Peace over the radio

Awareness training with journalists is supporting the peaceful coexistence of 30,000 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In collaboration with its partners, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has trained up editors from seven local radio stations to become peace journalists. This approach to journalism focuses on social cohesion and positive messaging instead of hatred and division. 

Violence against women and conflicts between neighbouring communities from different ethnic groups still pose a problem in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the Kivu region in the east of the country, the civilian population has been acutely affected by fighting between armed groups that has gone on for almost 30 years. Now, the decade-long conflict between the Government and the M23 rebel group in North Kivu is sliding back into a war-like state. The conflict has also drawn in neighbouring countries, in particular Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. People are dying every day and millions have been displaced.

Incorporating diverse perspectives using the basic principles of journalism 

All the more important, therefore, are measures that provide identification and support. Instead of fuelling conflict, radio is being used to connect people and create mutual understanding. The genocide in Rwanda 30 years ago, where racist propaganda broadcast on radio denigrated the Tutsi ethnic group as cockroaches and worse, showed just what can happen when the media abuses its power. The genocide and resulting conflicts and displacements also triggered violence in Eastern Congo. It is clear that radio has the power to mobilise people. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), radio and peace journalism are being used as a force for good in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.   

The 350 participating journalists come from the affected communities themselves. The training sessions have taught them all they need to know to carry out conflict-sensitive media work and to fulfil their role to provide information and raise awareness professionally and independently. This includes applying the basic journalistic principles of basing reports on several sources and allowing a range of perspectives to be heard. Human rights are also a feature of the course. The journalists are now more aware of their responsibility to report on gender-based violence and recognise the role they can play in conflict prevention and resolution.   

Understanding and resolving land conflicts 

In South Kivu, for example, citizens repeatedly clash over land conflicts. The same piece of land is sometimes claimed by both livestock and arable farmers. Plot boundaries and usage rights are not clearly regulated, and those involved have little knowledge of land law. Cultural and ethnic differences and unemployment exacerbate the problem. 

Gilbert Kwangaba runs the local station Radio Sange: ‘Before the training sessions, we didn’t know what approach to take in a conflict between two parties. Now we know what questions to ask to get to the heart of a problem and how to work with them on finding a solution.’   

With a local journalists’ association, GIZ organises thematic seminars as well as workshops on journalistic issues such as press legislation, administrative and financial management for community radio stations and social media. 

A strong network geared to violence prevention