In Mambasa, Ituri province, youth leaders are calling for the creation of a “brigade to fight disinformation” to curb the spread of rumors and contribute to peacebuilding efforts. “It is very important to fight disinformation, because it harms and can undermine any mission,” said Hemedi Omba, President of the Mambasa Territorial Youth Council.
Located over 174 km west of Bunia, Mambasa has been facing persistent insecurity for several years. According to Hemedi Omba, the spread of unfounded rumors and hate messages by some community members exacerbates social, security, and economic tensions.
Local youth leaders also acknowledge the role of disinformation in past tensions with MONUSCO. “It was claimed that MONUSCO was supplying machetes to the ADF or fueling insecurity. These false allegations led some young people to block its movements,” he explained.
Thanks to joint awareness-raising efforts, perceptions are gradually improving, with communities increasingly recognizing the dangers of disinformation.
Disinformation as a major obstacle to peace
On 26 June 2026, an awareness session was held in Mambasa-centre by MONUSCO’s Strategic Communications and Public Information Section in Bunia, in collaboration with the UN Joint Human Rights Office and the Child Protection Section. Around fifty participants attended, including community leaders, traditional chiefs, civil society representatives, youth, and state officials — among them about ten women and girls.
The session aimed to explore the causes, actors, manifestations, and consequences of disinformation, while identifying ways to detect and counter it, particularly in the context of growing social media use.
Participants unanimously stressed that disinformation worsens insecurity in a region already affected by repeated ADF attacks and constitutes a major obstacle to peace. According to them, false information has led to loss of life, population displacement, and destruction of property.
“When there is disinformation, there is a risk of deaths; it also increases insecurity. This training will help us verify the information we receive,” said Jeanne Harija, a community leader.
A community-led initiative
Participants also highlighted how disinformation undermines the Ebola response by fueling mistrust toward health workers. They committed to raising awareness within communities to support government and partner efforts, both in eradicating Ebola and in promoting reliable information.
At the end of the training, a key proposal emerged: the establishment of a community-based brigade to verify and disseminate accurate information.
“Each verified message can strengthen peace. We must always check the message, its source, its author, and its intention,” emphasized first Hemedi Omba. Then, he underscored the need for continuous outreach, including in remote areas: “We must reach even the most remote villages […] I believe a brigade is needed to carry out this work.”
Elaborating on the initiative, he added: “This brigade is truly necessary. […] We could equip village youth with Motorola radios so that if something happens, alerts can be sent and accurate information quickly shared.”
A fragile security context
Since the beginning of the year, ADF rebels have carried out deadly attacks in several localities, including Muchacha, Babesoa, Bafwakoa, and Mambasa-centre, killing more than 150 civilians. In response, a MONUSCO Force Intervention Brigade contingent has recently established a base in Bavalakaniki as part of efforts to protect civilians.
For Mungeni Yuma, coordinator of Mambasa’s civil society forces, MONUSCO’s presence remains vital to support Congolese security forces and restore stability: “Together, we will support this partner of the Government,” concluded this key civil society actor in Mambasa.
Jean-Tobie Okala
