National Dialogue in DRC: Without Deaf People, Inclusion Will Remain a Slogan (Tribune)

The national dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, relaunched on July 17, 2026, aims to be inclusive, but the inclusion of deaf people is in question. Announcements without interpreters and solely audio digital consultations risk excluding this population. According to the WHO, over 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss, and in DRC, the prevalence of disability is recognized at about 13.7% of the population. A genuine inclusion strategy must integrate accessibility from the outset.