Two of the most active African volcanoes, i.e., Nyiragongo and Nyamu­lagira, are located in the region of Goma (North Kivu, DR Congo). These volcanoes are of both scientific and societal importance, as they represent an ideal place to study vol­canism associated with extensional setting, while they seriously threaten a densely populated region of about one million inhabitants. Since 2006, Belgian and Luxembourgian scientists have developed scientific activities ranging from fundamental and applied research to local capacity building and knowledge transfer, and aim to respond as best and fully as possible to the tackled environmental issues. The present paper deals with this long-term investment, including the strategy followed and its complexity due to the unstable socio-political context and the hostile natural environment. After twelve years of activities, the Belgian-Luxembourgian (BeLux) approach appears to be successful, but remains uncertain in terms of sustainability. ; Paper presented at the meeting of the Section of Technical Sciences held on 30 March 2017. Text received on 28 August 2017 and submitted to peer review. Final version, approved by the reviewers, received on 16 October 2018.