On February 25th, the Congolese community gathered at the NYS Capitol to raise awareness of the ongoing conflict in the DRC, influenced by natural resource exploitation. Diane Mbombo-Tite organized the event, stressing the humanitarian crisis faced by civilians. The community plans to hold an International Women’s Day event to address gender-based violence in the DRC, reflecting their advocacy efforts.
On February 25th, a gathering of advocates and activists converged at the New York State Capitol, most notably the Congolese community from Albany. Their aim was to draw attention to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis resulting from this turmoil. Their presence highlighted the need for support and understanding regarding the complex issues at hand.
Diane Mbombo-Tite, an asylum seeker and currently the President of the Congolese Association of Albany, played a key role in organizing the event, the organization’s first advocacy day at the State Capitol. She emphasized the impact of rebel groups, particularly M23, which are exploiting natural resources in the region. “There are rebel groups, and the main one is called M23, who are seizing big cities. The source of the conflict is natural resources. So those rebellion groups are doing all that is in their power to make that region unstable so that they can access those illegally,” she stated.
She further elaborated on the ethical concerns surrounding resource extraction, questioning whether it is necessary to continue such practices at the cost of civilian lives. Mbombo-Tite highlighted the dire conditions faced by the Congolese populace, where conflict has displaced many, causing fear and trauma: “We’re talking about civilians who are fleeing their village because they are traumatized. They are living in fear.”
Jean-Pierre Munsi, another member of the Congolese community, expressed the importance of advocacy for those who have family in the DRC. He stressed that peaceful conditions would reduce the need for individuals to migrate to the U.S. and that immigrants often come seeking refuge from chaos in their home countries. “It’s very, very important to us because what’s going on in the United States. Immigrants came here. They came from all over the world, actually. … They want to be running away from there and coming here, … there is really no life about that. So we are really concerned about that,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, the Congolese Association of Albany is set to host an International Women’s Day event on March 8th to raise awareness of the plight of women in the DRC, particularly regarding gender-based violence. Mbombo-Tite stated, “Women’s bodies are turned into a battlefield. It’s not safe to be a woman in DR Congo. So the world needs to know. We need to be engaged.” They have invited local officials, including Democratic Congressman Paul Tonko, to participate in this important initiative.
In summary, the Congolese community in Albany rallied at the New York State Capitol to bring attention to the ongoing conflict in the DRC, driven by the exploitation of natural resources. Advocates like Diane Mbombo-Tite emphasize the need for ethical resource management and raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians. The community’s upcoming International Women’s Day event will further highlight issues surrounding gender-based violence in the DRC, demonstrating their commitment to advocacy and reform.
Original Source: cbs6albany.com
