Kigali: Closing of the 3rd « Youth for Peace » Symposium, a Breath of Hope for the Great Lakes Region

The Youth Peace Network in the Great Lakes Region (RPJ-GL), supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the State of Baden-Württemberg, the dioceses of Freiburg and Rottenburg-Stuttgart, and the Life and Peace Institute, held the closing ceremony of the 3rd « Youth for Peace » symposium on October 7, 2025, as part of the « Peacebuilding and Cross-Border Resilience in the Great Lakes Region » project, funded by PNUD and the British Embassy in the DRC

For two days, 74 participants young leaders from Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, researchers, and technical and financial partners gathered in Kigali to discuss peace, security, and development issues in the subregion.

Sharing Experiences and Joint Engagement

The main objective of the symposium was to build youth capacity through experience sharing, promoting good peace practices, and mutual learning. Participants evaluated the joint actions identified during the previous symposium in Bukavu in 2024 and planned the next steps through 2029, particularly in the area of action research led by the University of Freiburg (Caritas Studies).

The symposium also laid the foundations for a collaborative framework between the RPJ-GL and civil society organizations engaged in peacebuilding practices, such as the Community of Practices on Peacebuilding (Life and Peace Institute in the DRC) and the African Network for Peace, Reconciliation and Sustainable Development (RAPRED-Girubuntu) based in Germany.

Hopeful Testimonies

The young participants expressed their satisfaction and their desire to combine their efforts to restore peace in the region.

For Itetekane Imbonera, from Burundi:

« Two days to talk about peace means a lot to me. I appreciate this initiative; we learned a lot about the youth, peace, and security agenda. »

Providence Iradukunda, a young person from Rwanda, emphasized the importance of the symposium for living together:

« This symposium was very important for us. I am happy with the time we spent together. » »

Annie Binja, from the DRC, praised the resilience of young people in the face of regional challenges:

« The fact that young people meet and reflect together on perspectives and possible solutions is already a path towards lasting peace. »

Commitments made for lasting peace

Among the commitments made at the end of the conference were:

– The development of a network for communication, collaboration, and training between youth organizations in Burundi, the DRC, and Rwanda.

– Capacity building in peacebuilding.

– The operationalization of a roadmap to promote long-term peace initiatives, particularly through entrepreneurship and economic opportunities.

Participants also expressed their concern about the current situation in the Great Lakes region and reiterated their commitment to playing an active role in peace processes. A call was made to the authorities for the effective implementation of the National Action Plans, in order to strengthen the inclusion of young people in peace, security, and development policies.

The symposium concluded with the planting of a peace tree, a symbol of unity, cohesion, and peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the sub-region.

Par Mitterand Rukozo