Mbandaka, January 8th, 2026 (CPA). The disseminators of the law on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples have been trained on the merits of this law during a workshop in Mbandaka, chief town of the province of Equateur, north-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CPA has learned on Thursday from the organisers.
‘I have come to Mbandaka to train the promoters of the law, that is to say the ambassadors of the PATTE law, so that they can not only promote this law but also train other promoters within local communities,’ has declared Altesse Djuma, an expert in environmental civil society. He has added that before defending their interests, it is essential to have a good understanding of their rights. ‘It is not just a question of training advocates, but of enabling them to understand Law No. 22/015 of July 15th, 2022, on the protection and promotion of indigenous Pygmy peoples in DRC, chapter by chapter and article by article, before using the various tools at their disposal,’ he has explained. Mr Djuma has also drew public attention to the existence of this law, which was promulgated in 2022 by the Head of State, emphasising the need for everyone to be aware of it. ‘That is why our organisation, the Dynamique des groupes des peuples autochtones (DGPA), has made available outreach tools translated into four national languages, namely Kikongo, Kiswahili, Tshiluba and Lingala, so that everyone can understand it properly,’ he has specified. For his part, Gylain Mambe, one of the participants and a member of the DGPA, has congratulated the organisers on the relevance of the training. « This training has given us a better understanding of the law enacted in our favour. In particular, I have understood Article 10, which prohibits all forms of torture against indigenous Pygmy peoples, as well as Article 22, which stipulates that Pygmy children must not pay school fees and must receive free education, » he has indicated. This two-day workshop, organised by the DGPA, has received financial support from the Rai Foundation Norway (RFN). According to the organisers, it has brought together several civil society actors as well as leaders of indigenous Pygmy peoples.