We pray and hope, begging foreigners to save us from endless suffering. But the origin of our struggles lies in the colonizers' deliberate destabilization of our region. For decades, our lands have been plundered, our leaders assassinated, and our future betrayed.
Insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has deep historical roots and has persisted for much of the past century.
In the South and East, people have forgotten what peace and freedom feel likeâ€"the joy of home now a distant memory. When borders were drawn, entire communities lost their nations, denied citizenship for generations. Their land was welcomed, yet their rights were stripped away, igniting a struggle for survival.
They have been chased, abandoned, overlooked, humiliated, scarred, tortured, and killed. Many were forced to flee, becoming refugees to save their lives. All this suffering has unfolded before the eyes of international organizations and world leadersâ€"yet nothing has changed.
In eastern Congo, freedom fighters (AFC/M23) are battling for their rights, but the world remains silentâ€"or worse, stands against them. Western media distorts the truth, falsely accusing Rwanda of invading Congolese land, while in reality, Rwanda has been sheltering, treating, and feeding Congolese refugees for decades.
Meanwhile, Congolese leaders deflect responsibility, blaming their neighbors instead of addressing the root causes of their crisis, which stems from decades of persecution and marginalization of the Kinyarwanda speaking minority.
The DRC is not just a nation; it is a treasure trove of resources. And many of its so-called visitors are nothing more than looters. The South has joined hands with foreign powers in a deceptive game, one disguised as support but driven by greed. There are hidden truths behind this warâ€"secrets buried in undisclosed agreements, concealed from public knowledge.
Peacekeeping missions mask ulterior motives. Foreign powers and international organizations operate under the guise of humanitarianism while advancing their own interests. Meanwhile, Congolese soldiers die, families grieve, and millions are displaced.
Who suffers the most from this ongoing tragedy? The Congolese people. We, as Africans, bear the cost. Global leaders fly in, hold meetings, issue reportsâ€"filled with liesâ€"while innocent civilians perish, and our continent's soldiers, including generals, fall in battle.
Natural resources, especially minerals, are the real reason behind the region's instability. If not the only reason, they are certainly the most significant one.
The Berlin Conference stripped Africa of its sovereignty. Colonizers imposed manipulation and called it education. They introduced intimidation and labeled it religion. We have inherited pain, a burden passed down from generation to generation.
My mind is restless, my heart is heavy, my soul is screaming, and my breath is fading.
Africans, imagine our ancestorsâ€"those who died as heroesâ€"watching us now.
What are they thinking? How are they feeling? I am asking!
Brothers and sisters, let us honor the vision of our forefathers who fought relentlessly for African liberation and unity. Kwame Nkrumah, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Patrice Lumumba, Amílcar Cabral, and many others dreamed of a free and empowered Africa, calling us to stand together in solidarity.
Haile Selassie, Jomo Kenyatta, and Muammar Gaddafi envisioned bold projects for African unity and developmentâ€"reminding us of the power of collective strength.
Let us never forget: the tragic assassination of Lumumba, Mandela's unwavering persistence, Sankara's revolutionary spirit, Nyerere's philosophy of self-reliance, and John Pombe Magufuli's tireless drive for development.
And we must also remember the cultural warriorsâ€"Miriam Makeba, Chinua Achebeâ€"who used art and literature to awaken African consciousness. Their sacrifices should fuel our determination to build a united and self-sufficient Africa.
We need a generation united by a single mission: protecting Africa's riches from long-term exploitation.
From Namibia to Libya, Somalia to Guinea, let us rise together and reclaim our continent. Africans, wake up! Stand up! Speak up!
Let us reject dependency on foreign aid. Let us create from within and build legacies that will endure.
If we must die from hunger, let it be while cultivating our own land. If we must die from disease, let it be while building our own hospitals with strong laboratories.
For the generations to come, our sacrifices today will pave the way for a sovereign and dignified Africa.
The writer is a Pan-Africanist and Poet.
Ganza K. Bertin
