A New Dawn in Kasa?: How Women Mediators Are Rebuilding Peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the lush, rolling hills of Kasa?, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Three hills—Pende, Tshokwe, and Lubaphones—once divided by fear and violence, are now reconnecting, thanks to women mediators.

“We couldn’t move from one hill to another after the 2017 conflict,” says a member of the newly formed network of women mediators. “Now, we can.” Her face glows with hope as she describes the transformation in her community, a region long fractured by the Kamuina Nsapu conflict that left 5,000 dead and displaced over 1.4 million people.

Funded by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the project “Strengthening the Role of Women and Youth in Local Governance and Peacebuilding” launched in 2021 and implemented by OHCHR and UN Women aimed to rebuild trust in communities shattered by years of violence.

At the heart of the project is an ambitious vision: to restore social cohesion and empower women and youth—groups historically sidelined in decision-making processes. Training women as mediators capable of resolving disputes and fostering dialogue was a cornerstone of the initiative.

The foundation of the women mediators’ network was laid by MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Building on this groundwork, UN Women expanded the initiative by adding more members and providing comprehensive training in mediation, conflict management, and advocacy. Today, this network comprises 100 women mediators from Tshikapa, representing the region’s three main ethnic communities – Tshokwe, Pende, and Lubaphone.

These women come from diverse walks of life: farmers, teachers, merchants, civil society leaders, and clergy, mirroring the rich tapestry of Tshikapa’s society. Their shared mission transcends their differences, weaving together a community scarred by conflict into a force for peace. ?

Christine Mbalo is one of these mediators. Her journey began with training sessions on mediation, advocacy, and conflict management, skills that transformed her life. “Before, I never imagined I could have such responsibility,” she says. Her first test came with a land dispute between two local leaders in Bapende. Her efforts prevented escalation, restored trust, and solidified her role as a community leader.

By 2024, the mediators’ impact was undeniable. In Tshikapa’s five communes, women mediators resolved disputes ranging from family conflicts to intercommunal tensions—disputes that often ended in violence.

The project’s impact goes beyond resolving disputes. Women mediators are breaking barriers in a region where patriarchal traditions once excluded them from leadership roles. In an unprecedented shift, three women now sit on the Bupole platform, the House of Traditional Chiefs.

Their influence has also extended to local governance. Advocacy campaigns led by the mediators convinced provincial authorities to appoint two women as ministers—a historic first for Kasa?. In the 2023 elections, the number of women candidates more than doubled compared to 2018.

“These women are reshaping what leadership looks like in Kasa?,” says a local official. “They’ve shown that peace is not just the absence of violence—it’s the presence of inclusion.”

Following the withdrawal of MONUSCO from Kasa? in 2021, communities faced a daunting question: Who would fill the gap? The PBF-backed project stepped in to facilitate ownership by local actors for these peacebuilding efforts.

The women mediators became the backbone of this transition. Their efforts not only prevented the resurgence of violence but also laid the groundwork for sustainable governance.

“This is just the beginning,” says Mbalo, who dreams of training more women to ensure the program’s longevity.

Despite the successes, challenges remain. A lack of resources and official recognition threatens to stall progress. Yet the mediators press on, driven by the hope of a brighter future for Kasa?.

“This work is about more than resolving conflicts,” Mbalo says. “It’s about restoring dignity and rebuilding trust—one person, one family, one community at a time.”

As Kasa? continues its recovery, the results of this initiative stand as a testament to what is possible when women and youth are placed at the center of peacebuilding efforts.

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