Under the morning light in Goma this Sunday, hundreds of Muslims assembled to observe Eid al-Fitr, signifying the culmination of the sacred month of Ramadan. For the residents of this city, currently under the influence of the M23 insurgent group, the occasion bore a deep significance, symbolizing solidarity, hope, and an earnest quest for peace.
Yasin Hamad, a local participant, conveyed the unified wish among the worshippers, stating, “We yearn to stand together, uniting as one. We implore God to grant us peace, to extinguish any divisions among us, and to support us in achieving unity.”
Thousands of individuals, spanning all ages, congregated in prayer, their hearts surging with spirituality and an unwavering hope for an improved tomorrow. Their voices united in prayer, beseeching for peace and security to envelop the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Nadia Moustapha, another participant, expressed her faith in the potency of their collective prayers, stating, “We hold our faith firm that with the sacred month we have just concluded, God will hear our prayers and bless us with peace. We yearn for the return of peace, akin to the days of yore.”
Imams, too, utilized the occasion to remind the congregation of the critical role of solidarity and prayer in these trying times. Shieh Djaffar Al Katanty, an imam, drew attention to the unity exhibited during prayer, saying, “Here, we stand in prayer, shoulder to shoulder, disregarding our language, physical, cultural, or ethnic distinctions. It is our wish that this message resonates with the leaders of the DRC, the belligerents involved in the conflict, including the DRC government and the AFC/M23.”
In spite of the challenges faced, Goma’s Muslim community observed Eid with profound reverence and joy, thereby reinforcing the importance of unity amidst adversity. Their collective prayers reverberated, encompassing hopes not only for peace but also for the reestablishment of harmony throughout the region and a return to daily life as usual.
Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/30/eid-al-fitr-in-goma-a-call-for-unity-and-peace/
