring Committee has been established to oversee the implementation of commitments arising from the dialogues. This body includes representatives from both communities.
With MONUSCO’s support, its members have received training in mediation techniques, peaceful conflict management, conflict analysis, early warning mechanisms, and the organization of community dialogues.
For Marthe Dheve, this structure plays a crucial preventive role: “The Joint Monitoring Committee is a permanent mechanism that allows communities to continue engaging, anticipate risks, and quickly find solutions before minor disputes escalate into new conflicts. Peace must be nurtured daily through concrete actions, mutual listening, and respect for commitments,” she states.
This momentum is supported by a jointly developed roadmap aimed at ensuring effective implementation of dialogue outcomes and strengthening long-term social cohesion in the region.
Jean-Tobie Okala
