THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN IN THE PROCESS OF PEACE-BUILDING IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

1. THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN IN THE PROCESS OF PEACE-BUILDING IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

2. Location The DR Congo is part of the African Great Lakes Region which has been the theater of wars and genocide during the last decade. Following countries are found on its eastern boarder: • Uganda • Rwanda • Burundi • Tanzania(not involved in the current conflict) [See map below]

3. THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO- MAP

4. Origin of conflict There are multiple causes of conflict in the Great Lakes region • Political • Economic • Socio-traditional

5. Political causes • Since the end of colonialism in the 60s, the Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced political unrest as many of its neighbors . • Two major dictators, Idi Amin Dada of Uganda and Mobutu Sese Seko of DRC, are an illustration of bad governance that has prevailed in this region. • Most of the countries of the region has faced a series of rebellions, civil wars and tribal conflicts which has mostly affected the DRC. • The presence in DRC of ethnics Tutsi and Hutu from Rwanda and Burundi has often facilitate all conflicts and genocide from these countries to cross the boarders.

6. Political causes cont’d • In DR Congo, most of Hutu and Tutsi settled in the eastern part since colonial period to escape the killing which took place time to time between these two ethnics. • Political unrest increased since the genocide of 1994, as part of the Hutu army, Interhamwe, found refuge in DR Congo. Until now they are still creating insecurity and abusing women and children in the eastern Congo. • The government of Congo does not have a strong army to secure its territory, recovering from years of war and destruction created by the invasion of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda in 1996 to put an end to the long reign of Mobutu. • Since 1996 Tutsi leaving inside and outside of the country have used the presence of the Interhamwe to maitain war in DRC. A part from creating rebel groups they are also asking to be given their own territories because they feel being a minor tribe to be secured

7. Economic causes • The Great Lakes region, especially the DR Congo, is well known for its immense natural resources (petrol, gas, diamond, gold, zinc, copper etc…). The region has potential resources in woods, lakes, river and agriculture. • In spite of this enormous potential resources, countries in this region are among the poorest of the continent. • The control of these resources by developed countries and their national predators are the major cause of the prevalence of war in the Great Lakes region. • The destruction of all infrastructure by the 6-year-war has led to poverty and prompted young people to take arms in order to feed themselves out of plunders.

8. Social causes • The major cause of the conflict in Congo is the tribal and ethnic conflicts. • Internally tribes and clans in Congo have been fighting on the control of power in religion as well as in politics. • The presence of Hutu and Tutsi, with their long established rivalry has brought more conflicts in the eastern part of DRC. • People are divided a long the lines of Congolese against those considered as foreigners (Hutu and Tutsi) and also along dominant and weak tribes inside the territory.

9. The Way out • Political causes can find solution if good leaders are elected in the region. • If the international community decides to work for the benefit of the poor and not participate in looting natural resources • Economic causes also can be overcome if leaders practice good governance and proper management of the country. • The tough task to solve conflicts in the region remains dealing with social factors and that is where women have to play a significant role.

10. Women as peace-building agents • Political and economic causes could be easily averted if tribal and ethnic divisions were not embedded in all conflicts in the region. • The role of women in the process of reconciliation and peace making is linked with the place of women in this society. In many cases peace talks are held between men because they are soldiers and politicians. But the result is very slim. • If women are not involved nothing can change in the society for many reasons

11. Women as peace-building agents cont’d • Women are custodians of cultures and traditions because they are in charge of the education of children. • In the case of tribal and ethnic hatred women can stop the transmission of hatred to future generations because they are able to teach positive values to their children. • Women are likely to fall in love and get married across different tribes and ethnics and bridge the gap between opponents. • Women can easily socialize with other women as they have various opportunities to meet in the market, in the fields and when fetching water from the streams. • Though the society is apparently male-dominated, the influence of women on their husbands is tremendous at every level of the society, including the King or Head of the state. • Women are more sensitive to peace making because children and women pay the huge price in time of war (abuse, rape and killing).

12. What is the actual contribution of women in peace building in DRC? • Church-based organization, Monuc and other NGOs have discovered the importance of involving women in the peace-building in Congo, especially in the Eastern part of the countries. • In Bukavu (Southern Kivu) where I have shortly sojourned, I have noticed that many organizations are working towards peace building. Under the National Church (ECC) organizations such as the department of women DFF, FFP and Reseau Innovation Organisation (RIO) are organizing meeting and workshops in which women are talking about peace. They are taught in seminars how to make peace with others. • The Institut Vie et Paix (Life& Peace Institute) is working with local organization by funding peace-building talks and seminars in the region. MONUC is also busy in talking with women for peace. • Programme d’Actions pour le Development des Bases Unies (PADEBU) and Eveil des Femmes pour la Promotion Sociale (EFPS) have meetings in which women are used to integrate former Mai-Mai miitants in the society.

13. What is the actual contribution of women in peace building in DRC? Cont’d • In Rural areas women are taught to have some activities together in order to participate in peace-building in their community. • Whenever there is a meeting or forum at national level for reconciliation and peace, like the one held recently in Goma, some women and women organizations are called to participate and share their views on how to bring peace in the region. • Women are not only among the participants to peace talks but also speakers and trainers because of their tact to address sensitive issues such as peace-building in hostile communities.

14. Challenges to Women’s participations • In forums where men are also represented the voice of women tends to be silenced or overlooked because of cultural consideration. • Women are used more for seminars on violence and rape than on peace-building. • Many meetings and organizations put their focus on inter tribal or inter ethnic reconciliation than cross tribal relationship. • Women at the grass root level who are being exploited by politicians to secure their positions are often marginalized when scholarly debates are held. • In many instances few are brought into mix meetings as a matter of representation and not to err and defend their position on subject to be discussed

15. SUGGESTIONS • Hold more meetings in areas where different ethnic or tribal groups are present • Organize activities such as knitting, sowing and batik which involve women of different ethnics or tribes • More workshops on peace-building at different levels and status of women • Organize outing, picnics and visitation of important places or parks with women of different ethnics or tribes for fellowship • Bringing women together around the theme of peace building through drama, films, music concerts and art expositions • Equip church choirs and women fellowships to expand the message of peace in the church.