Baseline Results: Tenure Security and Land Conflict in Beni Territory, DR Congo

Abstract

This paper aimed to shed light on land tenure security and the dynamics of land conflicts in such a war-prone zone like Beni territory. The design of the study was descriptive and cross-sectional using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. A total number of 1080 household participated in the survey and 19 institutions were included in the key informant interviews. Secondary sources were used in the quantitative approach as well such as reports, research articles and magazines. The findings indicates that tenure security is unknown and often misunderstood by majority of the people in Beni territory. The land registry coverage is 5%. The land administration does not have the legitimacy on the ground even if it is one of the greatest governmental institution with a legal authority over land. Only 34% of the study respondents affirmed having trust in the Land Administration. The classification results of land conflicts in terms of people's involvement criteria showed that individual disputes are the most frequently occurring followed by collective land conflict and lastly community land conflicts. Customary institutions were found to be the most involved in conflict resolution initiatives.