natChairman of the seven-member mediation committee, Emmanuel Bombande, says the one-month mandate given to the mediation is crucial to restoring calm and setting the foundation for lasting peace in Gbenyiri.
According to him, the immediate focus within the first four weeks is twofold—facilitating the return of displaced persons and designing a community-driven dialogue framework that can sustain reconciliation efforts.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Monday, September 8, he said: “In this one-month span, the emphasis is on securing the return of communities. If all displaced persons can go back safely, that will be a strong start,” Mr. Bombande explained.
“At the same time, we are working with communities to shape how the dialogue will happen. By the end of the four weeks, we expect clarity on the process and what it means in terms of future timelines.”
The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that mediation, rather than commissions of inquiry, offers the best chance of achieving trust and genuine reconciliation among the conflicting parties.
His remarks follow the inauguration of a seven-member mediation committee by Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, tasked with resolving the conflict within a month.
The clashes, which began on August 23, 2025, in Gbenyiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, have spread to nearby villages, resulting in several deaths, destruction of property, and the displacement of more than 50,000 people.
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