Banyamulenge herders are now able to reach previously inaccessible areas in south Kivu, while people affiliated to Mayi-Mayi fighters can visit markets that were formerly off limits, a local NGO reported.
The rapprochement between Banyamulenge from the Gitoga area and Mayi-Mayi from the Kalungwe area came after a meeting on 17 February brokered by the Banyamulenge NGO Groupe Milima. The NGO, in a statement sent to IRIN on Friday, claimed that a Mayi-Mayi commander Thomas Ndagazwa said he had been "plunged into a pointless war".
The meeting, between the traditionally hostile communities, was made possible as a result of members of Ndagazwa's family living safely in Banyamulenge-controlled areas, the report said. Groupe Milima also announced another peace meeting in Lubuga in late March between Banyamulenge, Babembe, Bafulero and Banyindu communities.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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