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Can Peace Succeed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

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War in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 5 million lives since 1996, and despite including the deadliest conflict since WWII, has been under-reported. While war in the DRC officially ended in 2003, violence continues to this day, and the country has never known a peaceful transition of power.

Last year a breakthrough peace agreement was signed. The Saint Sylvestre agreement, between the government and opposition leaders, was brokered by Catholic bishops (CENCO) and saw President Kabila agree to elections in 2017.

Prominent peace-builder in the DRC, Flory Kazingufu, said the peace deal halted the renewal of civil war.

“If CENCO couldn’t come in, we were going to [ascend] to a total violence and conflict in Congo that would be…would even touch the neighboring country and go through many countries,” Mr Kazingufu told Peace News.

“That’s how to tell you how important it was that the signature that was reached,” he said.

But CENCO has withdrawn from talks, after violent attacks and calls for protests, and both Congolese and international observers are concerned for peace prospects in the country. Archbishop Marcel Utembi Tapa, from CENCO, has warned the United Nations that a “lack of genuine political will” is jeopardizing the implementation of the accord.

Goma resident Davin Kombi expressed his doubts about the peace deal succeeding.

“Our country has been signing agreements since independence and I am not sure that this agreement will be the solution to what is happening,” Mr Kombi said.

“They told us that elections will occur this year but seeing how things are going with the many deaths and challenges the agreement is facing, I feel the agreement is not the solution,” he said.

Others are more optimistic.

“For me personally, the results will be good because there is a will to talk without guns to get together and study the needs of the Congolese people,” said Goma resident Elie Kassib.

Still more are conflicted.

“I tell myself that the context is good because peace depends on negotiations,” said Goma resident Serge Sivya.

“But unfortunately the case in the DRC is that there is so much hypocrisy already from when we signed the agreement at the beginning of the year,” Mr Sivya said.

“These circumstances make me feel that it is going to be hard for elections to happen in 2017 and I am sure that this might create tension, the population has been very patient,” he said.

People Choosing Peace: Ayuel Madut (South Sudan)

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Peace News Staff
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My name is Ayuel Madut. I come from the small South Sudanese town of Tonj, in Tonj state. I am 33 years old, and I am a former fighter.

I fought alongside the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) that later took power in South Sudan. During the guerrilla war I was a child soldier. At such a young age I thought I fully understood the reasons for fighting the Khartoum government, which was our “enemy” then. Black, and Christian, Sudanese people were regarded as second-class citizens – we wanted to restore our identity and dignity among our population.

But now, all that has changed. The so-called “liberation” that we fought hard to attain is a paradox.

There are two major political divisions within the ruling party, SPLA. Now there is both Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement and Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition. It is very difficult, at times, to comprehend because there is a large number of people who sacrificed, especially during the armed struggle, for this country. It cost them a lot. Some of my colleagues paid with their own lives, fighting for peace and freedom.

We are living in a period where there is big rift, caused by political players. But I have always advised brethren and friends to refrain from hurting each other. I strongly believe, and usually remind others, that these unnecessary killings – as well as humanitarian disaster – happening in our community, will end.

Peace is everything. With peace there is no killings, no insecurities, development comes fast, young ones get education, trade flourishes, and the economy becomes viable and strong.

Above all, I will continue to implore my countrymen and women not to lose the hope of getting the South Sudan we want from the South Sudan we have.

People Choosing Peace: Nuran (Iraq)

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My name is Nuran, and I am 17 years old.

I am from Mosul, but am a displaced resident in Baghdad now. I know how quickly, and easily, you can lose your home and your city and be displaced for reasons beyond your control.

I lived under the rule of ISIS for one year – it was a dark period of my life, but I survived. I developed myself in the field of writing, and I became editor. I published in some magazines and wrote many articles.

When I come to Baghdad I was afraid of the new life I would find, I expected it to be difficult to co-exist with the Sectarianism going on, because of the media broadcasting ideas that displaced people will face terror and intimidation in the hands of the “other”.

When I arrive in Baghdad I was surprised by the kindness and great sympathy for displaced people from the people of Baghdad, and the amount of friends I made.

Now I am very happy, because I realized how wrong my impression was – it was an idea planted by people who do not want good things for this country.

I can tell you honestly: We are one humane society, and we will stay. We will help, and love, each other.

Born in Captivity: Integrating LRA Children

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The Lord’s Resistance Army have abducted at least 30,000 people since they began, and many women were forced to marry fighters. Now, re-integrating children born in captivity is presenting a huge hurdle for peace in central Africa. Hear first-hand accounts and about what’s working in Uganda.

Born in Captivity: Integrating LRA children

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Ochan Hannington
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Many stories about the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by the infamous Joseph Kony, focus on child soldiers – kidnapped and recruited. However re-integrating children born in captivity, is now presenting a huge hurdle for peace in central Africa.

The LRA, have abducted at least 30,000 people since they began, and women like Florence were forced to marry fighters.

“I think I was abducted in 1997, I stayed in the bush for about two or three years,” Florence told Peace News.

For these women, returning home is an enormous challenge.

Sean Poole, from leading advocacy organization Invisible Children, said that socially, there’s a stigma attached to having spent time in the LRA.

“In central Africa there’s a lack of understanding from many communities of what the LRA truly is,” Mr Poole said.

“One of the more difficult challenges within the LRA context is women who have been forced into what is essentially sexual slavery, and assigned as a – quote-unquote – “wife” to an LRA commander,” he said.

“These women are often time impregnated, and have children in captivity, and in most cases when they escape, they escape with children.”

“They return home with – essentially – kids who are foreign to their own community and are really highly stigmatized because they’re single mothers with children from a rebel commander.”

“It is incredibly challenging, and very devastating to see how that plays out locally.”

While progress has been made in re-integration programs for abductees, and the US and Uganda have announced a withdrawal from the hunt for Joseph Kony on the grounds that the LRA is greatly diminished, children born in captivity are a second generation to suffer the devastating impact of the LRA.

“I think probably the biggest issue lingering issue is children who were born in captivity,” said Timothy Fadgen, an East African expert at World Vision.

Not all communities reject returnees, and there is hope.

“To see that those children are treated fairly, that the mothers are treated fairly – that is an on-going challenge, and it’s something that the community in Uganda is dealing with head-on,” Mr Fadgen said.

“In places where this is working it’s because the local communities are engaged,” said Mr Poole.

“You have to not only support LRA victims that are returning home, but also community members who have suffered trauma at the hands of the LRA, yet were never abducted,” he said.

“Supporting trauma services at the community level drives down stigmatization; it also drives down isolation for individuals and creates more community cohesiveness.”

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