** Mérédis Houmounou: an athletic gesture in the service of humanitarian awareness **
Since the beginning of 2025, Mérédis Houmounou, a basketball player in the Orleans Loiret Basket team, has chosen to express their humanitarian concerns on the playground. Each time the anthem of the National Basketball League sounds, he raises a hand to his mouth and puts two fingers on his temple. This gesture, which he initiated, makes resonate an important message: “Silence, we kill in my country”. This is not only a symbolic act, but also a rallying cry in the face of an pressing humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the east of the country, where the conflict has intensified.
### a complex humanitarian context
The situation in the DRC is marked by decades of violence and conflicts, often concentrated in the east of the country, where armed groups perpet abuses. The M23, a rebellious group which recently made the front page of the news, aroused increasing concern due to the climbing of tensions and the humanitarian impact on local populations. Thousands of people have been moved, leaving their homes behind, and many have lost their lives in this chaotic context.
Mérédis Houmounou, born in Nancy of parents from Congo-Brazzaville, feels this reality in a personal and direct way. His approach goes beyond the simple sporting act; It is part of a need to raise collective conscience on a crisis that seems distant for many, but which affects millions of lives. “I started to do so following the advance of the M23,” he says.
### A awareness message
The choice of Mérédis to wear this gesture in his matches raises questions about the role of athletes in socio -political discussions. While many athletes choose to focus on their performance on the field, Houmounou recalls that athletes also have a voice that can influence public opinion. “My means of expression is the field, so I decided to make this gesture that means ‘silence, we kill in my country'”, he explains. This choice indicates a rare social conscience and a desire to contribute positively to the evolution of its community of origin.
Although he may not have received a significant response from the National Basketball League, Mérédis underlines the support of his team, his teammates and the public. This raises an interesting reflection: how can sport, as a platform, be used to debate often neglected subjects?
### Commitment beyond the field
Mérédis’ initiative does not stop at his gesture on the ground. He also founded the association “Sikalobi”, which is dedicated to waste management in Kinshasa, capital of the DRC. This project illustrates a desire for social and environmental transformation in a country where ecological issues are often abandoned. Sikalobi, a word in lingala meaning “new tomorrow”, symbolizes the hope of improving living conditions through education and awareness.
The association aims to approach a major problem: waste management in a city that produces thousands of tonnes every day. Mérédis understood that the education of young generations is crucial to change behavior and fight against negative perceptions on the environment. The educational book that he developed with the Dutch organization Happy Green World is a convincing example of this preventive approach.
### Challenges and perspectives
Despite laudable initiatives, Mérédis recognizes the challenges of his project to create a waste sorting center in Kinshasa. “When we talk about waste in Africa, it doesn’t make anyone dream,” he said, emphasizing the fight to attract investments and change mentalities. This observation deserves special attention, because it reflects the systemic obstacles to which many development initiatives are faced with Africa.
The road to a sustainable transformation of waste management in the DRC is strewn with pitfalls, but concrete actions, although modest, can positively influence the community. The support of the basketball club and the organization of financing campaigns show that synergies can be created between the sports world and social initiatives.
### Conclusion
The commitment of Mérédis Houmounou within the sports community testifies to an increasing awareness among athletes of their role as an agents of change. Through its actions in the field and beyond, it offers a model of social responsibility which deserves to be praised and amplified. Sports gestures can transcend simple entertainment to become messages of message and awareness on crucial issues. While the DRC faces immense, colorful challenges, voices like that of Mérédis could help to forge a better future.