Women-led festival promotes peace in eastern DR Congo

Women in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo held a festival calling for peace in the conflict-hit region, organisers said, as reported by the Associated Press on March 30th.

The festival, called Musika na Kipaji, drew around 3,000 people in the eastern city of Goma, where women gathered to share messages of reconciliation through music, dance and public discussions.

It aimed to promote unity and highlight the impact of the conflict on civilians, particularly women.

Participants included activists, artists and community leaders who used the platform to call for an end to violence in North Kivu province.

Several attendees described being directly affected by the fighting and called for dialogue between communities.

Musician Clem Cléopâtre, whose real name is Clémence Fundiko Minja, performed at the event and said her work was shaped by the conflict, adding that “peace is everything”, Africa News reported.

One organiser said the initiative was created to give women a voice in peace efforts and to provide a space for expression in a region affected by years of instability. Performances focused on peace and coexistence, and the event drew young people from across Goma.

Eastern DR Congo has seen ongoing clashes between government forces and armed groups, including the M23 rebel movement, which controls several areas in North Kivu.

The conflict has displaced large numbers of civilians and raised concerns over security in and around Goma.

Women in the region have often been among those most affected by the conflict, facing displacement and limited access to basic services. The festival also highlighted gender-based violence linked to the fighting.

In Goma, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières reported treating more than 7,000 survivors during the first half of 2025.

DR Congo has previously been identified among the countries most affected by conflict-related sexual violence.

The event comes as regional leaders continue efforts to address the conflict through negotiations and ceasefire agreements, although fighting has persisted in parts of eastern DR Congo.

The Associated Press, Africa News, and agencies, Médecins Sans Frontières and agencies, Maghrebi.org