** The Gabonese bar: an appeal to peace for the Democratic Republic of Congo **
In an increasingly complicated international context, where geopolitical tensions increase and where humanitarian crises are increasing, the recent lawyer of lawyers during the return of the Gabonese bar in Libreville took a particular resonance. Jurists from various horizons have not only expressed their solidarity with the Congolese people, but also launched an urgent appeal for the adoption of peaceful solutions to the security crisis which affects the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
### An alarming observation
The lawyers present, representing regions ranging from Africa to Europe and America, underlined the human disaster in progress in the DRC, marked by an increasing number of deaths, injured and displaced people. According to the United Nations Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination (OCHA), it is estimated that around 5.5 million people are currently moved within the country due to prolonged conflicts. These alarming figures highlight the need for collective intervention to defuse violence.
### The call for mediation
Participants in this meeting recommended that the heads of state of the Economic and Monetary Community of Africa (CEMAC) play an active role in mediation. This choice is not trivial, because CEMAC, which brings together neighboring countries of the DRC, has not only an intimate understanding of regional dynamics, but also incentives to participate in a peaceful resolution of conflicts to preserve stability in the region.
Me Samba Mohamed, lawyer for Brazzaville, articulated the growing concern of his peers on the possibility of a regional escalation. This observation is part of a larger framework, where crises in the DRC could impact the fragile balance of other neighboring nations, exacerbate existing conflicts and cause increased economic instability.
### The importance of a democratic approach
In addition to the need for effective mediation, the lawyers present insisted on the importance of respecting human rights and involving Congolese citizens in the reconciliation process. Indeed, an approach which favors the inclusion of local voices would not only alter the legitimacy of the solution adopted, but would also create a solid fund for lasting peace.
From a statistical point of view, the countries which give the floor to their citizens in processes of conflict resolution testify to a significantly higher probability of long -term success. According to a study by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), peace initiatives involving local players display up to 70 % after five years, a figure that collapses at less than 20 % when these actors are excluded.
### Legal impulse
Beyond the call for peace, this meeting also underlines the growing importance of international law and the role of lawyers in international affairs. At a time when traditional diplomacy is often put to the test, actors and those of the Gabonese bar can play a key role by putting their expertise at the service of conflict resolution.
This also reveals a paradigm shift in the way the international community approaches crises. While military interventions are often considered a solution, diplomatic, legal and humanitarian approaches are starting to emerge as valid and much less destructive alternatives.
### Conclusion
The appeal to peace launched during the start of the Gabonese bar is an echo of the voices often ignored in the corridors of power. In a world where the complexity of conflicts obliges to rethink solutions, invest in dialogue, inclusion and respect for human rights seems to be not only an ethical imperative, but also a pragmatic necessity to lead to a sustainable resolution.
Thus, for the DRC, the current crisis represents not only a challenge, but also an opportunity. An opportunity to reinvent a newly anchored peace, built not on bases of fear, but on those of justice, mutual respect and cooperation. The coming months could determine whether this call for peace will result in concrete actions which will transform the reality of millions of Congolese.