On June 4 of each year, we commemorate the 1969 student movement in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This movement was initiated by young students from Lovanium University and other higher institutes in Kinshasa. These students marched in the streets to demand freedom, Africanization and the abolition of dictatorship.
More than 5,000 students participated in this historic event. Among them, Mwamba Symphorien, a committed student, elected mayor of his home, and also a recognized theater actor, who unfortunately lost his life that day.
Despite numerous negotiations with the Party-state government, the students failed to obtain satisfaction. The demonstration was violently repressed by armed soldiers from head to toe. Shots were fired, tear gas was used, and students were injured and killed. This historic march marked a turning point in the political history of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Unfortunately, 54 years later, we see that the social, economic and political situation remains unstable in the DRC, despite the existence of more than 500 political parties. The challenges are numerous, security crises follow one another, while the population continues to suffer.
However, it is important to keep hope alive and keep working for a better future. The visit of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to Goma recently recalls the importance of peace and stability for the development of the region.
Finally, the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in 2024 is a highly anticipated sporting event that could be an opportunity for the country to show its potential and its ability to meet the challenges.