Mobile Peace Team (MPT) June-December Report, 2024.

On June 8, 2024, everyday gandhis (eg) reinitiated the MPT after about a year of pause, now in full swing at the hands of Benedict, eg member with a background in peacebuilding. The circle was held at the Foya Youth Center, in Lofa County, participants were invited from Sierra Leon and Guinea Conakry, bordering communities. The MPT program is designed in such a way as to remain inclusive, foster peace, and maintain peace in the region, which was once a volatile region with devastating civil wars.

Therefore, the communities engaged fully take part in the planning and implementation. Fifty (50) people attended the circle, actively engaging on questions like “What can we do as a region to prevent conflict from spilling out of control?”  The most logical way understood from participant contributions can be summed into ‘continuous peace awareness through circles and sports which increase bordering communities’ interactions and interconnective (family and friendship). Also at the governmental level, making their improvement crucial. Some of the participants play the role of interpreters to make sure everyone fully participates

The circle ended with a take-home message from Oren Tamba Jame, “As we go back to our various homes in our communities, let’s remember our responsibility as a peacebuilder and continue to promote peace in our communities, starting at home, and neighboring regional communities.”

As we are dealing with three (3) regional communities, we have planned to keep the MPT rotational, this enables active engagement among bordering communities and sharing of knowledge and cultural values, as well as promoting inclusiveness, in other words, making the host community feel a part of the whole peacebuilding activities. Therefore, on Friday, August 30, 2024, Liberia and Guinea Conakry participants met in Sierra Leone, Koindu Town for an Inter-tribal circle discussion. Participants included men, women, and the youth to promote peace and cooperation by identifying possible flashpoints and ways to resolve them peacefully.

The circle began with active participant engagement, sharing of their personal experiences on the importance of maintaining peace in the region, peaceful ways to resolve conflict, especially tribal conflict, how to overcome challenges in the process of a peaceful resolution, and the benefits that come with it. During the circle, many participants realized the benefits of such a wonderful discussion that helped increase their understanding of resolving conflict and dispute peacefully. Some of the benefits identified in the circle include dismantling stereotypes, fostering empathy, strengthening relationships, building networks of support and collaboration, providing a platform for marginalized voices, and love and unity.

Mr. Fayiah Yila (Guinea) eg focal person stressed the need for this kind of circle discussion in the region, to bring about mutual respect and sharing of cultural values and ideas.  Mahawa Sam (Sierra Leone) highlighted the negative impacts of neglecting valuable cultural norms during the war, which at some point still attracts the need for such a program, where community dwellers can be the basic element for peace driving force in the region.  

Lastly, the event was the first of its kind, with ninety (90) participants discussing the root causes of tribal conflict in the region and possible ways to resolve them peacefully. They extended their gratitude to everyday gandhis and its supporters for embarking on such an indigenous way of problem-solving which minimizes the likelihood of conflict in the region.  They also recommend that eg continue to remain in their community working with them in various aspects including peacebuilding, environmental protection, and permaculture (eco-friendly farming).