In all, more than 800 ex-combatants are concerned by this identification operation.
"I commend your courage and your awareness in making the best choice of your life. I urge you to definitixvely turn this page of your history and look resolutely toward new horizons." With these words, the Deputy Governor of North Kivu, Deputy Divisional Commissioner Louis Segond Karawa, addressed the ex-combatants gathered at the Mambango site on the outskirts of Beni city, during the official launch of identification, verification, and orientation operations on April 26, 2025.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Deputy National Coordinator of PDDRC-S, Marie-Chantal Lumba, and marks a key step in the demobilization process. The ex-combatants have begun receiving their biometric cards, a document attesting to their formal commitment to leave armed groups and begin a process of reintegration into their communities. "This gesture is not a simple administrative act. It symbolizes a pact of trust between the State and its sons and daughters. The program aims to repair, rebuild, and reconcile," emphasized Ms. Lumba.
The Mambango site constitutes the first stage of a process that will continue in the Bashu chiefdom, as well as in the cities of Butembo and Lubero. In total, more than 800 ex-combatants are involved in this large-scale operation.
Ms. Lumba recalled the main priorities of the program, which plans to conduct demobilization operations with transparency and respect for human dignity, organize the reintegration and socio-economic reinsertion of ex-combatants through qualifying professional training, and strengthen coordination between civilian and military actors and partners to ensure the success of the process.
Opportunity for Transformation
The biometric card opens access to a series of support measures, including professional training and employment opportunities allowing for economic autonomy. Each beneficiary ex-combatant also allows two members of their community to access these benefits, thus strengthening the community impact of the program. "This is a hopeful sign for a North Kivu province rid of armed groups and criminal organizations without a clear vision," declared the Deputy Governor.
The local authori8es praised MONUSCO's multifaceted support for the implementation of the program, particularly through the Demobilization, Disarmament, Reintegration and Stabilization sections, the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office, and the Child Protection section. Through its technical, logis8cal, and operational contribution, MONUSCO remains a key partner in efforts to restore peace and reintegrate ex-combatants in North Kivu.