Anicet Kimonyo is a journalist based in Goma, the largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s eastern region. There, he covers the impact of conflict on civilians, particularly the war between the DRC government and the M23 armed group, and the many recent peace efforts amidst this conflict.
Other topics that Anicet has reported on include the need for mental health care in Goma for peace, the endangerment of indigenous peoples and how it threatens peace, major environmental peace projects, and how young former combatants are building peace through dialogue and development.
In this interview with Peace News Network (PNN), Anicet discusses what it was like for him to grow up during war, how it impacted his family and his childhood, and how it eventually led him to become a journalist, despite having other plans for his life. He also discusses the realities of reporting on peace amidst violent conflict.
I understand that you are from Goma, DRC, a city impacted by armed conflict between the government and armed groups such as M23. Can you tell me a bit about growing up here?
I was born in 1995 in the Rutshuru territory, 75 kilometres from the city of Goma. In 1997, my family fled to Ishasa, on the border of DRC and Uganda, due to the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) war, which was a war of liberation in Congo. The AFDL war and the 1994 Rwandan Genocide were two key events in the upheaval of my childhood.
Many Rwandan refugees were massacred during the AFDL war, and unfortunately, Congolese people and their property were also collateral victims. Back in the 1990s, when my father was a prominent businessman and farmer, the situation created by the Rwandan Genocide and the AFDL war became a tragic turning point, leading to the collapse of his economic and agricultural activities. This marked the transition from a life of privilege to one of modesty, if not outright poverty.
My schooling was disrupted for a year due to the wars and looting in our towns, forcing us to move from one town to another in search of safety and stability.
The AFDL war came and went, followed by a new rebellion, the Rally of Congolese for Democracy (RCD), in 1998. Then, the AFDL president, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, was assassinated, plunging the country further into chaos. Rebel groups sprang up throughout the country, which was divided into four factions before being reunified through the Sun City Dialogue. This led to a transition period before the first democratic elections in 2006.
The events of this childhood, marked by a mixture of hope and sorrow, continue to this day. We have witnessed the helpless and continuous suffering of a population. We have seen children, young people, and mothers die, constantly displaced, and losing the will to live. We have also witnessed the resilience of populations who, despite suffering and repeated wars, rise from the ashes, believe in their future, and move forward.
What made you first become interested in journalism? Did peace and conflict have any impact on your wanting to become a journalist?
I must be frank: Initially, I didn’t consider becoming a journalist. I wanted to be a major financier of the best holding companies, but time and war, with its consequences, led me down a different path in journalism. The desire to shed light on the daily lives of ordinary citizens, to give citizens a voice to share their experiences, to give victims a voice to recount the consequences of war and the importance of peace.
What draws you to peace journalism, and how has your experience been different from traditional journalism stories? What is it like to report on peace in Goma, DRC? What’s the most challenging thing about reporting on peace there?
Peace journalism, in contrast to traditional journalism, reminds us and empowers each citizen to be an agent of peace wherever they are and in their activities. The consequences of war that we encounter should remind us and others that this must never happen again.
The challenge in this type of reporting is getting victims to speak out, to express their feelings, and also to recount the daily lives of their brothers, mothers, parents, and loved ones while strictly adhering to journalistic ethics and professional standards. The greatest challenge is telling the story of a vicious cycle of a war that seems endless, but whose devastating consequences continue to affect communities.
What has been your favorite story to work on for Peace News?
My favorite report was “The Forgotten Victims of the War in Goma and Eastern DRC.”
What are your plans/goals/dreams for the future?
I would like to continue in journalism with a focus on peace and the environment, but above all, with a particular commitment to investigations that can help bring justice to victims and achieve lasting peace.
Keywords: DRC, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa, journalism, peace journalism, peace, conflict, conflict resolution
Anicet Kimonyo
Anicet Kimonyo is a Congolese journalist and war reporter based in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the city of Goma in the Province of North Kivu. Since the resurgence of conflicts in the region, he has been involved in media coverage of conflicts in the region and their consequences to the community. His work focuses on issues of democracy, peace and good governance in the region, environmental and climate issues and topics about mining.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
, Anicet discusses growing up during war, and reporting on peace during conflict in DRC.){kind=link}