For years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Tanganyika province has been defined by insecurity. An absence of functioning state institutions and frequent clashes among armed groups left the region vulnerable.
Beneath the surface of the violence lay deep-seated grievances: competition over land, scarce resources, and high unemployment. The daily tensions steadily eroded trust, fueling intense inter-ethnic clashes between the region’s Bantu and Twa communities.
Backed by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, a coalition of UN agencies and local partners launched an initiative to tackle the root causes of the violence. The initiative was designed not just to stop the fighting, but to foster a sustainable, peace-positive relationship between the Twa and Bantu people through economic revitalization, improved governance, the rule of law, and grassroots conflict resolution.
Photo above: Joint activities such as soccer helped improve relations between Bantu and Twa youth in Tanganyika, DRC. Credit: UN DPPA/PBSO
The Power of the ‘Baraza’
Peace cannot be imposed; it must be built locally. The peacebuilding initiative established conflict prevention mechanisms across the community, territorial, and provincial levels.
At the heart of it were local peace committees known as Barazas. These community-led forums provided a safe space where Bantu and Twa members could come together to address rumors and violence with structured dialogue and mediation.
Congolese peacebuilder participating in the initiativeIn the beginning, the people were skeptical of the idea of Twa and Bantu working together. But when they saw that it was working, more members from the community wanted to join."
Those who bring peace
Historically sidelined from civic life, youth and women became the engine of the transition to dialogue and peace. Through targeted literacy and leadership training, over 300 women and girls, alongside 200 young men—some former militia members—gained skills in advocacy and mediation.
Empowered to lead, they began hosting local radio programmes to promote unity. Today, the community calls them Wa Leta Amani—those who bring peace.
Building solutions together
Economic survival often drives division, but it can also forge alliances. Through Dimitra Clubs supported by the peacebuilding initiative, 600 farmers and 1,000 women received training in marketable skills like agriculture, herding, and soap-making.
To cement peaceful coexistence, the peacebuilding initiative invested heavily in basic infrastructure, including the newly built Mulongoy primary school in Miketo, which now educates over 500 Bantu and Twa students.
Photo above: Farmers from Twa and Bantu communities gain equitable access to farming activities. Credit: UN PeacebuildingMuteba Benoit, Director of a school in Tanganyika provinceBefore, Twa children would sit on one side, Bantu on the other. Now, they share desks. The construction of the school has helped us ensure peaceful coexistence and reunite the two communities without discrimination."
Young player from the Twa communityBefore the project, we weren’t even able to play soccer together; we couldn’t agree on the rules and results. Now, with the mixed teams, doing sports together actually helps improve relationships."
Healing and protecting Women
Conflict disproportionately impacts women, and the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) severely limits their socio-economic development. In response, under the peacebuilding initiative, 34 Village Protection Committees were established to lead dialogues on SGBV prevention.
A newly constructed maternity clinic in Miketo now offers free midwifery services to all women, ensuring that both Twa and Bantu mothers have a safe, supportive environment to receive care and heal from violence.
Accountability and justice
For peace to last, grievances must be met with justice. The initiative ensured that survivors of SGBV were not left to fight alone. Over 500 women participated in a three-month mentoring programme, and 174 survivors received legal support. Real accountability was made possible—over 160 cases were taken to court, resulting in 128 rulings and 91 convictions.
Our partners in peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
In the DRC, an investment in peacebuilding—led by the the , the , and , as well as local authorities and organizations—meant empowering locals to resolve their own disputes, resulting in a tangible drop in intercommunal conflicts.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.