Info 27: "Miguel: his bike stops, not his fight"

Congolese press returns to the unfinished journey of the cyclist for peace The tragic disappearance of Miguel Masaïsaï is an important topic in Congolese press this Monday. The 23-year-old cyclist, from Goma, died on Friday, September 18th in a traffic accident in Congo-Brazzaville while pursuing his African journey as part of his "Pedals for Peace" initiative. Several media outlets report on his journey, his message for peace, and the tributes following his death. In the headline of his editorial, Infos 27 is titled: "Miguel: his bike stops, not his fight". The newspaper recalls that the young cyclist had left Goma on May 1st with the ambition to reach Rabat, Morocco, to carry a message of peace. Prospérité, for its part, dedicates a space to him as the "Messenger of Peace." The daily reviews his commitment and believes that his initiative went beyond the sporting realm. In its reading of the event, the newspaper presents Miguel Masaïsaï as a symbol of peace and calls on Congolese youth to continue their fight. From Goma to Ouesso, an interrupted journey Actualite.cd traces the journey of the young cyclist in more detail. Starting from Goma on May 1st, Miguel Masaïsaï aimed to cover nearly 14,000 kilometers across several African countries to Rabat. The media recalls that he reached Kinshasa on August 5th, after 67 days on the road and over 6,500 kilometers traveled. His route in the DRC notably took him through the Kasaï and Bandundu regions. After leaving Kinshasa on September 6th, he continued his journey in Congo-Brazzaville, with stops including Brazzaville, Gamboma, and Oyo. His voyage was then to continue to the north of the country, Cameroon and then Morocco. The ACP sees in his initiative a legacy for the youth The Congolese Press Agency (ACP) dedicates its article to what it considers the "testament of Miguel Masaïsaï left to the youth of the DRC." The agency insists on the choice of the bicycle as a means to carry a message of peace and draws a parallel between this non-violent endeavor and Martin Luther King's fight for civil rights in the United States. The ACP thus considers that the "Pedals for Peace" initiative, interrupted by the cyclist's death, constitutes a legacy that Congolese youth could take up. 7sur7.cd is interested in the reaction of the Minister of Sports and Leisure, Didier Budimbu. In a message published on social networks, the government member praised the young cyclist's commitment to peace and unity in the Great Lakes region. "Through 'Pedals for Peace', he pedaled with courage to carry hope and peace to our brothers and sisters in the East of the DRC," the minister wrote, who expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased as well as the national sports community. The Potentiel, under the title "Sport: Miguel Masaïsaï, the cyclist of 'Pedals for Peace', dies in an accident in Congo-Brazzaville," also reviews the different stages of his adventure. The newspaper recalls his passage through Kinshasa after crossing the DRC and his departure for Congo-Brazzaville. It also emphasizes that his initiative aimed to carry a message for peace in the East of the country. The daily further reports that Miguel Masaïsaï wished to raise international awareness about the situation in Goma. On this point, Le Potentiel mentions Kinshasa's accusations regarding Rwanda's support for the AFC/M23, while specifying that Kigali denies them. The newspaper finally recalls that this adventure was not his first long bicycle journey: in 2025, Miguel Masaïsaï had already connected Goma to Cape Town, South Africa.