Ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against Ivory Coast, the Congo national football team, led by coach Sébastien Desabre, staged a poignant protest to bring attention to the ongoing armed violence in the eastern part of their country. The players and coach held their right hands in front of their mouths with two fingers to their temples during a segment of Congo’s national anthem. Wearing black armbands for the match, the team aimed to show support for the victims and emphasize the need to address the troubling situation in the east. Coach Desabre emphasized the team’s responsibility to inform and shed light on the ongoing struggles, as Eastern Congo has been grappling with armed violence for decades, with various groups vying for power, land, and resources. The protest comes as a response to the increased conflict in late 2021, particularly involving the M23 rebel group, sparking renewed international concern.