BENI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: CITY OF PEACE
We welcome Mr. JUVENAL Muhindo Machozi as well as his colleagues, Mrs. AWACANG’O Justine Felicitee and coordinator Mr. KATALIKO James, as leaders of International Cities of Peace. Through their work and organization, they have established Butembo, D.R. Congo as a City of Peace. Their organization, Kijiji Cha Amani, literally means “Village of Peace” in their language.
Note: Introduction page with information primarily at the time of joining International Cities of Peace. For updates, please contact the liaison.
The focus of Kijili Cha Amani is to displace rumors with truth so that peace can be maintained. They work in the area of Goma where there are tribal conflicts between the Hutu, Nande, Hundi, Tutsi and Nyanga. There are also armed groups such as the FDLR, Maimai, in Rutshuru, South Lubero and Masisi-Walkiale.
These are very courageous individuals and with other in D.R. Congo, they are making a difference for peace. Their vision, mission, and goals will continue over the years to strive for safety, prosperity, and a higher quality of life.
ABOUT KIJIJI CHA AMANI
Article 1: It is created, this 04 January 2017 in Butembo City,
Province of North Kivu / Democratic Republic of Congo, between the undersigned non-profit and non-denominational association called Kijiji Cha Amani (KCA).
AREA OF ACTION
Article 2: The operating area of Kijiji Cha Amani is the African Great Lakes sub region. Its registered office is located in Butembo city, and may be transferred to any other place in the Democratic Republic of Congo by decision of the General Assembly. Beni is the second area of operation.
Article 3:
GLOBAL VISION
The purpose of Kijiji Cha Amani is to contextualize and mitigate misinformation through community participation, conflict / conflict moderation, and transparency.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES and KCA STRATEGIES
– Youth Education for Peace and Responsible Citizenship.
– Continuous training and coaching of Community Ambassadors (CA)
– Creation of a pacifist communication system by communication technology (website, social network, short number, toll-free number)
– Creation of Peace Space with 10-12 Volunteers of Peace (VP) by each community ambassador.
– Lead the lobbying for the opening of a Radio Station and TV
– Youth people are introduced to entrepreneurship with a view to encouraging activities that allow their autonomy in the community.
– Denunciation of violations of the rights of children, women and human rights.
– Creation of youth-friendly centers for peace education, psychosocial skills, responsible sexuality and reproductive health, and protection
of the environment.
– Creation of Adult School Recovery and Literacy Centers.
Section 4: Kijiji Cha Amani is established for an indefinite period of time from signature
Colleague: Mrs. AWACANG’O Justine Felicitee
Letter of Intent for Beni with signatures of Leaders
LIAISON: JUVENAL MACHOZI
“The city of Beni since the years 1997 has experienced of wars that have plunged it into a serious insecure situation that had repercussions on the social and economic situation on the population and especially young people. And after, every ethnic group had create militia for his self defense.
“On 2005, I was working Trainer of Peace clubs in Beni and when we created Kijiji Cha Amani last year with my friends to give alert, to inform and to verify everything, such as fights, kidnappings, and massacres by terrorists of ADF and ethnic slayings that has brought the City of Beni in to bad situation.
“Youth are victims for the benefit of adults. We are convinced for me to integrate the International Cities of Peace and with Kijiji Cha Amani.
“Beni, which once was a bloodbath, will be called a bath of Peace.”
CONTACT
Website
Juvenal Machozi:
Coordinator: James Kataliko:
ABOUT BENI, D.R. CONGO (from Wikipedia)
Beni is a city in north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, lying immediately west of the Virunga National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains, on the edge of the Ituri Forest.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country located in Central Africa. The DRC borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia to the south; Angola to the southwest; and the Republic of the Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is the second-largest country in Africa (largest in Sub-Saharan Africa) by area and 11th largest in the world. With a population of over 78 million,[2] the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the most populated officially Francophone country, the fourth most-populated nation in Africa and the 17th most populated country in the world.
It is home to a market, an airport and the Christian Bilingual University of Congo (UCBC). As of 2013 it had an estimated population of 231,952. Beni contains four communes, or municipalities: Beni, Bungulu, Ruwenzori and Muhekera.
The town was the scene of fierce fighting in the Second Congo War around 2001. Beni also has many MONUC bases; elements of the Indian-led North Kivu Brigade are based in the town.
Beni’s mayor was in 2007 Jules Mungwana Kasereka, since Julien Kahongya was elevated to Governor of Nord-Kivu.
Between October 2014 and May 2016 over 500 people died in a series of attacks on Beni and its surrounding area that have been attributed to Ugandan Islamist rebels.
The Beni massacre occurred here in August 2016.
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