Hoops & War

When the bombings and gun battles finally paused in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), teens across the city slipped out of the homes in which they’d been hiding. They all headed to the same place: the local basketball courts.

Moise Bandeke, 14, picked his way through brass bullet casings as he searched for a motorcycle taxi in the deserted streets. Levi Amissi, 14, nervously looked out from the bus he’d boarded. Nelly Kavira, 19, chose to walk. But the farther she got from home, the more frightened she became, as she passed hundreds of mud-caked military uniforms abandoned by soldiers fleeing the rebels.

The teens knew they were risking their lives. The rebel group M23 had recently taken over the city, in early 2025, backed by neighboring Rwanda. The United Nations has documented hundreds of beatings, arrests, and executions by the rebels in Goma, as well as grave crimes committed by fleeing soldiers.

The invasion was just the latest flare-up in a war between the Congo and Rwanda that’s lasted three decades and killed 6 million people (see “Decades of Conflict,” below). Generations of children from the D.R.C.’s east have grown up amid near-constant conflict, which continues despite a peace deal recently brokered by the United States. But in Goma, over the past two decades, thousands of those children have had a lifeline: a youth basketball academy, Promo Jeune Basket in French,* or P.J.B.

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The bombings and gun battles had finally paused in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.). Teens from across the city snuck out of the homes where they had been hiding. They all headed to the same place: the local basketball courts.

Moise Bandeke, 14, stepped over brass bullet casings as he looked for a motorcycle taxi in the deserted streets. Levi Amissi, 14, nervously looked out from the bus he’d boarded. Nelly Kavira, 19, chose to walk, but the farther she got from home, the more frightened she became. She passed hundreds of mud-caked military uniforms left behind by soldiers fleeing the rebels.

The teens knew they were risking their lives. In early 2025, the rebel group M23, backed by neighboring Rwanda, had recently taken over the city. The United Nations has documented hundreds of beatings, arrests, and executions by the rebels in Goma. They also recorded serious crimes committed by fleeing soldiers.

The invasion was just the latest flare-up in a war between the Congo and Rwanda that’s lasted three decades (see “Decades of Conflict,” below). Six million people have been killed. Generations of children from the D.R.C.’s east have grown up amid near-constant conflict. The fighting continues despite a peace deal recently brokered by the United States. But in Goma, over the past two decades, thousands of those children have had a lifeline: a youth basketball academy. It is called Promo Jeune Basket in French,* or P.J.B.

^{* Promote Youth Basketball}

Every day before the rebels arrived, about 1,500 young people flocked to P.J.B.’s 11 cracked concrete courts. They ranged from children barely out of toddlerhood to gangly 22-year-olds. As they dribbled and passed, the thwack of basketballs echoed across tin-roofed houses and low walls made of lava lumps from the volcano that looms over the city.

The academy advances education opportunities and teaches life skills to youth in eastern D.R.C., where 1.6 million children can’t go to school because of the war. According to P.J.B.’s GoFundMe campaign, its top players go on to attend a basketball camp in the U.S., hoping to attract the attention of American coaches and secure a scholarship. One of the academy’s most famous graduates is NBA star Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.

Every day before the rebels arrived, about 1,500 young people gathered at PJB’s 11 cracked concrete courts. They ranged in age from toddlers to gangly 22-year-olds. They dribbled and passed. The sound of basketballs echoed across tin-roofed houses and low walls made of lava lumps from the volcano that looms over the city.

The academy advances education opportunities and teaches life skills to youth in eastern D.R.C. Some 1.6 million children there can’t go to school because of the war. According to P.J.B.’s GoFundMe campaign, its top players go on to attend a basketball camp in the U.S. They hope to attract the attention of American coaches and secure a scholarship. One of the academy’s most famous graduates is NBA star Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.

But very few of the young hopefuls will make it to the pros, says Dario Merlo, the Congolese-Italian social entrepreneur who founded the academy. The bigger aim is to keep young people in school, allowing only those who attend class to play in competitions and awarding the best students scholarships.

The hope, Merlo says, is to produce “leaders, people who can drive the change in this country,” where for years the government has mismanaged the economy and failed to provide essential services and security for people.

“When you see that the kids are moving forward in the right direction in their life,” Merlo says, “that’s the most rewarding feeling.”

But very few of the young hopefuls will make it to the pros, says Dario Merlo, the Congolese-Italian social entrepreneur who founded the academy. The bigger aim is to keep young people in school. Only those who attend class can play in competitions, and the best students are awarded scholarships.

The hope, Merlo says, is to produce “leaders, people who can drive the change in this country,” where for years the government has mismanaged the economy and failed to provide essential services and safety for people.

“When you see that the kids are moving forward in the right direction in their life,” Merlo says, “that’s the most rewarding feeling.”

All of P.J.B.’s plans seemed in jeopardy last year, when the M23 invasion turned streets into cratered battlegrounds and some Congolese soldiers looted and killed as they retreated. Many of the academy’s players fled with their families, seeking safety in neighboring Uganda or Rwanda. Some were driven out of the displaced people’s camps they’d been living in. One player lost his father to a stray bullet. At least two joined the Congolese Army and were killed.

All of P.J.B.’s plans seemed in danger last year. The M23 invasion turned streets into battlegrounds. Some retreating Congolese soldiers looted and killed people. Many of the academy’s players fled with their families. They sought safety in neighboring Uganda or Rwanda. Some were driven out of the displaced people’s camps they’d been living in. One player lost his father to a stray bullet. At least two joined the Congolese Army and were killed.

Those hiding at home in Goma did chores and read. When there was electricity, they watched TV. Some did exercises to stay fit.

“When I got scared, I hid under the bed,” says Moise, who mostly answers questions with one syllable or a shrug.

At Levi’s house, a small patch of concrete let him practice dribbling. He was one of the lucky ones—he had a ball. It kept him sane.

One day, Levi’s mother was out trying to find potatoes when a bomb fell on a neighbor’s home. Levi screamed at his little brother to get out of their house, which was engulfed in smoke.

Those hiding at home in Goma did chores and read. When there was electricity, they watched TV. Some did exercises to stay fit.

“When I got scared, I hid under the bed,” says Moise, who mostly answers questions with one syllable or a shrug.

Levi had a small patch of concrete at his house where he practiced dribbling. He was one of the lucky ones—he had a ball. It kept him sane.

One day, Levi’s mother was out trying to find potatoes when a bomb fell on a neighbor’s home. Levi screamed at his little brother to get out of their house, which was full of smoke.

“We were shook,” he says. “We were scared to stay at home after that.”

But it wasn’t just the fear of bombs that dogged him and the other older male teens as they crept back to the courts after the conflict. It was the terrifying prospect of abduction by rebels. Thousands of people have been forced to join M23, according to the U.N. And the risk of being picked up by rebels seems high whether you’re out alone on the street or in a group on the basketball court.

“Where you have young men coming together, the rebel forces can come and take you all,” Levi says. “Nobody knows where they take you, but later you might see your buddy somewhere in a soldier’s uniform.”

Still, drawn to the academy that had nurtured them, those who were left in Goma found ways to get back to P.J.B.’s main court, despite the risks.

“We were shook,” he says. “We were scared to stay at home after that.”

But it wasn’t just the fear of bombs that worried him and the other older male teens as they crept back to the courts after the conflict. It was the terrifying prospect of abduction by rebels. Thousands of people have been forced to join M23, according to the U.N. And the risk of being picked up by rebels seems high whether you’re out alone on the street or in a group on the basketball court.

“Where you have young men coming together, the rebel forces can come and take you all,” Levi says. “Nobody knows where they take you, but later you might see your buddy somewhere in a soldier’s uniform.”

Still, those left in Goma were drawn to the academy that had nurtured them. Despite the risks, they found ways to get back to P.J.B.’s main court.

Merlo ventured out too, driving to the courts he’d poured his energy into for almost 20 years. He was born in Goma, but when he was 11, his parents took him away from conflict in the region to Belgium, where the one thing that kept him out of trouble, he says, was basketball.

So after he moved back to Goma in 2006, he started P.J.B., trying to throw the city’s children the same lifeline he had. Movie star Ben Affleck saw a video clip featuring the academy and lent his financial support. The academy is free, but those who can afford it are asked to pay a voluntary $10 annual fee.

Of all the turbulence over the years—three armed conflicts, four election cycles, and a volcanic eruption—Merlo says the events of 2025 were the worst. But as he reached the academy, he saw something that lifted his heart.

He texted a friend. “Guess what? The kids are playing again!”

Merlo ventured out too. He drove to the courts he’d poured his energy into for almost 20 years. He was born in Goma, but when he was 11, his parents took him away from conflict in the region to Belgium. The one thing that kept him out of trouble, he says, was basketball.

He moved back to Goma in 2006 and started P.J.B.. He wanted to throw the city’s children the same lifeline he had. Movie star Ben Affleck saw a video clip featuring the academy and lent his financial support. The academy is free, but those who can afford it are asked to pay a voluntary $10 annual fee.

Over the years, Goma has seen three armed conflicts, four election cycles, and a volcanic eruption. Merlo says the events of 2025 were the worst. But as he reached the academy, he saw something that lifted his heart.

He texted a friend. “Guess what? The kids are playing again!”

With M23 tightening its hold on Goma as the year unfolded, 900 of them have kept playing. On a recent afternoon, young people zigzagged, pivoted, aimed, and shot in a carefully choreographed dance that allowed dozens of people to train simultaneously without bumping into one another. Music floated over the court from a low building next door, where a brass band was practicing a mournful rendition of the Beatles’ “Let It Be.”

P.J.B.’s female players, about 30 percent of the academy, often train with the male players but compete separately. One alumna, Grace Irebu, is the captain of the D.R.C. national team, and others play at the college level abroad.

And as M23 tightened its hold on Goma as the year unfolded, 900 young people have kept playing. On a recent afternoon, dozens of them trained on the courts. They zigzagged, pivoted, aimed, and shot in a carefully choreographed dance. Music floated over the court from a low building next door, where a brass band was practicing a mournful rendition of the Beatles’ “Let It Be.”

About 30 percent of the players at P.J.B. are female. They often train with the male players but compete separately. One alumna, Grace Irebu, is the captain of the D.R.C. national team. Others play abroad at the college level. 

All the players have big dreams, inspired by the likes of Bismack Biyombo, who most recently played for the San Antonio Spurs, and NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, the D.R.C.’s most-celebrated athlete, whose portrait gazes down from the academy’s walls.

“Not all young people can play professional basketball,” says Sifa Saidi, a former player who now coordinates the academy’s educational program, monitoring players’ grades and attendance. “For the others, it’s better if they can get educated.”

Naturally, 14-year-old Moise wants to grow up to be like Michael Jordan. But he also wants to be like his father, an import-export trader. In the bleachers, he catches his breath, studying some older players’ footwork as they swoop and pump fake. After months of terrifying uncertainty in Goma, his take on being back on the courts was tempered by a teenager’s studied cool.

“It’s normal,” he says.

All the players have big dreams. They are inspired by the likes of Bismack Biyombo, who most recently played for the San Antonio Spurs, and NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, the D.R.C.’s most-celebrated athlete, whose portrait gazes down from the academy’s walls.

“Not all young people can play professional basketball,” says Sifa Saidi, a former player who now coordinates the academy’s educational program, monitoring players’ grades and attendance. “For the others, it’s better if they can get educated.”

Moise, 14, wants to grow up to be like Michael Jordan, but he also wants to be like his father, an import-export trader. Sitting in the bleachers, he studies some older players’ footwork as they swoop and pump fake. After months of terrifying uncertainty in Goma, his reaction to being back on the courts was filtered by a teenager’s studied cool.

“It’s normal,” he says.

Ruth Maclean covers West Africa for The New York Times.

Ruth Maclean covers West Africa for The New York Times.