Credit: Medi1news
By Guy Feugap, World BEYOND War’s Africa Organizer, September 27, 2026
Miguel Mumbere Masaisai, 23, died on September 18, 2026, in a traffic accident in the northern part of the Republic of the Congo while cycling from Goma in the DRC to Rabat in Morocco. The Congolese cyclist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was known for his cross-Africa bike rides as part of the “Pedals for Peace” initiative, dedicated to promoting peace and unity. His sudden death sent shockwaves across Africa; we consider him yet another victim of the war that has been ravaging his country for years. World BEYOND War salutes this young man committed to peace in Africa.
As a reminder, the Democratic Republic of Congo is caught up in a violent conflict fueled over the past three decades by political instability, resource exploitation and foreign interference. On January 27, 2025, the provincial capital of North Kivu, Goma, was seized by the M23 rebels alongside which the Rwandan army has been intervening since the beginning of 2024. The World BEYOND War chapter in South Kivu (DRC), the Peace Organization for Development Opportunities (OPOD/asbl) and all of the World BEYOND War chapters in Africa have condemned the atrocities in DRC and called on the United Nations to urgently take action to address this critical situation.
On June 27, 2025, a peace agreement was signed between the DRC and Rwanda under the aegis of the United States. Although it marks a step forward in the peace process, it raises doubts about the real intention to break with the logic of exploitation and interference that has fueled these conflicts. Regarding the agreement, we keep calling for:
- Total transparency of the clauses of the agreement;
- Meaningful participation of Congolese and Rwandan civil society in the implementation process;
- A moratorium on mining in conflict areas until a local citizen control mechanism is put in place;
- The cessation of hostilities and the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory;
- The full restoration of State authority in occupied areas, the respect of the DRC’s territorial integrity and border inviolability, and genuine bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect;
- The guarantee of national security and public peace, as well as the unhindered movement of people and goods across the country;
- A military disengagement with support focused on social reconstruction and restorative justice.
Mumbere Masaisai’s death should draw even more attention to the situation in the DRC. Join us in maintaining active vigilance on the DRC peace process.
