Burundian army intensifies massacre of Banyamulenge in DRC

Author: Emmanuel Mutebi

• 2024-03-18 06:01:00

Burundian troops deployed to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are reportedly getting involved in the massacres of the Banyamulenge in South Kivu Province.

Sources say that on March 2 and March 6, the Congolese army coalition which has, among others, Burundian soldiers, launched two attacks against the Banyamulenge, in Uvira, causing deaths and property damages.  The deadly attacks were witnessed at the time of the relaunch of a reconciliation programme between different communities in Uvira and was sabotage to the peace and unity efforts.

The Banyamulenge were persecuted over false allegations of military camps allegedly being established by their Twirwaneho rebel group.

The National Defense Forces of Burundi (FNDB) troops who were among the attackers are part of the 6,000 Burundian soldiers sent to eastern DRC since 2023 by President Evariste Ndayishimiye in a bid to purportedly support the Congolese army in fighting M23 rebels.

What's puzzling, however, is the fact that the Banyamurenge community, in South Kivu Province, is so far away from the conflict in North Kivu Province and especially not part of the M23 rebel group which the government of Burundi sought to help Kinshasa fight.

The Banyamulenge community was settled in South Kivu between the 16th and 18th Centuries, from Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. However, their status changed over time. They are mostly seen as affiliated to the Tutsi of the African Great Lakes region, and they speak a language close to Kirundi and Kinyarwanda.

In December 2022, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the UN's Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, raised concerns about attacks against the Kinyarwanda-speaking community in eastern DRC based on “ethnicity or perceived allegiance with neighboring countries”.

The Banyamulenge were for long portrayed as “foreigners” by other Congolese tribes, with successive Congolese governments watching idly. They have been victims of decades-long killings targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese in eastern DRC.

The FNDB’s involvement in ongoing killings of unarmed civilians in eastern DRC, shows that Burundi is committed to the genocidal agenda initiated by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, against Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.

It is regrettable to see criminal attacks being carried out by FNDB and FARDC, when these national armies are supposed to be protecting the population.

Burundi has been recruiting its Imbonerakure militia to reinforce its troop deployment to DRC, which has been controversial and caused wrangles among top Burundian officials in the government and army.

The Congolese civil society has witnessed the presence of a large number of Imbonerakure in DRC. Many were lured into joining the battle with little or no training.

Why the reinforcement?

Burundi’s regular army is not inclined to fight in DRC. On December 8, 2023, some 150 Burundian troops were sent back to Burundi, following their protest against orders from Gitega to support the Congolese army coalition in fighting the M23 rebels.  The commanders of the 150 repatriated soldiers refused to return to Burundi, and are hiding in eastern DRC, fearing they will be executed once they go back to Burundi.

Despite failing to defeat the M23 rebels, the Congolese army coalition of Burundian troops, the Rwandan genocidal group, FDLR, European and American mercenaries, SADC troops, and a myriad of other militias grouped in the Wazalendo are carrying out mass killings of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, burning their houses and looting their property.