AS Roma's Romelu Lukaku sent a strong message to the world about the deadly violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after scoring against Feyenoord on Thursday night, Belga News Agency reports.
"Free Congo DR, stop the genocide," the Belgian footballer posted on Instagram immediately after the match.
Lukaku held a fictional gun to his head with his fingers and covered his mouth with his hand to denounce the deadly violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"I have a Belgian passport, but I speak Congolese at home," Lukaku has previously said of his links with the country. "I listen to Congolese music, I eat Congolese food. On paper, I am Belgian, but I am Congolese. That is who I am.
The Congolese national team also made a statement at the Africa Cup of Nations to break the silence as the conflict in the African country receives less international attention than those in Ukraine or Gaza.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been wracked by violence for years, particularly in the east.
The Congolese Army is battling the advancing rebel group M23, an armed militia militarily supported by neighbouring Rwanda. More than 5.5 million people have been displaced in the eastern regions, with 2.5 million in North Kivu alone. Human rights violations are also widespread.
Last week, Belgium expressed its deep concern about the new wave of violence in North Kivu. "This violence contributes to the already touch situation of the civilian population in the east of the country as a result of the crimes committed by numerous armed groups," said Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib. "This violence must stop."
"The solution to any conflict, whatever it may be, is never military," recalled the minister. Diplomatic efforts, within the framework of regional processes, must be relaunched, and the actors must engage constructively with the efforts of the United States, she added.
