Local peace activist Henri Ladyi risking life to save child soldiers in Democratic Republic of Congo…

Africa’s Schindler Disarming Congo’s Militia

“Peace Direct”:http://www.peacedirect.org/militia/

A thousand militia fighters are expected to emerge from the bush and lay down their weapons today in the Congolese town of Beni, brought in by local peacebuilder Henri Ladyi.

It’s the start of a campaign to disarm 10,300 fighters, including child soldiers as young as 8 years old, who have been living in the forests of eastern Congo and terrorising local villagers.

Henri Ladyi has spent months enticing these hardened fighters out of the bush. His teams of local volunteers have walked deep into the forest to reach and persuade fighters who have often known no other life since civil war began in the Democratic Republic of Congo 15 years ago.

He has offered them safe passage through government-held areas, organised transport for them, and persuaded previously demobilised militia commanders to attend in Beni as a reassurance.

Now he is aiming to disarm thousands of the Pareco Mai-Mai militia and, crucially, help them to settle back into normal life so that they do not return to bush warfare.

This may be the last chance the militiamen get to lay down their weapons peacefully and return to civilian life, because the Congolese government has announced an end to its amnesty for militias.

The government has sent a special delegation to meet them today, to issue them with ID papers and absorb many of them into the civilian police force.

Henri’s campaign continues next weekend in Butembo, and then 13 other villages in the war-torn region of North Kivu.

This is the worst-affected area of DRC. His programme is run by local NGO Centre Conflits Resolution, funded by “Peace Direct”:http://www.peacedirect.org/militia/.

Africa’s Schindler Disarming Congo’s Militia

Henri’s Story

A statement on the “Peace Direct Website”:http://www.peacedirect.org/peacebuilders/drcongo/ reads:

“I grew up in war and like many boys from my community, I thought about joining the local militia to protect my family. A chance meeting with the founder of Centre Resolution Conflit, Ben Mussanzi changed all of that. He became my inspiration and we worked as peace builders until Mussanzi was forced to flee for his life. Twice I was arrested and tortured by militia, with sticks forced between my fingernails. The UN offered me safe passage but not my wife and child so we fled, walking for three days through dangerous jungle and rain forest avoiding brutal militia groups hiding there.”

Eventually Henri and his family arrived in Beni, 160 km to the South, with Henri more determined than ever to dedicate his life to peacebuilding. He re-established the Centre Resolution Conflit and has been working for the last ten years rescuing child soldiers, keeping communities together, building relationships and training people from different tribes to live together peacefully.

The history of D.R.Congo is one of conflict and corruption with fighting fuelled by the country’s vast mineral wealth. What has been called “Africa’s World War” has pitted government forces, supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda. At least five million people have been killed and DRC faces a humanitarian crisis.

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Henri Bura Ladyi is tireless in his work for peace. His dedication and commitment means he has the respect of gun toting militiamen and the international community. People listen to Henri. You can find out more and learn how you can help “HERE…”:http://www.peacedirect.org/peacebuilders/drcongo/

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image: “Peace Direct”:http://www.peacedirect.org/militia/