On November 16, 2024, the city of Goma, in the North Kivu province, came alive with a climate caravan marked by determination and hope.
Despite torrential rain, the atmosphere was charged with energy as hundreds of environmental defenders, dressed in white t-shirts symbolizing purity and peace, flooded the streets of the city. All united by a common cry: “No to oil, yes to a sustainable future.” Enthusiastic and determined, the protesters marched with striking banners such as “Oil-free Earth” and “Fix the climate, fix the injustice.” At every street corner, curious onlookers stopped to watch, and some even spontaneously joined the movement. Far from being just a protest, this caravan was a powerful call to action, a clear and firm commitment against the fossil fuel projects threatening the region’s future.
The march began under pouring rain, but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants. Dressed in white, holding banners and powerful slogans, they chanted resistance songs, repeating simple yet powerful words: “No to oil!” The crowd, loud but disciplined, marched through the streets of Goma with a clear goal: to make their voices heard against fossil fuel exploitation projects that are devastating local ecosystems.
The organizers, including ACEDH, UCCND, and Air et Moi RDC, made sure that this mobilization was not just a protest, but a call for concrete action. The rain did not deter the participants; on the contrary, it strengthened their solidarity, turning every drop into a symbol of their struggle for the planet’s survival. This caravan, far from being a mere demonstration, was a true militant action driven by a shared conviction: to change the course of the region’s climate future. Amid the loud chants and slogans, another key demand emerged: the protection of indigenous peoples and their ancestral knowledge. These peoples, traditional guardians of the Congo Basin rainforest, are often the first victims of mining and oil exploitation. “Indigenous peoples are the natural protectors of our environment, and their ancestral knowledge is key to preserving biodiversity,” explained Me Olivier Ndoole, Executive Secretary of ACEDH.
The protesters, carrying banners that read “Protect the forest, protect indigenous peoples,” denounced the contempt these communities often face in the face of destructive energy projects. Their chants echoed through the streets, expressing deep respect for the ancestral practices of managing natural resources. These peoples, they reminded everyone, have always been the first to protect nature, long before the concept of climate change became a global concern. Beyond the protest itself, the Goma caravan sent a clear and direct message to the Congolese government: support and join the LEAD initiative, a global movement advocating for renewable and sustainable energy policies. “The world must make a historic decision: continue exploiting polluting energies and destroying our environment, or invest in alternative solutions that will protect our children and their future,” said Ndoole.
The protesters, visibly determined, reminded everyone that the DRC, as a key country in preserving the Congo Basin rainforest, must lead the fight against climate change. The rain did not stop the march; rather, it strengthened the message: it’s time to say no to fossil fuels and yes to renewable energy. “The future of our planet is in our hands, and it is crucial to join the global movement for a greener world,” the protesters repeated fervently.
In Goma, the voices, carried by resistance songs and the striking banners of defenders and other climate leaders, were not simply a cry of protest but a call for global climate justice. As COP29 continues in Baku, the people of Goma remind world leaders that the Earth is no longer waiting. The time has come for the DRC to choose its side: oil or the preservation of our planet. This movement, strong and determined, embodies the hope for a better world – a world without oil.
By Kilalopress
