Matar Chaib lives in a war zone. His town of Bria, in the Central African Republic, has been controlled by warring armed groups since 2013. Despite living at the heart of conflict, he knew that peace was possible, and knew that he could make a change to help protect the people of the town.
Through outreach towards communities and FARDC commanders, civil-military committees have created space for dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sofia Vinasco-Molina is part of the Truth, Memory and Reconciliation Commission of Colombian Women in the Diaspora (TMRC). The initiative brings together women in London and Barcelona to share their stories and memories of conflict and migration, and to claim a voice in Colombia’s peace process.
Hassan Osman Shuri lives in Garissa, northern Kenya and is the secretary of the Garissa Township Peace Committee.
Albert Atama lives in Aru, a territory in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Uganda and South Sudan. The region has long been affected by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), which moves between the porous borders of the three countries. Albert is the coordinator of peace and reconciliation activities in Aru, and supports young people to find paths away from violence.
Mohammed Arif Urfi is a journalist and filmmaker based in Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistani-administered side of Jammu and Kashmir. Along with three other filmmakers, from either side of the divided region, he has made a series of films highlighting the need for collaboration across the Line of Control (LoC).
Helen Padua is a volunteer at the Teduray Lambangian Women’s Organisation (TLWOI), a federation of 35 community-based women’s organisations of indigenous peoples in the province of Maguindanao in the Philippines. The organisation aims to support the inclusion of indigenous women in decision-making processes, community development projects, and justice and peace.
As Bougainville continues on its journey in implementing its peace agreement, Conciliation Resources has strengthened its relationship with one of the island’s foremost peace advocates, Sister Lorraine Garasu.
The UN will deploy a political mission to Colombia to verify the forthcoming ceasefire. This mission is fundamental to strengthen public confidence in a peace process that may end the longest armed conflict in the American continent.
The transnational nature of armed groups is a hallmark of contemporary conflict in Africa. Our former East and Central Africa Projects Manager, Ned Dalby, shares his reflections.
