All Eyes on Kongo: Our Native Son
This article is a brief summary and reflection of my activities during the month of December. It is written through my lens as a Sociologist and United Nations Association-USA Global Goals Ambassador for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Within this article I will share heavy content speaking to the violence against women and girls, trigger warning for readers who may find these stories too graphic. There are links to safe resources below if you or someone you love are being impacted by violence. I was born in Bronzeville and have generational ties to the land directly receiving my academic training from the educational institutions within this space. Thus I speak from the ground level perspective. In the closing section of this article there is a strong call to action focusing on two points:
- The Call to Action: We must intentionally bring awareness to the silent suffering and struggles of our sons and daughters of the Kongo. Strengthening their resilience by actively seeking organizations ran by native Kongolese, who are working tirelessly to support the peaceful passage and protection of women and children in the Kongo.
In acknowledging Pan-African language, this article may use the "k" in place of the "c" to honor the indigenous Afrikan tongue. This letter reflects the pronunciation of many indigenous Afrikan languages, where the "k" sound is prevalent and considered more authentic than the "c" which is often associated with European linguistic influence; essentially, using "k" is seen as a way to reclaim the original Afrikan spelling and sound when referring to terms like "Afrika" or "Kongo."
During our time together at the DuSable Museum, we acknowledged the struggles of Afrikan people everywhere and placed the Kongo at the top of our conversation. As we celebrated the principle of Ujima, which speaks to making "our community's problems our problems and to solve them together" we can not forget the Kongo. I recalled in 2022 the growing social media plea for the conflict in the Kongo to remain in headline news reports. Internet users shifted into action, urging others to re-post the hashtag "All Eyes on Congo" bringing global awareness to their struggle. Black Americans also begin to keep the Kongo in the forefront of human rights discussions, sharing details about the ongoing conflict. In unity, the Black community used the hashtag as a display of solidarity to the Kongolese. In 2023, Social media posts again began highlighting the gap in coverage, compared to Gaza the Congo conflict seemed to be missing on global platforms. Tragically, Ukraine, Sudan, State of Palestine, and Haiti are all under duress. Congo continues to sit silently suffering in the midst of it all.
Isolated and overshadowed, generations of Kongolese families have been impacted by the combat and power shifts within the country. According to the World Bank Group, DRC is endowed with exceptional natural resources, including minerals such as cobalt and copper, hydropower potential, significant arable land, immense biodiversity, and the world's second-largest rain forest. However, endless civil unrest in the Kongo pushes citizens into a painful position to seek temporary solutions. The unimaginable decision to escape, no citizen should ever have to make. Yet, Kongolese families are forced to flee into neighboring countries or across the world in order to find safety. UNHCR reports that over 7 million Kongolese are internally displaced within the DRC and 1 million are currently seeking asylum outside of their country.
During this Kwanzaa, I had the honor of gaining insight on the conflict in the DRC from one of its native sons, Kenyata Christian Mirindi. Currently residing in Northampton, England and Executive Director of Justice Congo Group, Kenyata became 1 of the 29,009 recorded Kongo born displaced persons to now reside in the UK. Our deep conversation was so heartfelt and powerful it is now the most profound experience I have had (to date) as a United Nations Association-USA Global Goals Ambassador. For the sake of preserving Kenyata's unapologetic and raw experience, I have only included a snippet of our discourse. We will revisit Kenyata's advocacy and activist work during a future blog being published for Black History Month in 2025. Below you will find our interview in direct quote of Kenyata's vision, experience, and work in his leadership role at the Justice Congo Group.
Me: Kenyata how did you decide to get involved in advocacy work?
Kenyata: "Reflecting upon the realities of the tumultuous events unfolding in the war-torn East of Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC my heart is burdened by the weight of memories, vivid and chaotic, that flood my mind. Born and raised in the East part of DRC, I personally witnessed the impact of the war imposed against us, from neighbouring countries including Rwanda and Uganda. This war has so far resulted in millions of deaths. More than 7.3 million of internal displaced refugees (UN report) In addition, millions of women raped and systematically plundering of DRC's natural resources, environmental degradation, child labor..."
Me: How far back does the conflict go in your memory?
Kenyata: "I remember when the local invasion began back in 1997, and I had to run. I helped some Rwandese and Burundians , who were also fleeing, together with a party of Catholic nuns and foreign students, by leading them to my family’s village. Being known in the village, I was able to save them from attack, despite the fact that there were state soldiers there. They were given a compound in which to sleep."
Me: How did those experiences running to find safety shape your work as an advocate now?
Kenyata: "Throughout my journey as both an internal and external refugee, I endured countless trials and tribulations, facing hurdles at every turn until eventually discovering a country of safety and security. I made my way to the UK. But, instead of making myself comfortable in the UK , I have felt it necessary to advocate for vulnerable populations of Congo left behind. I regularly receive reports of the continuing horror and violence in my homeland. In the UK and worldwide , I realised that there was a total lack of public awareness of these multiple horrors. I also noticed that people all over the world have been hearing a lot from the media, social media, regional political entities and geopolitical bodies etc, about the DRC conflict, supposedly ‘between people, tribes, communities, arm groups. Each of these perceptions depends on their points of departures compared to the reality on the ground. All these led me to start the advocacy work. I then started producing campaign ideas prior and in my new activist home, Justice Congo group In an effort to illuminate the depths of darkness shrouding the ongoing events in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."
Me: How long have you been in your advocacy role at Justice Congo now?
Kenyata: "11 years and eight months have elapsed since the inception of my impassioned quest for justice on behalf of my people, the people of the Democratic Rep of Congo where I come from. Despite the inherent challenges and uncertainties that accompany my journey, my commitment to this noble cause remains unyielding, unchanging, and untainted by any external influences."
Me: Do you see a connection with Americans of African descent to the people of the Kongo in regards to advocating for human rights?
Kenyata: "Certainly, without a doubt, it must be emphasized that human rights are indeed universal in nature. It is imperative to acknowledge this fundamental truth. Thus, it is imperative to acknowledge that no matter what your colour, ethnicity, gender or background is, we find ourselves at a crossroads, confronted by this reality of our shared humanity. Human rights is paramount for all American of African descent and people from all nations around. People around the world have been advocating for the cause of Congolese rights although the number of called activists is a decreased to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Americans of African descent of either half descent are all still connected because they do share an Ancestor therefore they are naturally called to advocate for social justice to promote environmental sustainability of DRC and other African nations across the globe. Their ongoing efforts and commitment have served as a powerful testament to the impact of activism on a global scale. On behalf of Justice Congo Group I am of the opinion that an expansion of initiatives and projects focused on diverse areas such as arts, languages, music and architecture is imperative and warranted to stimulate these African people's values in order to pass the human rights message, advocacy for the people of Congo and elsewhere in Africa where atrocities are going on."
Me: How can Americans of African descent support or help the people of the Kongo?
Kenyata: "Individuals of African American heritage have the opportunity to come together and establish a sense of solidarity, forming a cohesive group to work towards common goals. The initial phase of the identification procedure holds paramount importance, as it lays the foundation for the subsequent steps to follow. Embarking on a big picture doesn't always require a massive entourage; sometimes, it only takes a few dedicated individuals who are driven to enact positive transformation for the betterment of Congolese in agony and all of mankind that need support."
Me: True, so how can we as Americans of African descent begin that phase of support?
Kenyata: "By taking small, incremental steps forward, these human rights values and sense of humour can pave the way for a brighter future that benefits everyone in the long run...There exists a mix of exceptional studies addressing the prevalent atrocities ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, yet these remain shelve within the confines of the United Nations system. It necessitates individuals with firm determination to catalyze action and guarantee successful execution. For example the mapping report "The Mapping Report contains details of 617 alleged violent incidents occurring in the DRC between March 1993 and June 2003, during the First and Second Congo Wars. At the time of publication, on 1 October 2010, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said: “The majority of the 617 documented acts of violence can be qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes. Concerning the massacres targeting the Hutu populations between 1996 and 1997, the report indicates that the attacks committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (APR) and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) reveal several damning elements which, if proven in a competent court, could qualify as crimes of genocide”. The Mapping Report contains a plan of action to deal with these appalling and gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, but till now no action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Report. The Report has remained shelved by the United Nations."
Me: Does your organization currently have a relationship with the United Nations or UNA-USA?
Kenyata: "Justice Congo Group has no relation with the United Nation at the moment nor with UNA-USA. Myself and the team submitted a number of written statements and oral statements via an organization, a foundation called the Next century foundation, NCF up to date there is on any connection between Justice Congo Group and the NCF. In the pursuit of global justice, the Justice Congo Group deeply values the opportunity to forge partnerships with the United Nations system or the United Nations Association of the United States of America."
Me: What would you have done differently now that you have your organization established?
Kenyata: "More advocacy work that is inclusive, connects with Congolese in the diaspora and all other Africans and whoever believes in the principle of human rights, democracy and strong institutions. Institutions ready and willing to promote the rights and Justice for the victims of DRC and all other victims of abuses around the world. The idea of Recruiting involves volunteers, people of different backgrounds with expertise in all domains of human social life into the Justice Congo Group to ensure issues of killings around the great lake region are addressed efficiently. Established educational channels to ensure that people in the region and in the diaspora understand why they should respect each other and promote and establish awareness based on the principle of brotherhood. Promote awareness via the Justice Congo Groupe channel. For example; Educate the UK population and the rest of the world about why Congo must be free from any type of modern exploitation given its importance on well being. For example, it connection with the world technology innovation, environment...Ensure Justice Congo Group reports on the DRC's issues are practically addressed in collaboration with national and international organisations concerned. Ensure collaborative advocacy within different organizations, such University departments , legal instructions... to promote Justice for the victims of the DRC's ongoing crimes. Therefore, advocate for the creation of special international court of Justice for DRC, Rwanda and Uganda and at some extend Burundi"
As we can see from Kenyata sharing his story of resilience with us, the Kongo has a long history of conflict. Political upheaval and instability, are sadly normalized to many Kongolese children that have yet to witness peace within their French drawn borders. Authoritarian rule have led to a grave humanitarian crisis and there has been no significant change since the end of the Kongo Wars in 2003. Many have no resources. Millions may never be granted the basic human right to return. Under the fundamental human right, we have the freedom of movement. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in article 13(2) that everyone has the right to leave and return to their country, unfortunately many Kongolese families will never receive that given privilege.
As we reach the closing ceremony of Kwanzaa 2024, let us continue to hold to the principles during the year of 2025. The Democratic Republic of the Kongo faces continued violence and Kenyata's experience and others like his must have their voices amplified. Thankfully, those who have bravely shared their lived experience in the Kongo are now becoming more widely shared due to technological advancements. Email, zoom, social media platforms, and widespread internet access now brings global challenges closer to home. Awareness is vital but as global citizens we can do more. Raising the tough questions of how to bring peace to the region will not result in swift solutions. Yet, despite the difficulty of our Kongo community's problems ghosting because things get hard is not an option.
The 1948 Fourth Geneva Convention states that people who have been evacuated must be allowed to return home after hostilities end. Perhaps the real question to raise would be when will the conflict end? What actions need to take place to find a resolution? While we keep these questions elevated, we can actively support advocates like Kenyata, in efforts to highlight the human experience of war. Create and share a safe space for our Kongolese community to tell their truth freely and authentically. Then remain in a collective thought to allow any native sons and daughters of the Kongolese community that we encounter the respect to seek safety. This honors their basic human right. No matter our political standing or values, in the end as Kenyata stated, we all are connected by at least one Afrikan ancestor. Meaning that our struggles are never isolated. We are a global village bounded in humanity through bloodlines forever to one another.
“He had lived and acted on the assumption that he was alone, and now he saw that he had not been. What he had done made others suffer. No matter how much he would long for them to forget him, they would not be able to. His family was a part of him, not only in blood, but in spirit.”― Richard Wright, Native Son
Author: La Trese Annette Monden, M.A. is a proud Baddie millennial mommy, Chicago native, and Cultural Sociologist moonlighting as a coffee fueled techie. As the 2024-2025 UNA-USA Global Goals Ambassador for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, she turned her time as an empty-nester into ambition for making an impact on the world. In her spare time, she loves cooking from scratch on the weekends and holding space for her brilliant Gen-Z daughter Anastasia Marie who embodies rizz.
12.29.24 Article References, UN SDG Target Goals covered, and La Trese Annette Monden's contact information can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamonden/
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