CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF IDENTITY CONFLICTS BETWEEN TWA AND LUBA IN KABALO

This work first presents the structural or long-term factors that underlie the conflict. This includes the overall context of the DRC, an overview of decentralization and local governance, and the context of historical relations between the Twa and the Luba. The analysis then turns to the shorter-term factors directly explaining the conflict, which includes access to land, taxation, and local governance, in addition to systematic discrimination against the Twa. This is complemented by an overview of the trajectory of the conflict since the outbreak of violence in 2012-13, and a presentation of the key actors involved. An analysis of the main threats and opportunities from a perspective of conflict transformation is then followed by specific recommendations aimed at promoting the mitigation and resolution of this conflict. A brief conclusion highlights the key role of longer-term interventions and that of the Congolese authorities in resolving the crisis.