On February 19, 2025, General Michel Rukunda widely known as General Makanika was killed in a reported drone strike in the Minembwe highlands of South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Eight months after his death, his name continues to echo across Banyamulenge communities in Congo and the diaspora. His image, once defined by the battlefield, is now being immortalized in song, memory, and cultural tributes that portray him as a hero of Mulenge.
A new tribute song titled “Général Makanika – Héros ya Mulenge,” composed by CEO Officer Jean de Dieu, a Banyamulenge diaspora leader based in Australia, has become one of the most poignant artistic homages to his legacy. The melody begins softly, with the gentle sound of a guitar setting an emotional tone. Voices hum his name in Lingala, calling him “Héros ya Mulenge” and “mwana wa Minembwe,” evoking both pride and loss.
Makanika was a former officer in the Congolese army who, in 2020, broke ranks to lead Twirwaneho, a Banyamulenge self-defense group. His emergence came at a time of deep insecurity in the highlands of South Kivu, where the Banyamulenge community has long faced cycles of violence, displacement and marginalization. For many in his community, Makanika became a symbol of resistance and protection. To others, he embodied the complexity of a war where local defense forces and armed groups often blur into one.
The song’s lyrics, performed in Lingala, Swahili and French, reflect the multilingual and transnational identity of the Banyamulenge. The chorus “Jenerali Makanika, shujaa wa Mulenge, ulisimama kwa ujasiri kwa ajili ya watu wako” celebrates his courage and sacrifice. A bridge verse lists the names of other fallen fighters, turning the tribute into a collective memorial.
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His death triggered an outpouring of grief across the Banyamulenge community. For those who saw him as a defender of their homeland, his killing was more than the loss of a commander; it was the silencing of a symbol. Diaspora groups in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia organized vigils and posted tributes online, portraying him as a martyr who died for the survival of his people.
But Makanika’s legacy is not without controversy. While revered by many as a hero, he was also sanctioned by the United Nations for alleged recruitment of child soldiers and other abuses linked to his armed group. His story is emblematic of the complex and painful dynamics of the conflict in eastern Congo a struggle between community defense, state failure, and human cost.
The new song by Jean de Dieu does not shy away from the weight of that legacy. It merges mourning with defiance, weaving together the voices of a people determined not to let their heroes be forgotten. “Tokozongisa nkombo na yo libela,” the choir sings. “We will restore your name forever.”
The highlands of Minembwe and Mulenge remain volatile, but the memory of Makanika continues to inspire loyalty and debate in equal measure. His death may have ended his fight on the ground, but his story lives on in the hearts of his supporters, in the politics of the region, and now, in the verses of a song that has become a rallying cry for a community in search of dignity and recognition.
