Maternal mortality in Nigeria is a public health issue deeply anchored in the country’s socio-cultural fabric. With one in 100 women succumbing during childbirth and nearly 29 % of global maternal deaths occurring in its borders in 2023, this health crisis highlights complex challenges, ranging from fragile health systems to the interaction between modern medical practices and local traditions. In this context, health professionals, such as the Zainab midwife, endeavor to provide care in often difficult conditions, while expressing the hope of a positive change. The response to this problem requires a global approach, integrating education, adequate resources and communities’ commitment. Each of the lost lives represents unrealized aspirations and poignantly recalls the crucial importance of guaranteeing quality care and accessible for all women.
Mali is going through a period of delicate and complex political transformation, marked by the instability consecutive to the 2020 military coup. In this context, the emergence of the Patriotic Resistance Front (FPR), initiated by Aliou Boubacar Diallo – which has been expressed since exile – raises fundamental questions on the democratic aspirations of Malians and the political dynamics. encountered by the current transition, as well as persistent tensions between military authority and opposition. With the V3R scheme he proposes, which advocates the truth, recognition, reparation and reconciliation, he invites us to consider ways towards a constructive dialogue and a return to constitutional order. This situation calls for a reflection on the potential of an inclusive commitment, while reporting the responsibility of the international community in the face of Mali’s sovereignty. While the challenges remain numerous, can political actors find a consensus to build a peaceful and democratic future for the country?
On June 9, 2025, the interception of the Madleen humanitarian sailboat by Israeli forces illustrated the deep tensions that persist around the question of Gaza, mixing humanitarian, political and media issues. This raid, which notably involved Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, aroused various reactions as to the legitimacy and the need for Israeli actions to guarantee her security in the face of perceived threats, such as the transfer of weapons to Hamas. Through this event, cracks are emerging in international discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the complexity of a context where human rights, national security and humanitarian expectations are colliding. By posing this reality on the table, it becomes essential to open a space for thoughtful dialogue, capable of considering the perspectives of the different stakeholders to promote a future where constructive solutions could emerge.
On June 8, 2025, the presentation of a thousand bags of cement at the official University of Ruwenzori (Uor) in Butembo by the governor of North Kivu, Evariste Kakule Somo, presented himself as a promising moment for the education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This initiative is part of a context where education faces many challenges, including the need to modernize often dilapidated infrastructure. Through this aid, the UOR hopes not only to improve its facilities, but also stimulate a broader dialogue on the need for a collective commitment to education. However, the sustainability of these efforts and the real impact of such initiatives raise questions on the sustainable mobilization of resources and the improvement of the quality of education. This dynamic underlines in particular the shared responsibility between the authorities, the private actors, and the community, in order to build a solid educational future.
The meeting opposing Monaco de Boma to FC Renaissance du Congo, which was held at the Tata RaphaΓ«l stadium, illustrates not only sports issues, but also social and cultural dynamics within football in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The impressive victory of the Boma team raises questions about the conditions of preparation, both technical and mental, clubs, as well as the expectations of supporters who can influence the yields of the players. By observing the divergent performances of the two teams, avenues for reflection emerging concerning the development of local football, unequal access to resources and the importance of sporting events as levers for social cohesion. Through this analysis, we can consider the impact that successes like this could have on young talents and the future of Congolese football, while noting the challenges that persist in a complex context.
Tuberculosis, an infectious disease that still affects millions of people around the world, presents a particularly complex reality in the Niania health area, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. With notable growth in the number of cases in 2024, exceeding 250, the situation raises crucial questions about the contributing factors. Dr. Joseph Pemanakue, chief doctor of the area, evokes elements such as tobacco consumption and precarious living conditions related to mining, exacerbating a cycle already difficult to break. The significant mobility of local populations complicates more access to care and continuity of treatments, contributing to the resurgence of multi-resistant tuberculosis strains. Through an exploration of these issues, it seems fundamental to consider adapted strategies that take into account the specificity of this context. This reflection on tuberculosis in Niania is therefore a gateway to broader questions about public health challenges in vulnerable regions.
As part of socio -cultural developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the recent recording of around 150 marriages in the commune of Kinshasa in the space of five months raises relevant questions about duality between traditions and modernity. While civil marriage, often perceived as a heavy act of administrative formalities, could offer legal protection to couples, certain challenges remain, in particular with regard to access to the necessary steps. The analysis of this trend invites us to reflect on the role and recognition of marriage in modern Congolese society, between respect for traditions and the need for adaptation to current realities. This phenomenon thus raises the question of collective commitment to inform, facilitate and enrich the perception of this institution within a population in full transformation.
The prize for ecological literature (Liteco), recently organized in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is part of an approach aimed at awakening the environmental consciousness of young people through literary creativity. By bringing together 183 students from Kinshasa, this event highlights the commitment of a new generation in the face of the crucial challenges of the preservation of nature, especially in a country confronted with deforestation. With rigorous selection criteria, the competition does not only offer recognition of talents, but also seeks to arouse collective reflection around individual and social responsibility towards the environment. Teachers and organizers emphasize the importance of establishing a harmonious connection between man and nature, thus stressing the transformative potential of education in matters of ecological consciousness. This initiative, although encouraging, raises the question of its expansion and its sustainability across the country, while opening tracks of reflection on the role that young people can play in the defense of their natural heritage.
The rehabilitation of Kasa-Vubu avenue in Kinshasa marks a significant step in improving urban infrastructure in the city, after years of degradation that have impacted both traffic and local economic activities. This project, initiated by the Town Hall and executed by the Safrimex company, arouses hopes of renewal among the inhabitants of the commune of Kalamu. However, behind this initiative are emerging from complex issues related to infrastructure management, the involvement of citizens and the sustainability of the work undertaken. Indeed, the success of the site and its integration into a broader planning plan raise questions on the ability of the authorities to respond effectively to the expectations of the population while ensuring inclusive economic development for the entire Congolese capital. This project could thus be perceived not only as an answer to an immediate problem, but also as an opportunity to reflect on models of management of urban infrastructure in a context of rapid growth.
From June 12 to 14, 2025, the city of Kinshasa will host the 2nd edition of Cubano-Congolese exchanges evenings at the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This event aims to strengthen cultural and economic links between Cuban and Congolese entrepreneurs, in a context where the DRC, rich in its natural resources and its cultural diversity, seeks to navigate the challenges linked to its development and its political instability. The approach put forward evokes a partnership based on the mutual exchange of know-how, particularly in the fields of culture and education. However, this commitment raises questions about the nature of interactions between countries with so different realities and how to ensure that the benefits of this cooperation are truly shared. In short, these evenings may well constitute an authentic dialogue space, but will require vigilance in order to avoid potential drifts and ensure reciprocal enrichment.