M23 rebels have captured two cities in North Kivu.
The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been in conflict for 30 years.
Millions of people's lives have been affected by the many armed groups in the region.
The most prominent of them is the March 23 Movement (M23), which is widely believed to be supported by neighboring Rwanda – something the Rwandan government has denied.
And M23 fighters have ramped up the violence in recent months. They have captured two towns in recent days and are believed to be 80 kilometers from Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
So can the local leaders bring peace to end the conflict?
Presenter: Cyril Vanier
Guests:
Reagan Miviri – Researcher covering conflicts in the DRC
Solomon Dersso – Founding director of Amani Africa, a Pan-African think tank working on peace, security policy and dialogue in Africa
David Munkley – World Vision's director of conflict response in eastern DRC