Kinshasa, November 1st, 2026 (CPA). – A tribute has been paid to around a hundred soldiers of the Congolese Public Force buried at the Fayid War Cemetery in Egypt, during a commemorative ceremony organised in collaboration with the Kingdom of Belgium, CPA has learnt on Sunday from an official source. “Honouring the memory of our veterans and our fallen soldiers is not merely about looking back at the past; it is also about passing on this memory to present and future generations, whilst upholding the values of courage, discipline, duty, loyalty, dedication, service and patriotism,” Eliezer Ntambwe, Minister of State attached to the Minister in charge of National Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, has declared. Mr Ntambwe has paid tribute to the courage, dedication and patriotism of these Congolese servicemen, whose sacrifices continue to leave their mark on the collective national and international memory.
Organised nearly eight decades after their deaths during the Second World War, this ceremony has brought together several diplomatic delegations and representatives from more than a dozen countries friendly to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who had come to honour the memory of these Congolese soldiers. On this occasion, representatives from the participating countries have laid wreaths on the graves of the veterans, in an atmosphere marked by reverence and gratitude, accompanied by commemorative music. Eliezer Ntambwe has also called on younger generations to understand that world peace and national sovereignty come at a price, emphasising that courage is not limited to bearing arms, but also encompasses service to the nation, the protection of human dignity, the defence of territorial integrity and the promotion of national unity. Addressing the fallen soldiers symbolically, the Deputy Minister has reminded that being far from one’s homeland cannot erase the memory of those who served their country. “You rest in Egypt, the land of a friendly nation, but your memory lives on in the heart of the Congo amongst your loved ones. You set out as soldiers; you remain in our memory as servants and heroes of all the nations of the world,” he has said, before praying for the eternal rest of their souls. Taking advantage of this solemn occasion, Eliezer Ntambwe has also referred to the worrying security situation in the east of DRC, calling upon these veterans to symbolically intercede for the return of peace and the preservation of national unity. The Deputy Minister has also expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, whose involvement and commitment had made this commemorative initiative possible. He has finally expressed his hope that the friendship between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Arab Republic of Egypt will be further strengthened for the benefit of their respective peoples. This first edition of the commemorative ceremony marks a milestone in recognising the sacrifice of Congolese soldiers who had served during the Second World War and opens up new prospects for passing on their legacy to future generations.