缅北禁地

Called 鈥淧eace begins with me鈥� the poem pays tribute to the strength and resilience of communities affected by conflict as well as those who help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods. It is a reminder of our responsibility to promote peace in our communities, countries and across the world 鈥撎齛 conviction that has driven more than two million men and women to serve in over听听since 1948.听听

鈥淧eace means everything to me鈥� says Pacifique Akilimali, who penned the poem with Nigerian peace activist and poet Maryam Abu Hassan. 鈥淭he only thing I know since I was born is war鈥� peace has been a dream for a long time now.鈥澨�听

Pacifique, who works in the aviation team at the听听(MONUSCO), grew up in听听in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a region affected by decades of violence between armed groups.听听

鈥淎ll the wars and conflicts have gotten us nowhere,鈥� adds Maryam, a native of Nigeria鈥檚 northern听听where relentless insurgency and violent extremism has plagued people for more than a decade.听听

It was in this state nine years ago that close to 300 schoolgirls, also known as the听, were kidnapped by the armed separatists, Boko Haram. Today, many of them are still missing.听听

For Maryam, 鈥減eace is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. Everyone deserves to have and find peace.鈥�

Growing up in Goma, North Kivu听

鈥淕rowing up in North Kivu in the DRC was not easy at all,鈥� says Pacifique.听听

In 1994, the year he was born, the genocide in Rwanda plunged听听into one of the deadliest conflicts in the history of Africa. According to the International Rescue Committee, from 1998 to 2007,听听died due to the conflict in the DRC.听听

鈥淚n 1997, I was a refugee with my whole family. My dad and I were captured by a group of rebels, and my dad was about to be shot because some military thought he was in a different ethnic group,鈥� says Pacifique, adding that his father narrowly escaped death when one of the rebel chiefs recognized him and let them go.听听

鈥淚 remember when the 缅北禁地Mission came to my country and my dad told me that these people are coming to bring us peace.鈥澨�

In 1999, the UN听Security Council听established the听听(MONUC) to monitor the听听between the DRC and neighbouring Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.听听

More than a decade later, the Council created MONUSCO as an extension of MONUC, widening the new听听to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, and help former combatants disarm and reintegrate into society, as armed conflict persisted particularly in the east.听听

Speaking of the fortitude of communities in North Kivu who have seen so much violence and suffering, Pacifique says 鈥淕oma town is still living. If you come to this town, you will wonder how these people can be happy, sing, dance, love, and hope in such conditions of living. All of us here hope for peace, and we pray for it.鈥澨�

Finding ways to thrive in Borno state听

Maryam feels equally inspired by the strength of the people in Borno state which has been an epicentre of violent extremism and terrorism in Nigeria and across the Sahel region over more than a decade.听听

Armed conflict, incited by groups like the Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, has led to the displacement of an estimated听听today, many of them women and children, who are still unable to return home because of unpredictable attacks against civilians.听听听

鈥淏orno is widely reported to be an area affected by conflict, violence and insurgency,鈥� says Maryam. 鈥淲hat is also true is that there is so much more to us than this singular narrative.鈥澨�听

鈥淏orno is a culturally rich and diverse state, with a vibrant history and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Despite all we have been through, we have found ways to thrive.鈥澨�