The call was made on September 21, 2026, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace. Paulin Livimba Joé, vice-president of the Beni Urban Youth Council, emphasized that peace must be a reality, not just the absence of war, but a culture that promotes security, social cohesion, and peaceful conflict resolution. He made the remarks during a ceremony where the youth of Beni paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the war, women who were decapitated, and girls who were raped.
According to Paulin Livimba Joé, the government's primary responsibility is to guarantee peace to its population. He noted that peace should not be seen as just the end of war, but as a behavior and a culture that is embodied in the community. The vice-president of the Beni Urban Youth Council called for the promotion of social cohesion, living together, and peaceful conflict resolution. He also urged the government to create job opportunities for young people to contribute to their development in a peaceful environment.
The situation in Beni is characterized by persistent insecurity, forced displacement, fear of violence, and the consequences of instability on the youth. Paulin Livimba Joé shared the story of a 30-year-old young person who has never spent a night without fleeing their home, hearing the sound of guns, or fearing decapitation. He emphasized that for such individuals, peace must be a reality. The youth leader proposed that peace be made a common denominator of the population's activities, such as through dance, music, football, theater, and cinema, to promote a culture of peace and coexistence.
Paulin Livimba Joé also called on the international community to make more efforts to ensure peace in the region is a reality, not just a slogan. He suggested that the community can work together to promote peace by rejecting hate speech, manipulation, and other things that can compromise peace. The vice-president of the Beni Urban Youth Council paid tribute to Miguel Masaisai, a cyclist who was killed while advocating for peace through his project "Pedals for Peace."
The theme of this year's International Day of Peace is "Investing in Peace: For All, Everywhere, Every Day." The day's significance is that peace goes beyond the absence of war; it represents the foundation of security, dignity, and daily cooperation. This edition highlights the "daily artisans of peace" who work through local initiatives to strengthen the stability of their communities.
The Beni Urban Youth Council's call for peace and stability comes as the region continues to face numerous challenges. The youth leader's proposals aim to address these challenges by promoting social cohesion, peaceful conflict resolution, and job creation for young people. By making peace a sustainable culture, the youth of Beni can work towards a brighter future.
Key points
- The youth of Beni are urged to make peace a reality and a sustainable culture in their community.
- The government's primary responsibility is to guarantee peace to its population.
- The international community is called upon to make more efforts to ensure peace in the region is a reality.
