TRADITIONAL LEADERS, PILLARS OF PEACE: THE P-DDRCS STRENGTHENS ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MWAMI OF BAVIRA
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), traditional leaders play a central role in restoring peace and stability, thanks to their deep-rooted legitimacy and proximity to local communities—key beneficiaries of the P-DDRCS. In recognition of this essential role, the National Coordination of the P-DDRCS held a high-level session on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, to present and explain the national strategy of the Programme to His Majesty Mwami Romain Lenge, chief of the Bavira chiefdom.
The session took place at the P-DDRCS National Coordination Office in Kinshasa, under the leadership of Marie-Chantal Lumba Tshimanga, Deputy National Coordinator in charge of Technical and Operational Affairs, accompanied by William Balika Lwamushi, Deputy Coordinator for Administration and Finance, along with several programme experts.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coordinator, Professor Jean de Dieu Désiré Ntanga Ntita, Ms. Lumba Tshimanga praised the Mwami’s consistent commitment to supporting the Programme in alignment with the peace and reconciliation vision of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Head of State and Chair of the P-DDRCS Steering Committee.
During the meeting, Jeff Kabatunanga, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert at the national level, gave a detailed presentation of the Programme’s national strategy, including its operational implementation through national and provincial plans, priority action plans, and management manuals. The presentation also covered cross-cutting elements such as gender mainstreaming, community engagement, and the Programme’s key achievements since its inception. Special emphasis was placed on the critical role of traditional leaders in the successful implementation of the Programme’s five strategic pillars: conflict resolution and social cohesion; restoration of state authority and security; community recovery and reintegration; stabilization; and communication and awareness-raising.
Addressing His Majesty, Ms. Lumba Tshimanga emphasized that strong, legitimate, and culturally rooted local governance is essential for sustainable stabilization. She reaffirmed the Programme’s commitment to establishing a continuous dialogue with traditional authorities across all provinces, promoting their inclusion in all phases of planning and implementation. She called for a collaborative relationship based on mutual trust, respect for traditional knowledge, and complementarity between customary authority and state institutions.
In response, Mwami Romain Lenge thanked the P-DDRCS for its warm reception and reaffirmed his dedication to supporting the Programme’s implementation within his chiefdom. He also advocated for the development of additional community-based projects to enhance local development and stability. At the close of the session, His Majesty formally handed over the development plan of the Bavira chiefdom, while receiving the official presidential ordinance establishing the P-DDRCS and a copy of the national strategy, underscoring mutual ownership and partnership between traditional institutions and the Programme.
P-DDRCS Communication Unit
