Regional developments in Ituri and Haut-Katanga focus on peace and governance

In the Ituri province, a first-of-its-kind forum opened in Bunia on October 8, 2026, focused on the role of women in peacebuilding. Delegates from the five territories of Ituri—Djugu, Mahagi, Aru, Irumu, and Mambasa—are meeting to analyze the root causes of insecurity and propose concrete solutions for regional stability. Organized by the Provincial Division of Gender with support from UN Women and the Ituri Women's Collective (COFEI), the forum aims to empower women as key actors in social cohesion and mediation.

Separately, in Haut-Katanga, a consultative assembly was held in Lubumbashi to discuss the 2026 provincial budget and the importance of citizen oversight in financial governance. Organized by the consortium ‘Le Congo n’est pas à vendre’, the meeting addressed resource collection and expenditure management. Provincial deputy Thomas Lupata Mudimbi highlighted transparency measures, noting that provincial assembly plenary sessions are televised to allow the public to monitor financial debates and the budgetary process.