Fatshimetrie draws attention to a crucial event taking place in Kisangani in this month of December 2024. Indeed, the Ministry of the Interior has taken the initiative to organize a round table from December 17 to 19 aimed at restoring peace between the Mbole and Lengole communities. This meeting, which is part of the Head of State’s efforts to promote reconciliation and harmony within the Congolese population, will bring together representatives of the two communities concerned, customary chiefs, civil society actors, religious leaders, as well as political and administrative authorities from the Tshopo province.
The conflict between the Mbole and the Lengola, which began in October 2022, has already caused the loss of more than 800 human lives and forced more than 10,000 people to leave their homes, thus living in precarious conditions for more than a year. The clashes have led to the destruction of schools, homes and other infrastructure essential to the lives of the affected communities.
The displaced, whether hosted by families or settled in specific sites, experience daily difficulties in meeting their most basic needs, with some being forced to beg to survive. The return to lasting peace is the key to enabling these populations to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives on solid foundations.
The round table to be held in Kisangani aims to analyze in depth the root causes of the conflict, and to propose concrete solutions to restore trust, social cohesion and peace between the Mbole and Lengole communities. The objective is to encourage the return of displaced persons to their villages of origin, and to offer them an environment conducive to rebuilding their future.
This initiative is in line with the actions undertaken by the government, in particular the cancellation of CAP-Congo contracts, considered a triggering factor of the conflict. By emphasizing dialogue and reconciliation, the Congolese authorities affirm their desire to promote peace and unity within society, to build a better future for all Congolese.
In conclusion, the Kisangani round table represents an important step towards resolving a deadly and destructive conflict, and offers a glimmer of hope for the Mbole and Lengole communities, as well as for the entire Tshopo province. It is by promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and respect for diversity that peace can finally be established in a lasting way in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.