Speaking on the latest episode of The Long Form Podcast, hosted by Sanny Ntayombya in Goma, Ngarambe shared his inspiring journey from stateless refugee to provincial leader, outlining his vision for peace and inclusion under the Alliance of Forces for Change (AFC)\/M23 administration.<\/p>\n
Born in 1985 in South Kivu, Ngarambe\u2019s early life was defined by persecution. As a Congolese Tutsi, he faced systemic discrimination in a country where Kinyarwanda-speaking communities have long been branded as outsiders. <\/p>\n
The 1994 Genocide against Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda triggered a wave of violence that spilt into Congo, forcing Ngarambe\u2019s family to flee when he was eight. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey hunted us down,\u201d he recalled, describing how his uncle was brutally killed and his father disappeared after being captured by government forces. Ngarambe, his mother, and siblings endured a harrowing 400-kilometre trek, imprisonment, and starvation before reaching refugee camps in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
Life in camps like Mudende and Nkamira brought further trauma. In 1997, attacks on Mudende killed thousands, leaving Ngarambe, then 12, haunted by the sound of bullets. <\/p>\n
\u201cNothing is left for me to fear,\u201d he said, reflecting on how those experiences forged his resilience. <\/p>\n
After stints in Uganda\u2019s Nakivale camp, Ngarambe resettled in Canada in 2013, where he built a stable life with his wife and three children. Yet, the plight of his people never left him. <\/p>\n
\u201cI told my brother, \u2018You can\u2019t leave what\u2019s burning inside you,\u2019\u201d he said, explaining his return to activism from the diaspora.<\/p>\n
In February 2025, just days after AFC\/M23 took control of Goma, Ngarambe was unexpectedly named Vice Governor. <\/p>\n
Thrust into leadership, he has overseen rapid changes in North Kivu\u2019s capital. In just 100 days, his administration restored water to neighbourhoods that lacked it for over a decade, provided 24-hour electricity, and reduced violent crime in areas like Ndosho, once a hotspot for kidnappings. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are waking up to a new reality\u2014no bullets, water in every neighbourhood,\u201d Ngarambe said. <\/p>\n
According to him, market prices have also dropped, with a bag of potatoes falling from $120 to affordable levels, easing the burden on residents.<\/p>\n
Ngarambe\u2019s vision extends beyond infrastructure. He aims to end the marginalisation of Congolese Tutsis and other Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, whose citizenship was stripped in the 1980s. <\/p>\n
\u201cBeing Tutsi shouldn\u2019t be a death sentence,\u201d he asserted, emphasising inclusive governance that protects all ethnic groups. His administration is resolving land disputes\u2014often a source of deadly conflict\u2014through dialogue, fostering handshakes over bloodshed. <\/p>\n
He also called on the Congolese diaspora to return, urging them to bring skills to rebuild the region.<\/p>\n
Amid criticism from a section of the international community over the operations of the rebel group, Ngarambe said his administration remains committed to changing people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
He also dismissed claims that the group is backed by Rwanda, describing them as \u201cold propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The Rwanda accusation is old propaganda. Kinshasa uses it to deflect from its failures. We\u2019re Congolese, fighting for Congolese rights. If Rwanda supports us, where\u2019s the evidence? Show me the troops, the weapons,” he said, arguing that the government\u2019s arming of militias like the FDLR\u2014comprising remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda\u2014has fueled instability.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s a lie to rally their base and gain foreign sympathy,” he added.<\/p>\n
Addressing reports of cash flow challenges caused by the closure of banks in Goma by the Kinshasa administration, he acknowledged it remains a challenge but noted that local markets are still vibrant, supported by the AFC\/M23-backed CADECO Bank, which reopened in April.<\/p>\n
Watch the full podcast below:<\/p>\n