The Efficacy of Community Mediation on Ethnopolitical Conflicts in The DRC: A Case of The Babembe and Banyamulenge Communities (2002-2025)

Abstract

Globally the prevalence of ethnopolitical conflicts in the postcold war era has paused immense threats to global peace and security. Ethnopolitical Conflict in Eastern Europe, particularly in Yugoslavia, in central America and African Continent filled daily newspapers and televisions. From west Africa to East Africa through central Africa, from northern Africa all the way to the horn of Africa to southern Africa ethnopolitical conflicts have caused numerous losses of lives, injuries and huge plights of refugees, and displacement leading to humanitarian suffering and intensification of human insecurity. The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of Community Mediation on EthnoPolitical Conflicts in the DRC among the Babembe and Banyamulenge Communities (20022025). Three specific objectives guided the study, to analyze the historical development of Ethnopolitical conflict between Babembe and Banyamulenge communities in DRC, evaluate the efficacy of community mediation strategy in addressing ethnopolitical conflicts between the Babembe and Banyamulenge, establish strategies for enhancing community mediation strategy for resolving ethnopolitical conflict in Babembe and Banyamulenge communities. The study seeks to answer the effects of ethnopolitical conflicts on the political, economic and social aspects in the DRC and how can community mediation play a key role in resolving ethnopolitical conflicts between the Babembe and Banyamulenge communities. The study has focused on areas within the DRC which and overlooked the experiences of other communities affected by the same conflict. Likewise, data captured certain conflict incidents or specific time periods, which has resulted incomplete or biased conclusions. The present study assessed this conflict and examined the role as well as effectiveness of community mediation in resolving it. The study found that the crisis between the Babembe and Banyamulenge communities is highly rooted in history, and has escalated to other communities, hence causing human insecurity and suffering in the Republic. It was found that such failure to address this conflict has amounted to the failure of international peacebuilding. The study found that community mediation which incorporates traditional mechanisms that bring people together, build trust, and promote healthy communication needed to address this conflict from its root’s causes. To achieve at those assertions, the study used two theories which are community mediation, and problemsolving theories. The study also used mixed methods that consisted of qualitative and quantitative research technics to collect and analyze as well as interpret data. The study recommends the need to establish local centers for training people in community mediation and empowering to own the process conflict resolution. The study also recommends the need for further study in the fields of community mediation, peacemaking, peacebuilding and its effectiveness in addressing ethnopolitical conflicts from their root causes.