Forty-seven religious leaders from different denominations gathered from April 28 to 29 in Goma, North Kivu, to promote messages of peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion. Organized by Umoja in Action in partnership with the MONUSCO Civil Affairs Section, the workshop was held under the theme “Pamoja kwa Umoja” (“Together for unity,” in English). All participants emphasized the need for unity to strengthen social cohesion and promote peace.
This activity is part of MONUSCO’s ongoing support for peacebuilding efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in North Kivu, a province marked by persistent security challenges that fuel inter-community tensions and cause population displacement.
Through this initiative, religious leaders sought to spread constructive, inclusive, and peace-oriented messages.
During the two-day workshop, participants identified factors of division both within and between religious groups. They also analyzed mechanisms of disinformation and the spread of rumors. Finally, discussions focused on preserving the integrity of religious messages, co-developing a lexicon of “messages that bring people together,” creating models for peaceful preaching, and establishing an interfaith monitoring and early warning unit.
Leveraging the influence of religious leaders
As part of the discussions held during the workshop, the activity facilitator, Bernardin Ulimwengu, emphasized the importance of involving religious leaders in promoting social cohesion in Goma.
Due to their influence within communities and their relationship with congregants, their role is crucial in preventing divisive rhetoric and strengthening peaceful coexistence within communities.
“To strengthen social cohesion in Goma, it is necessary to work through religious leaders of all backgrounds, as they have a strong influence on a wide audience that listens attentively to messages that can contribute to social cohesion. They were targeted because, in their daily sermons and preaching, their messages may sometimes contain tendencies toward separation, division, or religious discrimination, which can in turn affect other forms of discrimination related to identity—whether religious, ethnic, regional, or otherwise,” he explained.
For Bernardin Ulimwengu, it is necessary to raise awareness among religious leaders about messages that may foster division within the population.
“Through Pamoja kwa Umoja,” he said, “we aim to turn religious leaders in Goma into true ambassadors of social cohesion, capable of promoting messages that bring people together, countering disinformation, and sustainably strengthening peaceful coexistence within communities.”
Participants shared a common conviction: words—even religious ones—can unintentionally become a source of division.
“We were shown how our homilies, our preaching, and our messages in the Church can divide our communities. The facilitator explained that it is not only conflicts or fights that prevent a community from living in peace, but also our words. We must therefore transform words of hate into words that unite,” testified Wivine Bitonfo of the Church of Christ in Congo in North Kivu.
Agents of peace
At the end of the workshop, participants committed to becoming active agents of peace within their respective communities—an engagement focused on the ongoing promotion of social cohesion.
Through this “Pamoja kwa Umoja” initiative, MONUSCO and Umoja in Action reaffirm a key conviction: peace is built through responsible speech, the repetition of positive and unifying messages, and the constant commitment of community leaders to peaceful coexistence.
Aline Kataliko
