Evacuated by the services of the Embassy of the DRC in Kigali, Rwanda, the Congolese striker of the club "Rayon Sport" recounted his ordeal to the ACP: "We played on Sunday, the situation was normal until Monday, but there were already whispers. On Tuesday, the situation began to deteriorate with bad messages on the phone. Fortunately, our embassy in Rwanda called me and sent a car. Already on Monday, I began to see soldiers moving around my neighborhood contrary to usual," he explained.

"On Tuesday morning," added Luvumbu, "the ambassador sent someone to pick me up, but there were intelligence agents following us. When they saw us enter the embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, they parked at a distance. It was a difficult situation. Under those conditions, I was no longer safe, but thanks to our embassy, I regained security. It is necessary to assist our embassy in Rwanda, because it provides significant support to Congolese in distress."

"Let us be united and bond together concerning the situation in the Eastern part of the country. I am not a politician. I am just a football player, but I have to stand up for my fellow countrymen who are suffering in the East of the country. It hurts when we watch the videos, the young widows, the mothers who are killed. I did no wrong. I did not insult anyone. I only defended my compatriots who are being killed in the East of the country. I did not understand how they interpreted this gesture."

Upon his arrival in the Congolese capital, he was welcomed at N'djili International Airport by the Minister of Sports and Leisure, Claude François Kabulo. The latter conveyed a message of encouragement and support.

Suspended by his Rwandan club for his gesture denouncing the complicity of the international community in the Rwandan aggression, Héritier Luvumbu of "Rayon Sport," arrived early Wednesday morning in Goma, North Kivu. Immediately he set off for Kinshasa.

Boni Tsala(BTT/PKF)