Patriotism does not mean blind support for a sitting president. Loving our country means wanting the best for it, even if that means criticizing those in power when they fail to lead effectively. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, our biggest crisis is not just external aggression—it is a lack of capable leadership that truly serves the interests of the Congolese people.
Yes, we are under attack. The Rwandan regime of Paul Kagame continues to commit injustices against us, and this is a reality we cannot ignore. However, the primary contributor to our ongoing suffering is not Rwanda alone—it is the failure of our own leadership. Instead of uniting the country and building resilience, they fuel division and allow corruption to thrive. This weakens our ability to defend ourselves and move forward as a nation.
As Congolese, we must learn to have difficult conversations. We need to ask ourselves why our leadership fosters division rather than unity. Why do many feel that if you are from the Kasai tribe and support the current regime, you can act with impunity? Why are so many Congolese convinced that all Tutsi are Rwandan? Are we forgetting that there are Congolese Tutsi as well? These are uncomfortable but necessary questions, and avoiding them only deepens our national wounds.
Our fight should not be against each other but against corruption and tribalism. How can we dream of national unity when our constitution still classifies us by tribe? Is it not time to remove these divisions and identify simply as Congolese? Our strength lies in our unity, and as long as we allow tribalism to dictate our politics and governance, we will remain weak and vulnerable.
The DRC has all the resources and potential to be a great nation, but it starts with us. We need leadership that prioritizes the Congolese people above self-interest, that unites rather than divides, and that fights against tribalism rather than exploiting it. Change begins with a collective decision to stand together—not as separate tribes, but as one Congolese people.