Reducing youth violence : an action research project in Masisi, The Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

For more than six decades now, Masisi District in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been undergoing deadly conflicts. These conflicts have resulted in thousands of deaths, destruction, people displacements and hatred among people, in particular the youths. Furthermore, these conflicts were characterised by violence. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how to reduce violent behaviour among the youth in Masisi. The study first establishes the motivations behind youth involvement in violent acts and the impact of violence on the youth themselves and the communities. Then it provides solutions for the way out of violence by suggesting locally designed projects to promote peace among the youth and their communities. The main goal is to understand the youth behaviours and try to reduce violence. Specifically, the study aims at exploring the nature, extent, causes and consequences of violence in Masisi and to evaluate the impact of violence on the communities. In addition, the study aims at assessing the current initiatives put in place for conflict transformation. Finally, it provides suggestions for strategies and how to implement them in order to reduce prejudice; stereotypes and misunderstanding among the youths while evaluating the outcomes of the implemented interventions in order to improve the relationships and to curtail violence in Masisi. These strategies resulted from the conflict transformation theory as suggested by Jean Paul Lederach, the intergroup contact theory and the theory of change. This research is qualitative. Data collection was done through interviews with various actors and was coupled with observation and archival research. Therefore, primary and secondary data was used and was related to the situation in Masisi. The findings revealed that young people inherited historical conflict and that violence in Masisi has had serious and long-term repercussions. In addition, acts of violence and criminality are quite often hidden because of the inaccessibility of the district, therefore making it difficult to document the acts of violence or to eliminate them. Among other causal factors of violence, the findings identified the geographical setting and isolation coupled with an isolated population, youth unemployment, manipulation and exploitation among the motivations for violence. Moreover, the study established from the informants’ narratives that violence is both a business and a game; there is a leadership vacuum and lack of role models with manipulation or exploitation adding to poverty in Masisi. In addition, the results indicate that the youths’ voices are not heard; there is a strong feeling of hypocrisy among communities and a lack of social cohesion. The study found also that there is unfinished business on the youths’ side and a need for peaceful cohabitation. Ethnic rivalry, discrimination and exclusion are also among the causes of violence. Thus, efforts need to be made to reduce violence and bring about peaceful cohabitation, to improve the relationships among young people and put in place mechanisms to transform conflicts and change behaviours. This will help stakeholders to understand the youths’ attitude and how to respond to their grievances and expectations. The study resulted in the creation of a youth association involved in farming activities and peace circles for the young people who act as peacemakers.