Street Actions and Social Media: Youth Resistance in Goma Facing Repression

This article examines citizen resistance and the use of social media in Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This region faces chronic insecurity, armed conflicts, and a fragile state. Public demonstrations are often monitored, restricted, or violently suppressed. Activists use both street actions and digital tools to protest and challenge authority. The study shows how young activists use Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter to organize collective actions, create counter-narratives, and resist repression. Digital tools complement and transform traditional protests, creating a link between online mobilization and on-the-ground actions. Using a qualitative approach based on online discourse analysis, activist testimonies, and observation of mobilizations, this article explores how digital resistance reshapes local power relations. It raises questions: how do activists adapt their strategies? How does the internet affect visibility, risks, and collective identity? What responses, such as surveillance or internet shutdowns, emerge? The case of Goma demonstrates that digital resistance is not only a tactical adaptation but also transforms the way resistance is practiced under difficult conditions. This research bridges academic studies and activist experience, showing how communities build resilience, sustain collective action, and resist domination