While the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been a victim of violence for years, the issue of peace is more crucial than ever. In this context, the Organization of Young Christians in Africa for Development (OJCAD) organized a day of reflection on this vital theme in Goma, in celebration of the International Day of Peace on Saturday, September 21, 2024. This session was attended by several community members.
For the leaders of this organization, this day of reflection came at a critical time, as the current situation in eastern DRC should challenge everyone’s conscience.
Participants from diverse backgrounds emphasized the importance of taking ownership of the issue of peace at their own levels. International and national documents were presented to illustrate the DRC’s commitments to peace and to raise awareness about the issues at stake. The panelists also analyzed the reasons that drive young people to join armed groups and the disastrous consequences of these choices on regional stability. This underscores OJCAD’s decision to focus this year’s theme on youth.
« It is difficult to study, cultivate, and develop when there is no peace. That is why each of us should feel at the forefront and be a peace actor in our city or village, » stressed Aimée Balibuno, coordinator of OJCAD.
According to her, peace is a sine qua non condition for all progress and development. Therefore, the organization calls on parents to instill the values of peace and tolerance in their children from a young age, in order to prevent the spread of hate speech.
Segihobe Nzabonita, delegate of the “Barza Intercommunautaire du Nord-Kivu”, welcomed OJCAD’s initiative and recalled his organization’s mission to promote peaceful coexistence among different communities.
He called the young people of all tribes to commit to peace and urged them to unite for peace, resisting the allure of armed groups despite the financial advantages they may offer. « The Barza brings together 10 communities in North Kivu, and we believe in working with the youth representation of all these communities for the return and preservation of peace, » said Segihobe Nzabonita.
“Several participants, including victims of the horrors of war due to the absence of peace, pledged to be peacemakers in their communities through awareness-raising activities”, This includes Mrs. Alice Lumbu.
The poignant testimony of this victim of the massacres perpetrated by the ADF in Beni deeply moved the audience. This young woman in her thirties, who witnessed some of her neighbors being beheaded by the ADF, remains determined to never relive the horrors she experienced and has pledged to raise awareness in her community about the disastrous consequences of war and the importance of peace.
Under the theme « The Role of Youth in Promoting Peace in Eastern DRC, » this day served as a reminder of the importance of youth engagement in finding lasting solutions. Indeed, they are the ones who will be called upon to build the future of their country and to pass on the values of peace to future generations.
MUNGUIKO THIERRY Horneyssie