South Africa’s first democratic election, Nelson Mandela’s liberation, the African National Congress (ANC), AMANDLA, and divestment are words and catch phrases that resonate and are reminiscent of the South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. Since the end of the apartheid regime and Mandela’s presidency, the story of the South Africa has moved the world. For many social activists, policymakers, and scholars, the success of the anti-apartheid movement South Africa revived faith that local and global activism, diplomacy, international pressure, and strong economic sanctions can foster change. Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, former Republic of Zaire, is going through a struggle on its own, an apartheid-like regime influenced by local, regional, and international actors against the Congolese people. However, this conflict is less publicised and when it is narrated it is done in a way that disempowers and leaves the Congolese people without any agency.

Unlike the anti-apartheid movement, the Congo’s struggle against these powers is silent, unnoticed by the world, and does not shake the world system to its core. To many the political challenges, the fragile peace in the Kivus, the looting of Congolese resources, and the deterioration of the Congolese economy, despite the country’s wealth, remain unfamiliar. Although there are many layers to problems faced by the Congo – lack of strong leadership, a state in verge of collapse, lack of state cohesion, lack of infrastructures, looting of resources in the east, and a civil war which has claimed 4 million innocent lives – I believe in a brighter future for the Congo and the African continent as a whole.

As a young Congolese woman, I beg to differ and stand to challenge the lack of political will as a means of influencing policymaking by Congolese leaders and the international community. This is the reason I joined Friends of The Congo to raise awareness on the Congo during ‘The Congo Week’ from 19-25 October. During this campaign – ‘Break the Silence’ Congo Week – 35 countries and 135 university campuses and communities participated in a week of activities in solidarity with the people of the Congo. The purpose of the Break the Silence Congo Week was to raise awareness about the situation and mobilise support on behalf of the people of the Congo. The demand for reform is urgent and palpable; although this reform may seem insurmountable it is how the Congolese people and government manage it that will determine the future of the country. By building partnership with those interested in Congolese affairs, the diaspora, and more importantly Congolese on the ground, I am confident that we can influence foreign policy in the West and policymaking in Kinshasa to serve the interests of the Congolese population regardless of ethnicity, religious background, and region of the country.

In the coming years, it important that the government commit to engage in negotiation to end the conflict in the Kivus, building the economic and political institutions that will move the country forward, as resources can be utilised and economic growth promoted through share government revenues equitably. It will be crucial that our leaders look critically at the methods being employed to solve problems in the Congo as they possesses the seeds of its own destruction. We must learn from past mistakes.

As we look to the future, as Congolese, we must make the rights choices. It is my hope that future generations in the Congo will study and look back at this movement, which is working diligently to raise awareness on issues in the Congo, and be proud that for once in our history there were a group of social activists and leaders who made choice to set our country on the right track. The time has passed for great speeches and promises; it is time for action, a time for concrete deeds that will make a difference in the lives of millions of Congolese. As Nnamdi Azikiwe once said ‘show the light and people will follow.’ And today, change is within our grasp.

* Margot Bokanga is the Council for African Studies graduate assistant, School of International Service, at the American University, Washington, DC.
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