DRC: P-DDRCS STRENGTHENS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH INTEGRATION
Kinshasa, March 27, 2026 — In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), as the national authority on stabilization, places institutional coordination and national ownership at the core of its mandate.
The National Coordinator of P-DDRCS, Professor Jean de Dieu Désiré NTANGA NTITA, received a joint delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program, led by Dr. Gédéon Nsamba Nkanda. This strategic engagement is part of the implementation of Presidential Ordinance No. 21/038 of July 4, 2021, which establishes P-DDRCS as the central coordination framework for stabilization interventions in the DRC.
At the heart of the discussions was the integration of mental health as a critical pillar of the peacebuilding process. In a context shaped by the long-term impacts of armed conflict, this approach aims to strengthen community resilience and ensure the sustainable reintegration of ex-combatants.
Reaffirming strong national leadership, P-DDRCS promotes an inclusive coordination framework that aligns the efforts of technical and financial partners with the priorities set out in the national strategy. IOM, leveraging its operational expertise in crisis-affected regions, particularly in Tanganyika and South Kivu, welcomed this approach and expressed its commitment to actively contribute to the development of a joint roadmap.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of pooling institutional, technical, and financial resources to maximize impact and ensure sustainability. Particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening Provincial Operational Plans (POPs), ensuring territorial anchoring and enhanced coordination with provincial and local authorities.
Through this integrated peacebuilding approach, P-DDRCS reaffirms its role as a catalyst for sustainable peace, grounded in complementary expertise, coherent interventions, and the primacy of national leadership, based on the President’s vision, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Chairperson of the P-DDRCS Steering Committee.
P-DDRCS Communication Unit
