On June 19, 2024, AFJN partnered with Aimable Mugisha and his music band, Amahoro Youth (Youth for Peace), to promote peaceful coexistence, unity and diversity while celebrating the 15th anniversary of this traditional Hutu tribe music band. AFJN message was read by Justin Bizimana, Program Coordinator with a local organization called “Conseil pour la Protection et la Promotion de la Femme et de l’Enfant (CPPFE)” (Council for the Protection and Promotion of Women and Children).
Dear compatriots,
All protocols observed,
Today, we gather with a shared vision and a common goal. We are here to celebrate peace, something that requires courage, unity, and unwavering commitment. It is with this spirit that I address you today on behalf of one of the sponsors of this event, the African Faith and Justice Network, a Catholic advocacy organization based in Washington DC, which has been advocating for the DRC since its inception 40 years ago.
In today’s context, we must not lose sight of the important work of building peace focused on peaceful coexistence among the members of this great nation, particularly the province of North Kivu. Peaceful coexistence means “Anyone who raises a machete against another person because of their ethnicity does so against all Congolese.” These words resonate deeply within all of us. They reflect the collective cry of a nation tired of ethnic wars, a nation aspiring to a future free from the shadows of violence and division. We are tired of bloodshed, tired of hatred, and tired of the senseless suffering that has plagued our beloved DRC.
We have decided to build a new Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this peaceful nation, everyone, regardless of their ethnic origin, can live with dignity and respect. Today, armed groups that were once motivated by ethnic animosity have reached out in peace and are fighting against a common enemy, the Rwandan army, which occupies a significant part of our country and continues to kill our compatriots. They have chosen the path of unity, understanding that our common land, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, belongs to all of us. After liberating our entire country, we wish for neither them nor any of us to return to ethnic wars.
Let us all strive to realize our dream of peace. Making this dream a reality starts with each of us. Anyone who raises a hand against another person because of their ethnicity should know that they do not do so on behalf of their ethnic group, as they have not been consulted and do not have the mandate to kill in their name. Those who commit these heinous acts gain nothing; on the contrary, they carry the permanent trauma of violence. Meanwhile, those who manipulate them remain safe, enjoying their family life and negotiating peace away from danger. Why should we bear the burden of trauma for no reason?
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is forbidden to discriminate and even less to use violence against another because of who they are. We are a nation composed of many ethnicities. It is our choice, our decision, to be peacemakers. We must live in peace with those who are different from us, in harmony and respect for their differences, just as they respect who we are.
When you kill a person because of their ethnicity, you kill each one of us. Our nation has room for everyone to compete for power through legitimate means, such as political parties. Power gained through violence is a betrayal of our values and our future. You can defend your claims peacefully through justice or advocacy, but never through violence.
Let us choose peace. Let us choose to live together. These are better options, dependent on our commitment and will. That is why we have decided to raise awareness of the need to live together peacefully so that each of us can choose peace.
Let us celebrate our diversity here in North Kivu and throughout the DRC. Our differences are not a source of division but a source of strength, more powerful than any weapon. Together, in unity, we can overcome our challenges and build a future where our children can thrive in a peaceful and prosperous Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Thank you, and may peace be with us all.