The MRDP-Twirwaneho, a Banyamulenge civil protection group, has issued an urgent alert warning of coordinated and premeditated attacks against Banyamulenge civilians in the territories of Fizi and Itombwe, in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the statement released from Minembwe, the attacks are allegedly being carried out by elements of the Burundian armed forces, in collaboration with Wazalendo militias and fighters from the FDLR, who have reportedly crossed illegally into Congolese territory from Rumonge, Burundi.
🚨 URGENT: Coordinated attacks targeting Banyamulenge civilians reported in Fizi & Itombwe (DRC). MRDP-Twirwaneho warns of Burundian troops & Wazalendo militias crossing illegally into Congo with 700+ ammo crates.
📰 Also Read This:
Massive threat to civilian lives. Adela Kibasumba, former President of Mahoro Peace Association (MPA), posted on Twitter.
The alert comes amidst growing concerns over regional instability and failed peace processes, including the Doha Process, which aimed to address armed conflicts in the eastern DRC.
Twirwaneho sources claim that Burundian troops crossed Lake Tanganyika, landing in Fizi, particularly at Kazimia. Once there, they allegedly joined other fighters already operating in the Hautes-Plateaux, with the stated aim of uprooting Banyamulenge communities. The movement of these foreign armed elements is seen as a grave violation of DRC’s sovereignty and international law.
Even more alarming, the alert notes that the Burundian troops have supplied over 700 crates of ammunition to the Wazalendo militias and are preparing to launch major offensives targeting Banyamulenge civilians.
Three-Pronged Attack Plan
The operation, as described by MRDP-Twirwaneho, is divided into three coordinated fronts:
- Group I (Rugezi Axis): Deployed near Mukera, composed of FDLR and Wazalendo fighters under local commanders, reportedly preparing to attack Banyamulenge in Rugezi.
- Group II (Mulima – Point Zero Axis): Operating near Mulima, with intentions to assault villages such as Gakenke, Mikenke, and the vast Ndondo area, locally known as Mucohagatyi.
- Group III (Gahwera Axis): Based around Musika and led by a faction under Hamada, targeting Lukombe and specifically Nyabibuye, with orders to attack surrounding villages.
The MRDP-Twirwaneho condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, labeling them part of a “genocidal plan” orchestrated with support from elements in Kinshasa, accusing the central government of turning a blind eye or even actively supporting the attackers.
“This plan of extermination against Banyamulenge populations is unacceptable and must be treated with the urgency it deserves,” the statement reads.
The organization vowed to continue efforts to protect civilians and their property across Fizi, Mwenga, Tombwe, and Uvira.
