SIGNERS | From Survival To Governance

Freshly planted saplings line a street median in the heart of Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, on February 21, 2026, following a community reforestation activity organized by FUDEI (Femmes Unies pour le Développement Endogène et Intégral) under the leadership of its coordinator Rachel Malulu.

The long row of young trees small, vulnerable, stubbornly upright stretches toward the city's horizon like a declaration written in living wood. In a city repeatedly battered by volcanic eruptions, armed conflict, and mass population displacement, the greening of Goma's streets by Malulu and FUDEI members represents one of the most visible and defiant acts of community reconstruction underway in eastern DRC today.

As the international community debates ceasefires and security guarantees, Rachel Malulu's answer to the question of how peace is built in Goma can be seen right here planted, watered, and growing in the median of a busy street, one tree at a time.