Goma proposed as DRC cycling capital following Miguel Masaïsaï funeral

Following the funeral of Congolese cyclist Miguel Masaïsaï in Kinshasa, the Nande community has called on the government to officially designate Goma, in North Kivu, as the national capital of cycling. The proposal serves as a tribute to Masaïsaï, who used long-distance cycling to advocate for peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Masaïsaï died on September 18, 2026, in Ouesso, Congo-Brazzaville, following a traffic accident. At the time of his death, he was on a journey spanning approximately 14,000 kilometers, aimed at promoting national unity and peace. His intended destination was Rabat, Morocco.

During the funeral services at the Cinquantenaire University Hospital, Didier Budimbu, the Minister of Sports and Leisure, represented President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. The Minister praised Masaïsaï as a peace ambassador who chose a non-violent path to raise international awareness regarding the violence in eastern DRC. While the community advocates for Goma's recognition, the city currently faces significant security challenges due to the presence of the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN) armed movement.