Congolese cyclist Miguel Masaisai has tragically died during his 17-country “Pedals for Peace” journey across Africa. The 23-year-old from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, began the ambitious ride on May 1, aiming to cycle about 14,000 km from Goma to Rabat, Morocco, to promote peace and unity across the continent.
Masaisai had already covered more than 6,500 km, reaching Kinshasa before continuing into Congo-Brazzaville. On September 18, after his bicycle developed a mechanical problem, he took a taxi to have it repaired. The vehicle later crashed into a truck near Ouesso, close to the Congo-Cameroon border. Miguel, the taxi driver, and two other passengers lost their lives in the accident.
This was not his first long-distance cycling mission. In 2025, Masaisai successfully cycled from Goma to Cape Town, South Africa, demonstrating his passion for endurance riding and his commitment to using sport as a tool for peace advocacy.
His death is a profound loss, not only to his family and community but also to Africa’s cycling and peace movements. Miguel’s journey symbolized hope, resilience, and the belief that ordinary individuals can inspire extraordinary change.
