Kinshasa, Aug. 11, 2026 (TOP243NEWS).- Democratic Republic of Congo’s First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi has urged young Congolese to use social media responsibly, saying digital platforms can be used to raise awareness, create opportunities and mobilise people around causes of public interest.
She made the remarks during a gathering at Kinshasa’s Academy of Fine Arts organised as part of the “From Virtual to Real – VAR” initiative.
Nyakeru Tshisekedi praised young people involved in a petition seeking recognition of GENOCOST, a term used to refer to genocides committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The petition is targeting 200,000 signatures, with organisers reporting increased mobilisation and sharing on social media.
“Today, above all, I saw the virtual world become real,” she said, describing the young participants as “enthusiastic, creative and talented”.
The First Lady said social media should not be limited to entertainment, but could also serve as platforms for knowledge-sharing, promoting talent, creating opportunities and strengthening civic awareness.
She cited the experiences of Élie Lomboto and Dieumerci Batomene, two young people supported by her foundation, as examples of how young Congolese can use their visibility and talents to create opportunities.
Call for responsible online debate
Nyakeru Tshisekedi also called on young people to exercise responsibility when expressing themselves online, urging them to promote constructive debate and verify information before sharing it.
“Let us criticize without insulting. Let us debate without destroying. Let us verify before sharing. And above all, let us use our voices to unite and build,” she said.
She also cautioned against measuring youth engagement solely through online popularity.
“Being a ‘Jeunesse ya Bonne Qualité’ is therefore not simply about counting your followers, views or comments,” she said, stressing that every publication carries responsibility.
The meeting was presented as a link between online mobilisation and action in the real world, encouraging young people to use their creativity and digital visibility to support causes that go beyond individual interests.
Nyakeru Tshisekedi thanked the organisers of the From Virtual to Real – VAR initiative, the young participants and Jonathan T., who invited her to the event.
Mike Pakoto | TOP243NEWS