Friends of the Congo

Friends of the Congo Join the movement at freecongo.org Help us bring an end to the conflict. Contribute to fulfilling the enormous human and natural potential of the Congo.

Friends of the Congo (FOTC) is a Pan African solidarity organization raising global consciousness about the challenges of the Congo while providing support to frontline organizations throughout the country. Join the global movement:

Visit www.freecongo.org to take action

08/25/2026

The U.S. is reportedly moving to revoke B-1/B-2 visas from people who entered as temporary visitors and later sought asylum.

Preventing visa fraud is legitimate. But seeking asylum after entering the country is not, by itself, evidence of fraud.

As immigration enforcement tightens, we should also remember: migration does not happen in a vacuum. Wars, persecution, instability, and displacement continue to force people from their homes.

Immigration policy cannot be separated from the conditions that make people flee in the first place.

08/24/2026

Frontline healthcare responders like Dr. Ishara face some of the greatest risks in combating the Ebola virus.

Journalist Akilimali ChomaChoma brings us compelling stories of the challenges and successes that courageous frontline healthcare responders experience in the midst of the Ebola outbreak.

Subscribe to our Substack at congofriends.substack.com for more cutting edge reporting from the frontlines by Akilimali and other Congolese journalist.

08/20/2026

The Basandja Coalition maintains that:

The first hospital is the community
The first vaccine against fear is trust
The first line of defense is solidarity
The first act of healing is care.

Basandja is working with dozens of organizations like Africa Initiative Program (AIP) across Ituri and the other provinces stricken by the Ebola virus to combat the outbreak of the virus.

Your financial support has been crucial in getting funds directly to frontline organizers and responders to deliver hand washing stations, masks, gloves, PPE kits, raise awareness, and educate local communities about best practices for preventing the spread of the Ebola virus.

Your donations are saving lives. See link in bio to donate to the Ebola Relief!

08/15/2026

In this episode of Congo Unfiltered, Gaëtan Nzowo is joined by Maurice Carney, Executive Director of Friends of the Congo, for a wide-ranging conversation about the major challenges confronting the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This is our first episode since the August 2 GENOCOST commemoration—and the central question is simple:

What kind of State is the Democratic Republic of the Congo becoming?

We examine:

1) DRC v. Rwanda at the International Court of Justice — What can the ICJ actually accomplish, and how does State responsibility differ from individual criminal accountability?

2) AFC/M23 peace negotiations — As the DRC releases 15 detainees as part of confidence-building measures, are we moving toward sustainable peace or repeating a decades-long cycle of agreements, concessions and renewed conflict?

3) Constitutional reform and political power — What does the growing debate over constitutional change mean for Congolese democracy and the future of the country's institutions?

4) Ebola and public health — What do recurring health emergencies reveal about governance, conflict and the capacity of the Congolese State to protect its people?

From international justice to peace negotiations, democracy and public health, these crises may appear separate—but they ultimately converge around questions of sovereignty, accountability, institutions and Congolese agency.

Memory without action becomes ritual. The purpose of memory must be transformation.

Congo Unfiltered — Beyond the Headlines

08/11/2026

In Walikale, war destroys schools while minerals keep flowing.

According to Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera, 1,500+ children risk missing school. Meanwhile, Bisie produced a record 18,576 tonnes of tin in 2025 and is targeting 20,000 tonnes in 2026.

Same territory. Two realities.

🎥 Video credit: BBC Africa Eye — Blood in the Earth: Life and Death in Congo’s Coltan Mines

🎥 Video credit: BBC Africa Eye — Blood in the Earth: Life and Death in Congo’s Coltan Mines

08/01/2026

Today on Congo Unfiltered, we dedicate the entire episode to GENOCOST—a movement of memory, truth, justice, dignity, and accountability for the millions of Congolese lives lost through decades of war, foreign aggression, political complicity, and the exploitation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s natural resources.

I am joined by two extraordinary women who have played an important role in advancing this struggle:

Dr. Debora Kayembe, an international human rights lawyer, former Rector of the University of Edinburgh, and GENOCOST Ambassador for 2024 and 2026.

Mimie Wite-Nkate, European Coordinator for Friends of the Congo, co-founder of the Congolese Action Youth Platform—CAYP—and one of the initiators of the GENOCOST campaign in 2013.

Together, we discuss:

• The origins and meaning of GENOCOST
• Why the word “cost” is essential to understanding the Congolese tragedy
• The importance of memory and honoring the victims
• What national and international recognition should concretely accomplish
• The responsibilities of the Congolese government and international community
• The pursuit of justice, accountability, reparations, and an end to impunity
• The role of the Congolese diaspora and the responsibility of our generation

This conversation also examines the difference between symbolic recognition and meaningful action. Memorials and public declarations matter, but they cannot replace justice, transparent institutions, criminal accountability, reparations for victims, and concrete political action.

GENOCOST is not only about remembering the dead. It is about defending the living, confronting the systems that continue to profit from Congolese suffering, and ensuring that future generations do not inherit the same violence and impunity.

There can be no lasting peace without truth.
There can be no reconciliation without justice.
There can be no dignity without accountability.

Watch, share, and join the movement for Justice, Memory, and Dignity.

Congo Unfiltered — Beyond the Headlines.

07/20/2026

🇺🇸 Los Angeles, la famille ! 🔥

Si vous êtes dans le coin, ne manquez pas ce rendez-vous exceptionnel ! 🎬✨

Yole!Africa est fier d’annoncer que son fondateur, Petna Ndaliko Katondolo , sera le conférencier principal (Keynote Speaker) lors des rencontres de l'International Documentary Association (IDA).🎙️

🌍 Au programme : Un voyage unique à travers une pratique cinématographique de souveraineté narrative, profondément enracinée dans l’écologie ancestrale et le Soul-full Soil Cinema. Là où le cinéma devient un espace d’écoute, de relation et de régénération.

Rejoignez-nous pour une conversation inspirante sur le pouvoir du cinéma, de la terre et des savoirs ancestraux pour imaginer des futurs plus vivants. 🌱✊🏾

Venez nombreux, on a hâte de vous y retrouver ! 🙌🏾
-----------------------------------------------------
🇺🇸 Los Angeles, everyone! 🔥

If you’re in the area, don’t miss this exceptional event! 🎬✨

Yole!Africa is proud to announce that its founder, Petna Ndaliko Katondolo , will be the keynote speaker at the International Documentary Association (IDA) conference. 🎙️

🌍 On the agenda: A unique journey through a filmmaking practice centered on narrative sovereignty, deeply rooted in ancestral ecology and Soul-full Soil Cinema where cinema becomes a space for listening, connection, and regeneration.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about the power of cinema, the earth, and ancestral knowledge to imagine more vibrant futures. 🌱✊🏾

We hope to see many of you there we can’t wait to meet you! 🙌🏾

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