On February 25th, the Congolese community in Albany rallied at the NYS Capitol to raise awareness about the conflict in the DRC, driven by natural resource exploitation. Diane Mbombo-Tite emphasized the urgency of ethical mining practices. Community members expressed concern for family members still in the DRC and the root causes of immigration. An International Women’s Day event on March 8th aims to highlight gender-based violence in the region.
On February 25th, advocates and community members gathered at the New York State Capitol to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Among them, the Congolese community of Albany, led by Diane Mbombo-Tite, the President of the Congolese Association of Albany, voiced their concerns over the situation back home, which is exacerbated by rebel groups, particularly M23, vying for control over natural resources.
During her address, Mbombo-Tite emphasized the significant role of natural resources like cobalt and coltan in fueling the conflict. She questioned the ethics of how these minerals, essential for many electronic devices, are procured. “Is there not another way to access those minerals rather than killing more than 20 million people? We’re talking about civilians who are fleeing their village because they are traumatized,” she articulated, highlighting the human cost of resource exploitation.
Community members, including Jean-Pierre Munsi, expressed their urgency in raising awareness about the plight of their families still in the DRC. Munsi noted the dire circumstances that have led many to immigrate to the United States, underscoring that if peace and economic stability existed in their homeland, fewer individuals would be compelled to leave. “This is not the solution… there is no life about that. So we are really concerned about that,” he remarked.
Additionally, the Congolese Association of Albany will host an International Women’s Day event on March 8th from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Blake Annex. Mbombo-Tite explained the significance of this event: “We wanted also to raise awareness about women’s condition in the DRC, where gender-based violence is rampant.” The organization has invited local officials, including Congressman Paul Tonko, to participate, aiming to shed further light on these critical issues.
The commitment of the Congolese community in Albany to advocate for change amidst the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is commendable. Through their protests, they illuminate the ethical dilemmas surrounding natural resource extraction and raise awareness of the grave humanitarian crises affecting civilians in the region. Their upcoming International Women’s Day event reflects an ongoing effort to highlight the challenges women face amidst such turmoil.
Original Source: cbs6albany.com
