Regional
Burundian army intensifies massacre of Banyamulenge in DRC
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.