This Friday, December 27, the city of Goma was the scene of a scene that was both tragic and revealing of the reality of the insecurity that is plaguing the region. Indeed, the inhabitants attended a day of mourning and protest orchestrated by the taxi drivers of the Association of Drivers of Congo (ACCO) in tribute to their tragically murdered colleague, Patrick Ushindi. This young taxi driver was shot dead by armed individuals on the night of Tuesday, December 24, leaving behind shock and pain within the community.
To express their solidarity and indignation in the face of this tragedy, the ACCO taxi drivers decided to set up barricades on the city’s main roads. This symbolic action aimed to pay tribute to the memory of Patrick Ushindi and to raise awareness among the population of the seriousness of the security situation in Goma.
When a comrade is hit in such circumstances, the taxi driver community mobilizes to affirm its solidarity and its refusal to tolerate the rampant insecurity that threatens their profession. By ceasing all activity and erecting barricades, taxi drivers wanted to show their determination to confront this violence and demand justice for their colleague who fell under the bullets of criminals.
The funeral ceremony of Patrick Ushindi, scheduled for today at the Makao cemetery, will be an opportunity for his family, friends and colleagues to pay him a final tribute filled with emotion and solidarity. Despite the sadness and anger caused by this barbaric act, the perpetrators of this crime remain free, leaving a feeling of impunity and concern among the inhabitants of Goma.
On this day of mourning and protest, the taxi drivers of Goma remind everyone that security and peace are precious goods that must be protected and defended. Their act of solidarity and determination resonates as a call to collective action to ensure a safer and more just future for all the inhabitants of the region. May the memory of Patrick Ushindi remain forever engraved in our hearts, as a reminder of the urgency to take action against the insecurity that threatens our society.