Miguel Masaisai’s “Pedal for Peace” Across Central Africa

On May 1, 2026, 25-year-old triathlete Miguel Masaisai left his hometown of Goma and rode unsupported for 66 days through Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia, arriving in Kinshasa after covering 6,700 km (4,163 mi). He plans to continue westward to Rabat, Morocco, aiming for a total distance of roughly 14,000 km as part of a “Pedal for Peace” campaign that relies solely on his own effort.

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The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been embroiled in a protracted war between government forces and more than 100 armed groups, most notably the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The fighting has killed thousands, displaced millions and generated widespread sexual violence, while the country also battles the deadliest Ebola outbreak in its history. UNICEF reports that 70 % of the population is under 24 years old, facing unemployment, forced recruitment, and limited prospects.

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Masaisai has no formal sponsorship; a GoFundMe page has raised about $850. He depends on strangers for nightly shelter and meals, and he receives daily encouragement from a combined 100,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram. Youth groups such as the National Youth Council meet him along the route, and some cyclists ride sections of his journey. He averages 100–150 km per day, confronting traffic, sand-filled roads, extreme heat and occasional online threats, sometimes turning off his GPS for safety.

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In 2026 the DRC government and M23 issued a joint statement announcing a “roadmap” for peace talks.

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• “I want to do something for my country because I cannot go to the war to fight with a gun. I cannot. The only thing that I have is my bike,” — Miguel Masaisai

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• “When war is waging in our region, young people are the first people to pay the high price,” — Prosper Heri Ngorora, a young Congolese journalist based in Goma

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• “I don’t want other children that will come after us to live the same thing. That’s why we need to want to fight for peace,” — Miguel Masaisai

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• “Sometimes I want to give up,” — Miguel Masaisai

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• “I don’t pretend that the risks are not frightening,” — Miguel Masaisai

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