Three months after the definitive closure of MONUSCO’s base in Amee, local communities continue to strengthen a hard‑won peace in an area once deeply affected by intercommunal violence.
Peace regained after six years of UN presence
On 4 December 2025, the people of Amee in Mahagi territory, 185 km north of Bunia, marked an important milestone: after six years of security support, MONUSCO officially closed its military base, acknowledging a steady return to stability in a region long troubled by armed groups.
Three months later, a multidisciplinary UN mission deployed from 2 to 5 March 2026 confirmed that calm still prevails. People move freely, social and economic activities have resumed, and the community‑based mechanisms established before the withdrawal are still functioning effectively.
Local mechanisms bearing fruit
Local leaders say the current stability is the result of tools set up by MONUSCO prior to its departure: community dialogues, various trainings, security‑alert mechanisms, and regular intercommunal meetings.
“When the base closure was announced, we were afraid. But thank God, nothing bad happened. MONUSCO brought us together, trained us, and thanks to those meetings, we live in peace today,” says Jean‑Marie Kawarunyo Alar, an Alur notable from the Pamitua grouping.
Encouraging indicators include a significant reduction in crime, renewed relations between local communities, students and teachers returning to the same schools, and commercial activity rebounding in economic centers.
Economic activity revived
In Amee, inter‑grouping trade is picking up again. Exchanges between communities—once hindered by mistrust—are returning to normal.
Ucai Uzele, a trader in Amee’s commercial center, confirms:
“Our brothers from the neighboring grouping come here to buy soap, salt, beer… And from them, we bring back food crops such as cassava chips, potatoes, and beans.”
Dialogue as the foundation of peaceful coexistence
Community leaders emphasize that MONUSCO’s mediation efforts have fostered a new culture of dialogue.
Umirambe Ugwaro, a Lendu notable, explains:
“If there is a problem between the two entities, we sit around a table and quickly find a solution. We collaborate well and live in real social cohesion.”
Persistent concerns and a call for strengthened efforts
Despite progress, concerns remain: some young people still hold illegal weapons, posing a risk to lasting peace.
Communities in Amee and Mahagi are urging the government to accelerate the PDDRC‑S (Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Programme).
Traditional chief Dhekana Ayuba stresses:
“We want the Reserve Army process and the PDDRCS to be accelerated. If these young armed men are taken care of, it will greatly relieve the population.”
The stability observed in Amee since MONUSCO’s departure demonstrates that community‑based prevention and dialogue mechanisms truly work.
But in this still‑fragile context, populations are calling for stronger state action to transform the current calm into lasting peace for all communities of Ituri.
Jean‑Tobie Okala
