**Commemoration Cancelled: A Reflection on Memory and Contemporary Reality in the DRC**
February 1, 2025 marked, for many, a day of tribute to the late Étienne Tshisekedi, an emblematic figure in the struggle for democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, the commemorative ceremony for the eighth anniversary of his death has been canceled, a decision revealing the current tensions in the country. In a statement issued by Augustin Kabuya, interim president of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), now in power, this February 1 was designated as a day of meditation, focused on the serious crisis raging in the east of the country, where the Rwandan army and its M23 allies continue to exercise disproportionate violence.
### A Memory in Crisis
The decision to cancel Tshisekedi’s memorial service is all the more poignant as it highlights a devastating dilemma: can collective memory coexist with chaos? The DRC, which has endured decades of instability, finds itself at a crossroads where the ideals held by Tshisekedi seem to be fading in the face of the realities presented by armed conflicts and the suffering of the populations.
Tshisekedi, a former political opponent and former Prime Minister, marked Congolese political history with his determination to promote democracy and civil rights. His death in 2017 in Brussels, followed by the slow pace of his repatriation and funeral, revealed the socio-political fractures at the heart of the DRC. Today, his legacy, although still present, seems derailed by contemporary challenges.
### A Complex Geopolitical Situation
The decision to shelve the commemoration also highlights the impact of international relations on Congolese politics. A recent study of regional dynamics in Central Africa shows that the DRC remains vulnerable to external influence, particularly in the face of expanding Rwandan interests in the country’s mineral resources. The M23’s military incursions and alleged support from Kigali raise questions about the ability of internal actors to resolve their differences without external intervention.
Moreover, this situation highlights another strategic dimension: the DRC’s potential as a country rich in natural resources, ranging from essential minerals to vast agricultural reserves. Failure to secure peace in the east while navigating these geopolitical issues could jeopardize the Congolese’s long-awaited aspirations for sustainable development.
### Towards a collective reflection
In a context where the memory of Tshisekedi is celebrated as much as it is prey to oblivion, it becomes essential to question the way in which the country remembers its heroes. The coin often has two sides: it is essential to recognize the legacy of those who fought for the rights of the people while applying these values to contemporary reality. Meditation, as proposed by Kabuya, can be seen as a call for collective introspection on possible paths towards peace and reconciliation.
The choice not to celebrate this day with festive events could encourage members of the ruling party and citizens to consider concrete actions to address the suffering of the populations of the East. The question is less to commemorate a man than to solve the problems he sought to combat: violence, injustice and the absence of a sustainable democratic framework.
### Conclusion
Finally, the cancellation of the ceremony in memory of Étienne Tshisekedi can be interpreted as a pivotal moment for the DRC. Rather than commemorating a bygone era, it is perhaps time to reorient the legacy of his fight towards concrete objectives that respond to current crises. To honor his memory, it is imperative that the DRC transforms meditation into action, thereby elevating Tshisekedi’s memory to a level where it inspires a new generation to engage in the quest for true peace. Through this reflection, the Congolese could potentially find solutions to current challenges, while placing their struggle for democracy at the heart of tomorrow’s realities.