The South African Peacekeepers in association with the Association of the Volunteers  of Congo (ASVOCO) have organized a Peaceful March in Goma on the 17 of July as prelude to the commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day on the 18 of July  2017.

The March for Peace  which was accompanied by the  Kimbangist band was highlighted with dancing and fanfare by the South African Contingent and ASVOCO Members.

A high point on the merry making was the depositing of a letter to MONUSCO North Kivu requesting assistance for the construction of Monument of Nelson Mandela in BUGAMBA II quarters in Goma. The request also states that said Monument will be inaugurated on the 05 of December 2017 in Goma.

According to ASVOCO the construction of the Monument is to immortalize Nelson Mandela (Madiba)for the promotion of Peace which was one of  his ideologies and virtues.

It should be noted that the International  Nelson Mandela Day proclaimed by UNESCO on 10 November 2009 is celebrated on 18 July each year to mark the contribution of Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid activist and first black president of South Africa for the "promotion of a culture of peace". During this day, every citizen of the world is called to symbolically devote sixty-seven minutes of his time to a work in the service of the community, in memory of Mandela's sixty-seven years dedicated to the struggle for equality, reconciliation and cultural diversity.

North Kivutians see and better appreciate this day since they have also been fighting for several years to establish peace in their province.

Martha Biongo /PIO Goma