Congolese cyclist Miguel Masaisai dies during peace journey

Congolese cyclist Miguel Mumbere Masaisai has died in a road accident in neighbouring Republic of Congo while undertaking a 14,000-kilometre journey from Goma to Rabat to promote peace in the conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Masaisai, 23, died on Friday, Sept. 18, in the Kabos area near Ouesso, in northern Congo-Brazzaville, close to the border with Cameroon, according to Congolese authorities and local reports.

His death was confirmed by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s sports ministry and later by his family and management team.

The circumstances surrounding the crash were still being established, but several local sources reported that Masaisai had suffered a mechanical problem with his bicycle and had boarded a taxi to reach a place where it could be repaired.

The taxi, carrying Masaisai, the driver and two other passengers, was involved in a collision at Kabos, about nine kilometres from Ntam.

All four occupants were reported to have died.

Radio Okapi cited a local Congolese community leader who said the taxi lost control in rainy conditions while attempting to overtake a larger vehicle before colliding with a truck carrying logs.

Masaisai began his “Pedals for Peace” journey in Goma on May 1, with the goal of reaching Rabat, Morocco, while carrying a message of peace, unity and resilience on behalf of communities affected by years of conflict in eastern DRC.

He completed the first major leg of the journey by travelling from eastern DRC to Kinshasa.

On Aug. 5, after 67 days on the road and more than 6,500 kilometres, he arrived in the capital, where he was welcomed by cyclists and supporters.

He later crossed the Congo River into Brazzaville and resumed the second stage of his journey towards northern Congo, with plans to continue through Cameroon and other African countries before reaching Morocco.

His planned route was expected to cover about 14,000 kilometres across several countries.

The initiative had attracted attention beyond the sporting community.

In August, the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Spain in DRC praised “Pedals for Peace” after meeting Masaisai in Kinshasa, describing the project as an example of youth-led diplomacy and using sport to promote dialogue across borders.

In a tribute, Sports Minister Didier Budimbu described Masaisai’s journey as a courageous effort to bring hope and peace to people in eastern DRC and offered condolences to his family and the wider sporting community.