NORTHERN PROVINCE

There is an urgent need to foster the development of unity and reconciliation fora at local levels, Gacaca officials intimated recently.

Gacaca officials have revealed that land wrangles are a major hindrance to unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.

The inyangamugayo said this during a meeting held to form one major forum of unity and reconciliation which will unite different government organs and civil society organizations in the districts.

According to Florida Tuyisenge, Officer in charge of research at the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission-NURC, the forum will collaborate all efforts geared at reconciliation and address challenges borne out of undertaking  unity drives.

She said there was need for ownership of the concept of unity and reconciliation at localized levels through formation of  an early warning and response mechanism to deal with threats targeting groups like the survivors.

The forum shall be headed by the district mayors, and composed of heads of CNJ, CNF, Ibuka, head of religious associations, police and army officers.

Participants pointed out that long lasting steps have been made in unity and reconciliation campaigns nationally adding that  more awareness and discussions on reconciliation at village and cell levels should be held regularly.

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