Peace initiatives focus on eastern DRC and Great Lakes regional trade

On the International Day of Peace, organizations are highlighting different approaches to addressing instability in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Fondation Jean Paul Lumbulumbu has issued a call for lasting peace in eastern DRC, specifically targeting the North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri regions. The foundation emphasized that true peace requires more than the absence of weapons; it must include justice, the restoration of human dignity, and the security of livelihoods for those affected by armed conflict.

Simultaneously, the NGO International Alert is promoting cross-border trade as a mechanism for conflict prevention and social cohesion. Through its “Mupaka Shamba Letu” project, the organization facilitates economic exchanges between the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. This “Business for Peace” approach utilizes economic interdependence among small-scale traders to maintain informal channels of dialogue and solidarity, even amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions in the sub-region.