** Disarmament to Beni: a call for unity and social transformation **
On March 19, 2025, an imprint of emergency and hope emerged from the heart of North Kivu, while the branch of the disarmament program, demobilization, community recovery and stabilization (PDDRC-S) in Beni, Omar Kavota, launched a daring appeal to armed groups. Faced with the persistence of insecurity in the region, its solicitation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration goes beyond the framework of a simple military process; It is also a call to reinvent social relations and build a future where peace is not the exception, but the norm.
### Beni’s context: Mined land
The security situation in Beni, an emblematic region of North Kivu, is marked by the proliferation of armed groups, whose influence destabilizes the peaceful coexistence of local communities. Despite several attempts to restore peace, in particular with the support of Monusco, the path remains dotted with pitfalls. Indeed, according to recent statistics, the attacks of armed groups recorded an increase of 15% compared to the previous year, stressing the ineffectiveness of current safety strategies.
### The PDDRC-S in front of real challenges
The PDDR-S is faced with not only financial but also logistical challenges. The requirements of an ambitious program which aims to disarm 10,000 members of armed groups in the Far North require a supported investment in human and material resources. While the program has managed to support hundreds of ex-combatants towards reintegration, it is crucial to look at alternative funding models. Partnerships with international NGOs and local businesses could make the difference. For example, the “Demobilization and Development” initiative carried out in Sierra Leone has proven that involving private players in social reintegration projects could cause success rates.
### A new approach: integration and reintegration
Omar Kavota highlighted two main paths for veterans: integration into the Army Defense Reserve (RAD) or to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), and community reintegration through socio-economic projects. This duality highlights the importance of a strategic choice which is not limited to armaments, but which also includes the civic and professional rehabilitation of individuals.
Initiatives such as vocational training or psychosocial support should not be underestimated. They can transform lives and contribute to the reconstruction of a society. By drawing inspiration from reintegration models in Colombia, where former FARC members were trained to become farmers or entrepreneurs, Beni could deploy a similar program that would promote a sustainable living environment.
### The call for peace: a collective responsibility
The call for peace launched by Omar Kavota is not just a cry of the heart; It is a call for collective responsibility. The Wazalendo, which push for resistance to insecurity, must consider other forms of commitment. Judicial disarmament could become a legal means of engaging these groups in a constructive dialogue, while preserving the security of the population.
Omar Kavota insists that stabilization processes must imperatively benefit local communities. To do this, a participatory framework where the inhabitants take part in the design of projects is essential. Surveys carried out recently in several regions of the country show that the development initiatives carried out with the participation of citizens are 40% more effective.
### Conclusion: towards a future of peace
The call launched by Omar Kavota as part of the PDDRC-S is more than a simple statement; It is an invitation to rethink security and governance in Beni. Sustainable peace requires a collective commitment where all actors, whether local or international, play a significant role. Without a significant involvement of communities, initiatives like this risk remaining only beautiful words. In this new year, the Beni region has the opportunity to change the tragic account of violence to a history of resilience and cooperation. It starts with the choice of disarmament that is experienced not as a loss of commitment, but as an opportunity to build a better future. The figures of violence and insecurity must be reversed. Beni’s transformation into a model of peace and social reintegration is possible, provided that they firmly believe in the promise of a shared future.