"The two communities were not talking to each other due to the tensions. It took a dose of goodwill on both sides to turn over the tide. Today, a new era opens before us. We have talked to each other and forgiven each other", said the two chiefs together. Photo MONUSCO / Debon Mwisa
Under MONUSCO’s facilitation, in collaboration with the territorial administrator of Irumu, the communities of Bira in Irumu-centre and Hema in Kangakolo of the territory of Irumu in Ituri have pledged to put an end to their conflicts and communal violence having plagued these entities for over six months. They made this commitment at the end of the two-day consultations and structured dialogue between the two communities which were held in Irumu-centre and Kangakolo from February 6 to 8, 2022.
The two communities thus undertake to continue these consultations through a continued dialogue for peaceful coexistence in this territory. It is worth noting that the tensions between these two communities had reached its climax with killings and torching of houses and public buildings, including for example the office of the territorial administrator.
The hostility towards each other was such that, for example, members of the Bira community were prohibited from crossing the Ituri River to carry out their mining and farming activities in Kangakolo! At the origin of these community tensions, mutual accusations of support from each of the two communities to the armed groups FPIC (Force patriotique et intégrationniste du Congo pour les Bira/Patriotic and Integrationist Force of Congo for Bira) and Zaire (for the Hema), but also land conflicts.
Faced with the persistent hostilities as well as human and material damage caused by the clashes between these two communities, and in order to reduce tension, MONUSCO Civil Affairs section and the territorial administrator of Irumu have drawn up a plan of action late January 2022.
The consultations and talks which ended on February 8, 2022 are one of the points of action included in the said plan. The chiefs of the chiefdoms of Bahema in Irumu and Mobala did not hide their joy at the end of these consultations which helped them to bury the hatchet and to look to the future with optimism.
“The two communities were not talking to each other due to the tensions. It took a dose of goodwill on both sides to turn over the tide. Today, a new era opens before us. We have talked to each other and forgiven each other; on behalf of our communities, we, the heads of the chiefdoms have asked for forgiveness and promised to live in harmony from now on. We will keep this momentum by maintaining dialogue between us. As of now, our brothers and sisters in Bira will no longer be seen as enemies by those living in the Hema entities and vice versa.
However, these efforts should be supported by an accelerated disarmament process. This rediscovered peace today also paves the way for the good reception by the population of the projects announced by the Head of State as part of the 145 territories’ development program. Finally, we thank MONUSCO for its involvement in the search for peace and the promotion of non-violence", declared the head of the Bahema chiefdom in Irumu, David Bahinduka Bamuniga, complemented by the head of the Mobala chiefdom, Jean-Pierre Lemabo Kabaku: “We are bound to live together, in harmony and in tolerance. The two communities are now involved in a continued dialogue; which is will be instrumental in dispelling mistrust and extremism on both sides. With the commitment made by all us, including the youth committees from both communities, we are hopeful that everyone will now denounce the extremists on their side who are spreading divisions between the two peoples. We urge MONUSCO not to get tired and to continue to work alongside the FARDC to support their efforts for the restoration of peace”.