CEO-Officer Jean de Dieu Says Twirwaneho Defeated Wazalendo Militias Backed by Kinshasa in Gahwera, Urges Global Action

In an exclusive interview with Afrovera.com, Jean de Dieu, CEO-Officer and Peace Ambassador of the Banyamulenge community in Australia, confirmed that local defense forces known as Twirwaneho repelled a major offensive launched by the Wazalendo militia, which is reportedly backed by the Congolese government.

The attack occurred at dawn on Thursday in the village of Gahwera, near Sekaganda and Nyawaranga, in the conflict-prone Ndondo area of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The attackers came from areas like Mwibumba, Bunyoni, and Nyabibuye where they’ve been mobilizing for days. Their aim was to displace the Banyamulenge population living peacefully in Gahwera,” said CEO-OFFICER Jean de Dieu.

The Wazalendo militia, widely believed to receive logistical and political support from the administration of President Félix Tshisekedi, reportedly launched the assault using heavy weaponry. However, they were pushed back by Twirwaneho, a Banyamulenge-led self-defense militia formed to protect the community from repeated attacks.

“Our Twirwaneho fighters stood firm. Despite being outgunned, they forced the Wazalendo to retreat beyond the Ganja valley. Some fled in panic, leaving behind weapons and supplies,” he added.

Political and Regional Implications

The renewed violence comes just weeks after high-profile peace declarations signed in Doha and Washington, in which stakeholders pledged to de-escalate the conflict in eastern DRC. Jean de Dieu argues that the latest attacks prove Kinshasa has no intention of honoring those agreements.

“This is part of a broader ethnic cleansing campaign against the Banyamulenge. The Congolese government is directly complicit through its support of Wazalendo,” he told Afrovera.com.

Calls for International Action

Jean de Dieu has issued a strong appeal to the global community:

“We call on the United Nations, African Union, European Union, the U.S., and all international peace actors to intervene. The Banyamulenge are facing daily threats to their existence, yet the world remains silent,” he warned.

He also called for the deployment of international observers and peacekeeping forces in Banyamulenge areas like Minembwe, Bijombo, and Gahwera, as well as an independent investigation into alleged war crimes and human rights abuses.

“We need a UN-mandated inquiry and long-term international protection. Genocide never starts in a single dayit begins with silence. And today, that silence is killing us,” he added, visibly emotional.

Afrovera.com will continue to follow this developing story and provide firsthand reports from affected communities in Ndondo and surrounding areas.