Peace is gradually returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the wake of the peace deal signed by the Pygmy and Bantu people to put an end to decades of deadly violence that has killed hundreds.
Pygmies from the ethnic Twa group have been seeking recognition of equal rights with other citizens in the vast, but they regularly come into conflict with Bantus from the ethnic Luba group who regard them as second-class.
In the peace deal signed in Kalemie, capital of Tanganyika province, the Bantu and Pygmies said they were determined to erase the root causes of the conflict and “promote genuine reconciliation and cohabitation”.
Thousands of poisoned arrows were burnt at the ceremony and a tree planted by representatives of the two communities.
