Kambale Musavuli said former vice president Dick Cheney has a piece of the Congo in his heart.
To an audience of about 40 at the Civic Media Center Sunday night, the spokesperson for Friends of the Congo said that the the majority of the world's cobalt used in many devices, such as pacemakers, comes from Africa.
But the Congolese activist said internal affairs and regional conflicts are causing war in the Congo.
Change, he said, can happen through education and global recognition of the crisis.
“Many people look at the situation and want to throw money at the problem,” Musavuli said. “There is a large misinformation about the place. The change in the Congo will come through social justice work.”
Through video messages, translation of Congolese articles and speeches, Friends of the Congo is asking people to be a part of a movement toward getting the Congolese more involved in deciding how to solve the country’s problems.
“At the end of the day, it will be up to the Congolese to determine their own affairs,” Musavuli said.
Musavuli said he hopes that through his work with social media networks and the youth, there will be a transparent election in 2011.
“The more people that are educated about it, then they can find out what the Congolese are saying,” he said.
Nikki D’Errico, a UF doctoral student, spent last summer in the Congo and said to the audience that she was impressed with the resilience of the Congolese.
Due to the weakness of the Congolese state, rebel armies and a spillover from Rwandan genocide hindered the true development of a democracy, she said.
But the Congolese are able to stand up and pray every morning.
“It reminds them that they’re alive,” she said.
Rama Issa-Ibrahim, UF’s Human Rights Awareness on Campus president, organized the presentation and said the speakers provided a change that she wishes to see in the world.
“I think the message is so positive, how to get involved with the youth movement,” Issa-Ibrahim said.
