Kinshasa, October 6th, 2026 (CPA): – The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has brought its support to an organisation for the protection of child soldiers during a world summit on the protection of children affected by armed conflict, held in Geneva, CPA has learnt on Tuesday in Kinshasa from an official source.
“We have really wanted to be there to show the world that we support the association ‘Peace for Children’ run by Junior Nzita, a child soldier, and that this is an organisation that works effectively and also accompanies us, as a State, in what we are doing, particularly the fight against violence, the fight against child exploitation and the fight against the phenomenon of child soldiers, which we are currently combating here in our country,” Micheline Ombae, Minister in charge of Gender, Family and Children has declared, on her return to Kinshasa from Paris. “We have talked about projects that we are currently implementing, relating to the fight against the use of child soldiers in particular, but also, more generally, about activities that we are carrying out on the ground for the protection and promotion of children’s rights,” she has specified.
For the Minister in charge of Gender, DRC has been able to expose the problems to which it is confronted in this situation. She has confirmed having also taken part in Paris in the official launching of the ‘Pink October Africa’ initiative, organised by the Porel Foundation under the patronage of the Vice-President of the French National Assembly, as part of the international campaign to raise awareness and fight against breast cancer. “We did not fail to mention the issues that are specific to DRC. Indeed, we have made the plea for this initiative, in its second edition, to take place in DRC, as the first edition will be held in Congo-Brazzaville and the second in Kinshasa,” the Minister in charge of Gender has announced. Furthermore, Ms Ombae has indicated that DRC has seized this opportunity to present the organisations working in the fight against cancer, with the support of the Ministries in charge of Gender and in charge of Health. “I believe that everything has been duly noted and taken into account. We look forward to see the implementation and continuation of activities until the second edition of the ‘Africa Pink October’ initiative takes place, which will be held next year here in DRC,” she has pleaded. Since the resurgence of armed conflict in DRC, particularly in its eastern part, the government maintains the process of demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants. The World Summit for Peace, Justice and the Protection of Children is an exceptional congress to fight the phenomenon of child soldiers. It was held from October 1st to 3rd, 2026, in Geneva. CPA/