On 29 January 2026, the Centre for Research, Training and Publications at Hekima University College conducted a roundtable discussion in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, under the Reflective Peace Practice (RPP) initiative, guided by the central question: “Where are we as a country?” The roundtable responded to the DRC’s persistent instability by creating a structured and inclusive space for locally grounded reflection on peace and conflict. It brought together 23 participants including youth leaders, women representatives, faith-based actors, civil society members, and community advocates to bridge the gap between national peace initiatives and grassroots realities, positioning communities’ not as passive beneficiaries but as analytical actors in shaping pathways toward sustainable peace.
Through guided reflection and participatory dialogue, participants examined perceptions of the national crisis, shared concrete illustrations from lived experience, and identified key challenges to peace, including weak governance, social fragmentation, economic exclusion, insecurity, and lack of accountability. While the discussions highlighted deep frustration over corruption, impunity, fragmented peace processes, and the marginalization of women and youth, they also revealed strong community resilience. Existing youth- and women-led initiatives such as peace brigades, savings groups, advocacy networks, and interreligious dialogue platforms, were recognized as important peace infrastructures that remain fragmented and in need of stronger coordination and institutional support.
The discussions underscored recurring structural patterns sustaining instability, including a crisis of institutional legitimacy, a political economy of conflict linked to resource exploitation, erosion of social cohesion through identity manipulation, and a persistent gap between peace agreements and implementation. At the same time, community resilience emerged as an underutilized asset for peacebuilding. The roundtable reaffirmed the relevance of reflexive dialogue as both a diagnostic and mobilizing tool, highlighting the need for integrated reforms that link governance, economic justice, social cohesion, and the structured inclusion of youth and women to advance sustainable peace in the DRC.