Tires have been burned and roadblocks erected on the main road leading to the University of Goma. For the past few days, students in Goma have been protesting against clouds of dust that have covered this city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Residents are concerned about the harmful effects of the dust. Meanwhile the authorities have taken no actions to address the issue.

by Passy Mubalama, Goma

“It’s horrible, all this dust, we can’t take it anymore”, complain both the students and residents of Goma. During the manifestations, the police used teargas to disperse the crowds.

Dust everywhere
“There is dust everywhere, even in the amphitheatre. Our notes are all dirty and we can’t even wear the same clothes twice anymore. We avoid wearing certain types of clothes. It’s a regrettable situation,” laments Philippe Kyunyu, who is the president of the University of Goma.

Kyunyu’s sentiments are shared by Mupekase Gelasse Wiston, a law student at the university: “Many people are currently sick with a cold. This dust is damaging our lungs and will eventually cause them fail. The provincial government is standing by as we develop cardiovascular diseases,” he claims.

“While the students are protesting against the dust, others wonder what happened to the funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Goma’s roads. What happened to this money?” asks Jean Pascal Munihire, a moto-taxi driver in Goma. “We are greatly affected by this dust, as we spend our day on the road, picking up and dropping off clients.”

Old roads
The modernisation of roads in the city of Goma was supposed to be finished months ago. The slowing down of works in August 2011 was attributed to the lack of appropriate equipment. Following public pressure, the first four-kilometre stretch of road was completed in October 2011. Works have since, once again, slowed down.

There has been little effort from the provincial government to restore the roads or to address the situation. “For the time being, the Goma City Council, in partnership with other departments such as the Office for Roads and Drainage, is sprinkling the roads with water until a more permanent solution is found,” explains Busanga Maliaseme, Goma’s mayor.

Heated students
Students in Goma denounce the lack of will from the authorities to address their demands. The student’s council have taken the initiative and contacted various authorities, including Julien Paluku Kahongya the governor of Northern Kivu, the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) and the Congolese police. “But we don’t understand why they are not reacting. Are they waiting for the students to start killing each other?” asks Philippe Kyunyu.

Adangwala Joseph is Assistant Marketing Director at the University of Goma: “Since the start of the protest actions, no solution has been found. We don’t know what to do.”

According to Denise (who withheld her surname), a first year student at the University of Goma: “It’s the governor’s responsibility to find a way of getting rid of this dust.”

Meanwhile, Philippe Kyunyu suggests that if the authorities fail to find a permanent solution, this will only provide increased insecurities for the city.