Kinshasa, November 8th, 2026 (CPA).– The League for the Defense of Albinos (Lida) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Saturday reiterated to the CPA its commitment to supporting and raising awareness among people living with albinism, with a view to enabling them to integrate into social life and become self-reliant.
“In the future, as we have always said, we will continue to be there to help people with albinism who find themselves in need, by raising their awareness, showing them how to become self-reliant and guiding them towards activities suited to their abilities, so that they can integrate into social life, become independent and meet their own needs,” said Nadine Mukenge, President of Lida. According to her, there is no longer any need for concern about people living with albinism who do not yet have facilities where they can speak about themselves, speak for themselves and express their concerns. Premises will soon be made available to them so that each person can present their projects.
“Very soon, we promise them that they will have premises where every person with albinism will be able to express themselves freely, say what they want, explain how they would like their lives to be and present their plans for the future,” she said. In her view, the reason the non-profit association (ASBL) has not yet been officially established in the DRC is the country’s administrative procedures. “These are Congolese administrative procedures. There is nothing we can do about them. If we try to skip steps, it would mean launching activities without being legally compliant. That would be tantamount to failing to respect the laws of our own country. We are not here to operate outside the law,” she stressed, adding that the non-profit organization was waiting for the appropriate time to begin operating and assist the most vulnerable, in compliance with legal requirements.
Assistance announced for the most vulnerable in 2027
Furthermore, Ms. Mukenge announced plans to establish premises in the various provinces of the country in 2027, as well as to provide donations and assistance to people living with albinism. “My team will be there, even if we may not have enough time to be personally present. We are planning something that we would prefer not to disclose to the media for the time being, given what we are preparing behind the scenes for the exchange of New Year wishes and other activities,” she added. On this occasion, she reiterated her full support for this category of people, who are sometimes victims of discrimination because of their skin condition, which is characterized by a lack of melanin. “We love them very much and will always be there to help them whenever necessary. We will always be available to engage with them,” she said. The visit of the President of this league to the DRC was aimed at speeding up the administrative procedures relating to its official establishment in the country, with the ambition of soon having its own physical address.
Since mid-June, she has undertaken several visits and solidarity initiatives in support of activities that contribute to the well-being of vulnerable people. After visiting the Maman Pauline orphanage, her stay ended with a visit to the Academy of Fine Arts, an institution that has played a significant role in her personal journey and contributed to her training.
Established to defend the rights of people living with albinism, promote their social inclusion and combat the discrimination they face, Lida intends to make its commitment a genuine instrument for promoting dignity, solidarity and equal opportunities. CPA/