March and Bicycle Rally
- Tom Vermolen
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
March and Bicycle Rally for Climate and Peace in Beni
A report from Democratic Republic of Congo
This past Saturday, January 17, 2026, the city of Beni, in North Kivu, hosted a march and bicycle rally for climate and peace, bringing together environmental activists and community leaders around a powerful message: lasting peace also depends on climate justice.
Through this peaceful mobilization, participants denounced both the ongoing armed violence in the region and the impacts of climate change that are worsening the vulnerability of local communities.
Carrying banners, placards, and messages calling for non-violence and environmental protection, marchers and cyclists moved through several main streets of the city, drawing public attention to the urgent need to act for peace and climate.
A shared struggle for peace and the environment
Organizers emphasized that armed conflicts, environmental degradation, deforestation, the abusive exploitation of natural resources, and pollution are closely interconnected.
“Destroying nature weakens peace. Protecting the environment means protecting life and the future of our communities,” said a young participant.
The action also aimed to raise public awareness about the already visible consequences of climate change in the region: disrupted agricultural seasons, food insecurity, soil degradation, and population displacement.
A signal of hope led by youth
In the context of years of insecurity, the march and bicycle rally for climate and peace were seen as an act of resilience, hope, and civic engagement.
Participants called on local and national authorities, as well as the international community, to support local initiatives, invest in peacebuilding, and place environmental protection at the heart of public policies.
The march and bicycle rally for climate and peace in Beni is part of a growing civic movement in which young people refuse to remain silent and are actively committing to a more just, safer, and sustainable future.
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