Abstract
Action planning followed a diagnosis of the problem reported in chapter ten. There was the need to implement and evaluate restorative justice peacemaking circles (RJPCs) as part of action research. This intervention aimed to address the impasse in justice for young soldiers and facilitate their social reintegration. The findings show a strong correlation between sets of independent variables, grouped under justice issues and social and economic security (poverty and interethnic conflicts), that cause the perpetuation of the child soldiering practice (dependent variable). The research team adopted restorative justice, which emerged from the search conference report as a necessary to address the need for accountability for former child soldiers. This should be incorporated into community-based reintegration programmes in North Kivu.
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Notes
- 1.
Focus groups with former child soldiers in Rutshuru, 25 May 2014; and in Masisi, 10 June 2014 (North Kivu).
- 2.
Names of child soldiers at three interim centres (Nyahanga, Kiwanja and Masisi) were found in the registries accessed with the permission of Caritas Goma and Union for Peace and the Promotion of Child Rights (UPEDECO). Gatekeepers were obtained from these institutions to conduct the study.
- 3.
The research team was made of the main investigator (the author), Mr. Patrick Kibonza (a lawyer), Mr. A. Kahatwa (a high school principal), Mr. M. Muzige (a government official), and Miss Sandrine Kayandi (a law student at the University of Goma).
- 4.
See expounded research designs, methods and data collection in Chap. 9.
- 5.
See Chap. 9 on research designs, methods and data collection.
- 6.
See Chap. 7 on restorative justice and peacemaking circles.
- 7.
The narratives are from personal interviews with self-demobilised child soldiers that took place on 11 June 2014 in Masisi, in the common room of the CTO. These transcripts from peacemaking circles were translated from the Kiswahili local language into French by the research team (co- researchers) and into English by the principal researcher.
- 8.
See phase one discussed in Chap. 10 where the problem is diagnosed.
- 9.
Transit and Orientation Centres are care facilities where child soldiers who exit armed groups are received under the protection of MUNUSCO. These children receive primary psychosocial support before family reunification. There are 5 centres in North Kivu that are supported and taken care of by Caritas Goma , a Catholic charitable organisation. Child soldiers feel safe and welcome in these facilities where they share their experiences in the transition from soldiering to civilian life. The records reported here come mainly from CTO Masisi and CTO Nyahanga in Rutshuru Districts.
- 10.
The Nyatura constitutes the Congolese Hutu militia originally from Rwanda and established in the Masisi district.
- 11.
Personal interview with Bahuma, Masisi, 12 June 2014.
- 12.
Personal interview with Katamasoko, a former child soldier, Masisi Centre, 14 May 2014.
- 13.
Personal interview with Nev Gib, Masisi, 12 June 2014.
- 14.
Personal interview with Advocate identified as Mr. Go, Goma, 15 May 2014. He is a law practitioner involved in the defence of child soldiers and has handled court cases of rape victims. He works for a local NGO in Goma.
- 15.
Personal interview with Nev Gib, Masisi, 12 June 2014.
- 16.
Personal interview with the cook of CTO Masisi, 11 June 2014.
- 17.
Personal interview with Mabe, CTO Masisi, 11 June 2014.
- 18.
Reported by a former child soldier during RJPC Kiwanja, 22 May 2014.
- 19.
Reported by a former child soldier reports during RJPC at Kiwanja, 22 May 2014.
- 20.
Reported by a former child soldier commander during RJPC at Kiwanja, 22 May 2014.
- 21.
Reported by a former child soldier at RJPC at Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 22.
A female rape survivor reporting during peacemaking circles at Kiwanja, 22 May 2014. During the follow-up study in December, the same lady fell victim again while working in the field and suffered the same atrocities (interview with her nephew, a former child soldier, Rutshuru, 5 December 2014).
- 23.
A teacher, survivor of kidnapping and beating, reporting during peacemaking circles at Kiwanja, 22 May 2014.
- 24.
A girl learner participant in RJPC narrated the killing of her grand-mother by non-identified armed men.
- 25.
Alpha Delta was one of the facilitators of peacemaking circles. He works as a humanitarian agent who helps survivors of armed conflict. He agreed to co-research with the team and co-facilitated peacemaking circles. He encouraged victims and their supporters to forgive child soldiers and using his family ordeal to illustrate the power of forgiveness that has helped the family heal.
- 26.
A teacher, forced by a girl soldier to transport her looted goods, statement taken during RJPC at Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 27.
Voice, a former child soldier’s mother. Her reaction during RJPC at Rutshuru where she accompanied her son who has exited armed groups, 22 May 2014.
- 28.
Alpha Delta’s report during RJPC at Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 29.
Personal interview with Patient (member of an NGO), Rutshuru, 25 May 2014.
- 30.
Statement by François, during peacemaking circles at Goma, 2 June 2014.
- 31.
Personal interview with Patient, Rutshuru, 26 May 2014.
- 32.
Personal interview with Gilba, Goma 15 May 2014.
- 33.
Personal interview with Alpha Delta, Rutshuru, 26 May 2014.
- 34.
Personal interview with Maître Go, Goma, 15 May 2017.
- 35.
Personal interviews at the CTO Masisi with the staff, Masisi, 10 June 2017.
- 36.
Focus groups with high school boys and girls aged between 14 and 17 in Kiwanja, 19 May 2014. Some of them have participated in hostilities in this Mai-Mai stronghold.
- 37.
Search Conference report, Rutshuru, 20 May 2014.
- 38.
Focus group with former child soldiers of Bustani high school at Mutiri village, Masisi District, 10 June 2014.
- 39.
Second series of private contacts with victims and child soldiers for their eventual participation in RJ circles, and focus groups discussions with learners at Rutshuru secondary school, 21 May 2014.
- 40.
Ngola or Kisolo (also spelled Chisolo) is a traditional game played in many African Countries and in the DR Congo. It is based on simple mathematic rules of putting three seeds in each pit. This exercise is used as part healing of memories as child soldiers concentrate on the calculations around the seeds to drop in each hole, thus turning their minds away from traumatic and sorrowful memories.
- 41.
Focus group discussion with teachers of Bustani high school, Mutiri village (Masisi District), 10 June 2014.
- 42.
The findings are based on search conference reports at various levels of the intervention (conception, implementation, and evaluation).
- 43.
Report form the psychologist who handled the mental and psychological wellbeing of released young soldiers, Nyahanga, 26 May 2014.
- 44.
Reaction by a schoolboy during peacemaking circles, Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 45.
Search Conference report, Rutshuru, 20 May 2014.
- 46.
Reported by Alpha Delta, a father whose two daughters were abducted by young soldiers and taken to the bush where they were systematically abused and raped for seven days before they were released. He co-facilitated healing circles with one of the girl survivors. He expressed that the family had forgiven the aggressor and was not intending to pursue the matter in criminal court. Healing circle in Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 47.
Search conference report, approved, Rutshuru, 20 June 2014, appendix 3.
- 48.
Ibid.
- 49.
Ibid.
- 50.
Statement by a high school girl participating in healing circles, Rutshuru, 22 May 2014.
- 51.
Search conference report, approved, Rutshuru, 20 June 2014, appendix 3.
- 52.
Ibid.
- 53.
Ibid.
- 54.
Ibid.
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Kiyala, J.C.K. (2019). Restorative Justice Peacemaking Circles and Child Soldiering. In: Child Soldiers and Restorative Justice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90071-1_12
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