MONUSCO facilitators also presented community protection tools such as the Community Alert Network (CAN) and Local Protection Committees (LPC).
From 5 to 10 May, in the territory of Irumu, MONUSCO’s Civil Affairs Section, in collaboration with the General Inspection of Territorial Administration and the Provincial Youth Council of Ituri, organized two workshops to encourage youth participation in the province’s peacebuilding process.
The first three-day workshop took place in Komanda, 75 km southwest of Bunia, and the second, also three days long, in Mungamba-centre, about 100 km from Bunia.
In total, 90 participants, 30 of them women, attended both sessions. They represented youth from various sectors: youth organizations, civil society, taxi drivers' associations, women’s groups, and members of Local Security Committees (CLS) and Proximity Local Security Committees (CLSP).
Over six days, participants attended sessions on UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (on youth, peace, and security), decentralization in the DRC, participatory security governance, and the specific roles of CLS and CLSP in local security management.
The workshop facilitators also introduced community protection tools such as the Community Alert Network (CAN) and Local Protection Committees (LPC). Practical discussions enabled youth to learn how to analyze security risks, develop advocacy strategies, and engage in empowering and transforming local security governance.
The particpants acquired skills necessary to identify security challenges in their areas and propose tailored solutions. The goal was to reinforce their role as key actors in peacebuilding in a province where insecurity has persisted for years.
According to Jacques Anayey, President of the Territorial Youth Council:
“The youth of Irumu, who have just been empowered, are now committed to contributing to security-related decision-making.”
Changing Mindsets
Local authorities encouraged youth to adopt responsible behavior and actively participate in peace efforts. They also called on them to strengthen their collaboration with MONUSCO and security services to fight insecurity and ensure a better future for this economically promising region.
“What we want now is a change in mindset, and stronger civil-military cooperation to end insecurity in the region”, said Mawa Enzoronzi, Deputy Inspector General of Territorial Administration.
Interactive exchanges also shed light on the roots of anti-MONUSCO sentiment in some areas, particularly in the Mungamba area. It emerged that some youth from outside the region, especially from Walese Vonkutu, were spreading disinformation and disrupting the Mission’s activities.
Additionally, the workshops revealed that there is a lack of understanding among local youth about MONUSCO’s mandate, contributing to the spread of misinformation and baseless accusations, such as alleged collusion with armed groups like the ADF.
These workshops allowed youth to commit to fighting disinformation and collaborating with MONUSCO to promote peace. They are part of broader efforts to enhance early warning systems, with a focus on rapid response to security threats, a key pillar of the Mission’s mandate to protect civilians.
Another workshop began on 13 May in Komanda and Mungamba, with participation from traditional leaders, village chiefs, and representatives of youth and women from Basili and Walese Vonkutu.