In an exclusive phone interview with Afrovera Media, CEO Officer Jean de Dieu, Ambassador of Peace of the Banyamulenge community in Australia and a senior member of MRDP–Twirwaneho, issued a sharp warning over what he describes as a “calculated siege” imposed on the Banyamulenge population in Minembwe, South Kivu.
According to CEO Officer Jean de Dieu, Burundian armed forces (FDNB) operating inside the Democratic Republic of Congo, together with allied Mai-Mai groups, have blocked key roads, prevented market access, and cut off humanitarian corridors actions he says are aimed at inflicting mass civilian suffering.
“What is happening in Minembwe is not accidental. Burundian forces are intentionally blocking roads and preventing our people from reaching markets or receiving humanitarian relief. This is a deliberate strategy to starve the Banyamulenge population,” he told Afrovera Media.
His claims closely align with newly released humanitarian reports from the United Nations (OCHA) and a detailed appeal by Réseau UMOJA , a coalition of 17 humanitarian organizations operating in the region.
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UN: Over 172,000 People Trapped Without Access to Aid
A humanitarian access note published by OCHA on 24 November 2025 confirms a severe deterioration in South Kivu:
- 172,000+ people are isolated and deprived of essential assistance.
- Humanitarian access to Minembwe, Itombwe, and the Hauts Plateaux is now classified as “extremely limited to nearly impossible.”
- Since June 2025, main supply routes including Fizi–Lusuku–Point Zéro–Mikenke–Minembwe have been closed for months due to the presence of armed foreign forces.
- More than 1,000 newly displaced civilians have arrived around Minembwe after renewed violence.
OCHA specifically states that humanitarian convoys cannot reach Minembwe because of Burundian forces and Mai-Mai militias, confirming Jean de Dieu’s assertions.
“Even the United Nations has publicly said it cannot access Minembwe because of Burundian forces and Mai-Mai presence. This proves the scale of the crisis. Our people have been abandoned to hunger and insecurity,” he said.
Réseau UMOJA: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
In a formal letter addressed to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, the Réseau UMOJA coalition documented the following:
- Over 2,000 civilians killed in recent years
- More than 450 homes burned
- 68 villages attacked or destroyed
- Entire communities displaced for months
- Systematic targeting of the Banyamulenge people
- Collapse of health services , with some emergency surgeries performed without anesthesia due to supply blockages
- Continuous drone attacks and bombardments , with up to 10 attacks per month
UMOJA described the situation as:
“A dramatic humanitarian catastrophe unseen in years in this region.” Ceo–Officer Jean de Dieu agreed with this assessment: “Hospitals have no medication. Women are giving birth without anesthesia. Children are dying from hunger. This is no longer a simple conflict this is an organized assault on an entire community.”
Starvation, Price Inflation, and Medical System Collapse
According to OCHA and UMOJA, the blockade has triggered a devastating rise in prices:
- 1 kg of salt: 2,500 FC → 35,000 FC
- 1 bar of soap: 2,000 FC → 30,000 FC
- 1 kg of sugar: 400 FC → 35,000 FC
- 25 kg cassava flour: 15,000 FC → 50,000 FC
Jean de Dieu called these figures direct evidence of a siege:
“When a bar of soap costs fifteen times more than it used to, when basic foods become luxury items that is not normal market fluctuation. That is starvation used as a weapon of war.”
Health conditions have collapsed:
- Malnutrition is rising sharply among children under five.
- Pregnant and lactating women face life-threatening shortages.
- Vaccination programs have stopped entirely.
- In Minembwe’s hospital, nearly 60% of child deaths recorded between July and September 2025 were linked to severe malnutrition.
Roads Blocked by Armed Groups and Foreign Forces
Both OCHA and UMOJA listed the main humanitarian routes now cut off. These include:
- Uvira – Kirungu – Bijombo
- Uvira – Katobo – Kahololo
- Uvira – Baraka – Fizi – Mulima – Point Zéro – Mikenke – Minembwe
- Fizi – Mulima – Minembwe
- Fizi – Kichura – Rugezi – Minembwe
- Bisimbi – Itombwe
Ceo – Officer Jean de Dieu said these blockades amount to an economic and humanitarian siege:
“Every single route to Minembwe is blocked. There is no way for traders, aid groups, or even sick people to move. This is a multi-layered blockade designed to suffocate the Banyamulenge community.”
A Call for Immediate Action from UN, AU, and Kinshasa
Ceo–Officer Jean de Dieu urged the Congolese government and the international community to act swiftly:
“We are calling on the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and the government of Kinshasa to intervene. Burundian forces must withdraw from Minembwe, and all armed groups must stop obstructing humanitarian corridors.”
He warned of a looming mass-casualty disaster if urgent measures are not taken:
“This is a life-or-death situation. Children are dying. Mothers are dying. If the world does not act now, history will remember that an entire population was starved in plain sight.”
Conclusion
The convergence of:
- firsthand testimony from community leaders,
- verified UN and NGO reports,
- And the documented actions of armed groups and foreign troops
Demonstrates that Minembwe is facing a man-made, preventable humanitarian emergency.
Afrovera Media will continue to follow the situation closely, amplify the voices of affected communities, and report on new developments as they unfold.
