Mbandaka, 2 June 2011 – Under the mediation of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO), young parliamentarians of Equateur province have been reconciled, and vowed to remain united.

Following internal rivalries within their provincial parliament, young parliamentarians of the Equateur province were at log head for almost 10 months. Thanks to an initiative from the local Office of MONUSCO to reconcile them, they came to understand that the survival of their institution depends on how they can work together. As a result, they signed an agreement on 2 June 2011 to seal their reconciliation in a ceremony that was attended by fifty young parliamentarians, one representative of Equateur provincial Assembly and the chief of MONUSCO Office in Equateur.

Following the signing of the agreement, they made proposals for a three-month transition period before the formation of a new parliament, and an office tasked with organizing the elections in the first half of September 2011.

The head of MONUSCO Office, Ould Mohamed Elhacen, urged them to take into consideration gender equity, by incorporating girls in their future Parliament.

Jean-Tobie Okala / MONUSCO