The reopening of this market has boosted economic activity in the region, while encouraging local communities to live together.
It may not look like much, but this small commercial space means a lot to the Hema and Lendu communities in the locality of Dzengele, in Djugu territory, Ituri. The Dzudda market allows members of these two communities to interact, do business, talk to each other, and live together peacefully. However, about two months ago, following community conflicts that generated violence between the local armed groups Codeco and Zaïre, the market had to close.
The armed violence caused numerous deaths and led to population displacement, followed by looting, thus undermining peaceful coexistence and social cohesion advocated by both the authorities and MONUSCO. The consequences of this closure were both economic and social: in the absence of commercial exchanges, and unable to sell their agricultural products, the populations of both communities found themselves with limited sources of income, further excarbating the situation of inhabitants already impoverished by long years of war.
MONUSCO Mediation
The UN Mission, through its Civil Affairs section, sought to find a solution. On Sunday, April 27, 2025, it brought the two parties together to facilitate the resumption of dialogue between the two communities and to discuss the need to reopen this market, in the name of peaceful cohabitation. Following this meeting, Hema and Lendu notables finally resolved to renew the broken dialogue, and opted for the resumption of commercial activities at the Dzudda market.
"We, the Hema, are very happy with the mediation done by MONUSCO, because we ourselves were unable to coordinate this dialogue. Cohabitation with our Lendu neighbors is now a reality. [Thursday], during the reopening of the market, members of both communities ate and drank together to seal this reunion, and this social cohesion," declared Grégoire Logo Bamaraki, the president of North Bahema youth.
For his part, the administra8ve secretary of the Laudjo Group, Innocent Lomboni Kpadyu, welcomes this reopening which will revive economic activities in the region, while promoting coexistence between local communities: "We are very happy with this meeting initiated by MONUSCO. This market supplied many inhabitants of the Walendu Pitsi, Tatsi and Datsi sectors, as well as the Bahema North chiefdom. Many traders will now come to sell their goods, and this will help the population earn some money. This market greatly helps the two communities who now live together and dialogue. We are very happy about its reopening.".
More Than Just a Market
The Dzudda market constitutes an economic center of strategic interest for the region. It promotes the coming together of merchant populations as well as notables from the Walendu Djatsi, Tatsi, Pitsi sectors, but also from the Bahema North chiefdom and a large part of the Bahema Badjere chiefdom. This point of sale also feeds the city of Bunia, located 80 km away, as well as villages along Lake Albert with agricultural products.
With the reopening of this market, many inhabitants are now free to circulate regardless of their community affiliation, which helps open up certain areas. The two communities have agreed to reach out to the leaders of armed groups, to raise awareness and instruct their men to stop attacking civilians, and to preserve peace and coexistence in the region. "We no longer want to be destabilized by our local armed groups, which is why awareness-raising has already begun, to ask them to stop attacking civilian populations," said Grégoire Logo Bamaraki, the president of North Bahema youth.