In Butembo, in the province of North Kivu, a wave of emotion and civic commitment swept through the population on Friday, October 5, 2025. Citizen organizations gathered within the Synergy of Citizen Movements and Pressure Groups held a symbolic rally at the VGH roundabout in the city center, marked by the lighting of candles in tribute to the victims of armed conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The event aimed not only to express compassion for bereaved families but also to reignite debate on the alarming security situation in the region. Through this initiative, organizers renewed their key demands to the authorities: an end to the state of siege, the effective restoration of peace, and the opening of judicial proceedings against individuals arrested for alleged collaboration with the ADF.
According to the Synergy’s spokesperson, Jean-Pierre Kasma, the mobilization is part of a broader movement of citizen awakening. He condemned the lack of concrete action on the ground, noting that some soldiers remain in administrative posts while combat zones are critically understaffed. He also deplored the absence of trials despite repeated arrests of suspects.
In a spirit of solidarity, the Synergy also plans a humanitarian outreach the following Friday to assist war-displaced people living in Butembo, particularly those arriving from Manguredjipa, Vuyinga, Byambwe, and other areas affected by insecurity.
The organizers are issuing an urgent call for public generosity, encouraging residents to donate food, clothing, and other essential items to support the indirect victims of the war, especially orphans and displaced families.
This initiative is part of the weekly program known as “Friday of Memory and Solidarity,” established by the Synergy. Each week, an activity is organized in remembrance of the victims of massacres attributed to the ADF in North Kivu. During the very first edition, the city of Butembo observed a full day without activities, underscoring the magnitude of citizen mobilization.
Maua Grace