22/05/2026
Leo Mboua, one of our peacebuilders in the Central African Republic, travelled to Tiri, near the Central African Republic–Chad border, to spend time at the market alongside local traders and community members.
In 2021, violence affected this borderland community. Rebuilding trust has taken time. Since then, the Concordis team has visited regularly, supporting dialogue between communities and helping people reconnect across the border.
Sustainable peace does not happen overnight. It grows over time, through people choosing to meet, talk, trade, and work alongside one another again and again.
Mornings at Tiri market start early. As the day breaks, traders arrive, setting up stalls for milk, livestock, and goods. Aminata and Kadjidja come with 10 litres of milk, selling out within just 30 minutes. Nearby, Adam, known for his roasted lamb, watches the market come back to life.
In recent months, more traders have been returning. Farmers, herders, and merchants are finding their way back, including those travelling across the border.
In the market, conversations unfold alongside transactions, as locals reconnect through everyday interactions. It looks like an ordinary market day, but in Tiri, these moments are part of something bigger: trust gradually returning to everyday life.