“I’ve never been registered in a census since I was born,” Ramazani told Al Jazeera. “It is essential to know how many Congolese people there are in the country and around the world,” Katembo told Al Jazeera. “We find ourselves almost in a situation where it is impossible to organise the census,” he told Al Jazeera. For Katembo, official identity documents represent a form of recognition that many Congolese feel they have long lacked. “Through these cards, we will regain the nationality we lost over 40 years ago,” Katembo told Al Jazeera.