Where We Work
2015-Present
Democratic Republic of the Congo
About the conflict
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second largest country in Africa by land mass and is rich with natural resources. However, the country has been facing a complex, intractable civil conflict for almost 30 years. After thousands of refugees fled to the Eastern DRC after the Rwandan Genocide in the early-mid 1990s, conflict erupted between various ethnic and religious factions, resulting in an estimated 6 million casualties due to clashes between the army, militias, armed groups, and foreign actors. UNICEF estimates that more than 800,000 children have been displaced, leaving DRC’s youth vulnerable to violence, disease, and recruitment into armed groups.
The southern part of the province of South Kivu (territories of Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga) represents the areas most violent and problematic (ACLED and the US Department of State). After the devastating violence of the First and Second Congo Wars, this region consistently experienced challenges, and a major resumption of violence in the mid-2010s following the failed attempt at three Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) processes since the early 2000s.
About our approach
Despite the many challenges faced by the Congolese, there have been encouraging stories of locals who have worked toward peace. The IPI team was introduced in 2015 to a Congolese group that works to prevent the involvement of children in armed groups and to socially and professionally reintegrate former child combatants in the Eastern DRC.
In partnership with local leadership, IPI launched several initiatives in the South Kivu to reduce civil and armed group conflicts, build social cohesion, and increase sustainable economic growth as a form of long-term peacebuilding. By working with local partners, IPI was able to ensure that all groups involved in the conflict would come to the table to discuss what is needed for sustainable peace, including the government, civil society, and the armed group leaders themselves. The effort was initiated through a series of peace talks and has expanded to include sustainable economic development initiatives including micro-lending to local business owners, the provision of livestock to vulnerable children, and community reintegration projects providing employment to youth who have demobilized from armed groups. Learn about our programs below.
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Integrative Peacemaking.
IPI actively facilitates peace gatherings between armed groups in South Kivu, DRC. Our team on the ground has successfully brokered multiple peace dialogues between dozens of armed groups and seen a measurable and sustained decline in violence as a result.
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Community-Led Reintegration.
IPI partners with local communities to reintegrate those who left for the armed groups. We do this through town hall-style gatherings where community members envision and implement economic development programs that aid in community solidarity and reintegration.
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Thierry's Project.
Thierry Shabani was a former child soldier who desired a better future for his fellow combatants. After leaving the armed groups, he began AJDC to facilitate the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers. To continue his legacy, after his death in 2021, IPI launched “Thierry’s Project” to sponsor former combatants and educate others on ending child soldiery in the DRC.
