Voix du Paysan to educate and inform citizens: a commitment to social and climate justice.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to the largest tropical peatland in the world, a vital ecosystem capable of storing over 30 billion tonnes of carbon. Yet this ecological treasure is now under threat due to oil tenders issued by the Congolese government, particularly as part of the 2025 DRC Tender Offer. If these fossil fuel exploration projects go ahead, they could release massive amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere and undermine global efforts to combat climate change.
The consequences are not only ecological. Nearly 39 million people living around these areas—63% of whom rely directly on forests—could face displacement, loss of livelihoods, and land conflicts. Indigenous communities, the primary stewards of these ecosystems, risk being sidelined despite their central role in forest preservation.
In response to this threat, citizen and environmental voices, such as that of Emmanuel Ndimwiza, are calling for an immediate moratorium on oil exploitation in these sensitive areas. It is time to prioritize sustainable solutions: investment in renewable energy, strengthening of community land rights, and legal protection of peatlands as common goods. Preserving these ecosystems means defending the planet and its people.
The Editorial Team
Peatlands in Danger: A Climate and Human Trap at the Heart of the DRC
