TUZAFRIKA: A Doctrine of "We" for a Fractured Age

The Brussels-based institute carries We-ism, a philosophy of mutual usefulness applied to peace in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Brussels, August 1, 2026: As the African Great Lakes region remains marked by decades of interlocking conflicts, and as the world at large sees a resurgence of identity-based retrenchment, the TUZAFRIKA Institute carries a doctrine born of a simple conviction: no one saves themselves alone. This doctrine, We-ism (the Way of "We"), offers a concrete alternative to radical individualism, applied equally to human relationships and relations between nations.

Founded by Tuza Shema (author, strategy expert and researcher on the resilience of societies facing modern crises, theorist of We-ism), TUZAFRIKA defines itself as an international institute of thought, doctrine, and action: an action think tank based in Brussels. Drawing on his background in strategy and national security in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he now channels that experience into a reflection centered on peace, mediation, and co-development.

A Doctrine, Three Pillars

We-ism rests on a founding formula: "I am useful, therefore We are. We are, therefore I exist." It unfolds into three complementary pillars. Useful-Existence holds that no one fully exists except by becoming necessary to others. The Knot of Destinies carries this principle to the geopolitical scale: a people's security and prosperity cannot be separated from that of its neighbors. Awakened Service, finally, is the method of action, through four concrete disciplines that TUZAFRIKA trains and spreads in the field: active and useful presence, the weaving word, preventive mediation, and the economy of shared prosperity.

A Founding Geography

The doctrine draws its source from the very geography of the Great Lakes: Lake Kivu and the three nations that face one another across it (the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi), bound together by shared waters, languages, and a common history marked by both pain and hope. We-ism's doctrinal emblem, the Eagle of the Three Cloths, carries this visual memory.

"We do not merely share a border. We share a future. We-ism begins where the fear of the other ends."
Tuza Shema, founder of TUZAFRIKA

On the Ground

Beyond its doctrinal corpus (the Manifesto, the Charter of Companions, the Programmatic Framework), TUZAFRIKA carries out concrete action: advocacy for the rule of law and human rights, training in civic engagement and preventive mediation, support for co-development projects, and cooperation between civil society organizations in Africa and Europe. The institute frames its work within the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, in particular the goals on peace and effective institutions (SDG 16), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and partnerships (SDG 17).

Anyone wishing to get involved can join the Way of "We" by becoming a Companion, through one of the institute's three modes of engagement: Circle, Ambassador, or Builder. More information at tuzafrika.org

About TUZAFRIKA

TUZAFRIKA is an international institute of thought, doctrine, and action, founded on May 25, 2025, and based in Brussels. It develops and spreads the doctrine of We-ism in service of peace, social cohesion, and co-development, particularly in the African Great Lakes region.

Press contact

Tuza Shema, Founder and President
contact@tuzafrika.org · +32 470 10 10 25