DRC: A poetic tribute hails a cyclist’s commitment to peace

Kinshasa, September 22nd, 2026 ( CPA).- The Minister in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage has paid tribute to the cyclist Miguel Masaisai through a poem entitled ‘The Wheel of Peace’, published on Instagram and viewed by CPA on Tuesday, honouring his commitment to peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “Miguel, a valiant soul with a big, wandering heart, you dreamed of uniting Africa with a turn of the pedals, crossing the sands, mountains and valleys, so that at last calm might come to soothe the scarred lands of your beloved DRC,” has written Yolande Elebe, Minister in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage. In this poem, the minister reflects on Miguel Masaisai’s commitment to peace and unity through cycling, presenting his journey as an endeavour designed to carry a message of hope across borders. “You wanted every turn of the wheel to be a song, a call for peace – vibrant and moving – erasing hatred, sowing harmony, carrying your homeland into the depths of infinity,” she has continued. She has also reflected on the cyclist’s ambitions and the challenges that marked his journey, before speaking movingly of the end of his journey. “Alas, destiny, following a cruel course, shattered your momentum towards the heavens. Your journey came to a halt in the midst of the road, leaving your dreams in our hands,” she has added.A memory destined to live onIn the final lines, the minister expresses her hope that the cyclist’s memory will live on and that his dream of a peaceful country will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.“Your wheel still turns in our memories, carrying your message of love and hope, until the day when peace finally reigns on every path of our beloved Congo,” she has concluded. Miguel Masaisai was a cyclist whose journey was notably linked to initiatives promoting peace and unity through cycling. His death has prompted this tribute from the Minister in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage, it is reminded. ACP/