Coordination des Paysans Pisciculteurs du Kivu (COPPI)

Based in Uvira, Eastern DRC, Coordination des Paysans Piscicultures du Kivu (COPPI) has been working with Baka communities since 2003 to support them to improve their livelihoods and their access to land and natural resources.

COPPI is working with the Rainforest Foundation UK(RFUK) to secure land for the marginalised and discriminated against Twa communities of Eastern DRC. For the Twa expulsion from their lands has been either a reality or a constant threat for many years

The expulsion of Twa from the Kahuzi Biega national park in the 1970’s has caused massive displacement and poverty, with far reaching consequences. However threats to Twa peoples’ lands and livelihoods continue as companies prospecting for and exploiting minerals move through Mwenga territory. Villagers from Shabunda have already been forced to leave by the actions of a mining company Sominki.

In relation to the rest of the population, the Twa people in the Mwenga territory are marginalised and vulnerable. They suffer discrimination and often work in conditions of near slavery on other peoples land. Actions that the state takes to improve access to healthcare, education or credit, are not extended to the Twa peoples, and there are no special measures to ensure that Twa peoples can enjoy their full rights as citizens. Although ‘customary’ land rights exist, these are always claimed by other sections of the population, which dominate the local administrative structures.

However, in the village of Mulenge, Twa people have identified the opportunity to secure the land rights to approximately 200 hectares of land on which they have been settled for many years. One of the innovations of the forest code, passed in 2002, is that communities are able to own areas of forest land where they have customary land rights. For the Twa of Mulenge their claim rests in the fact that Mulenge is the name of a prominent Twa person who lived in the area before colonisation, thus implying long term occupancy.

COPPI and RFUK are working hard to help the community of Mulenga to acquire the land title to increase food security through agricultural production and small animal husbandry.

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