Mahoro Peace Association Exposes Arbitrary Detention of Over 150 Tutsi and Banyamulenge in Congo’s Prisons

Mahoro Peace Association (MPA) has released a chilling report accusing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of arbitrarily detaining over 150 Congolese citizens primarily from the Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities without charge, trial, or legal representation. In a statement posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2025, MPA shared a detailed list of names of individuals it says are being held in high-security prisons including Makala, Ndolo, Munzenze Goma, and DMIAP.

«These people are not criminals. Their only ‘crime’ is their ethnicity or being falsely accused of affiliations with M23 or Twirwaneho,»

MPA said.

«We will not stop condemning the arbitrary arrests of Congolese Banyamulenge and Tutsi victims of unjust ethnic targeting, fueled by hate speech and ethnic scapegoating.»

The organization stated that many of the detainees have been imprisoned for years without ever seeing a judge or receiving a formal accusation. Among those listed are respected leaders, students, and ordinary civilians some of whom have reportedly died in detention or disappeared without trace. «This list is far from complete,» MPA warned. «Many have died in prison, others have vanished, and countless others remain unaccounted for. This is a crisis of justice.»

The group emphasized that these detentions are taking place in facilities known for harsh conditions and systemic abuse. Makala Prison in Kinshasa, Ndolo military prison, and Munzenze Goma are particularly highlighted as sites where prisoners suffer extreme overcrowding, lack of medical care, and prolonged isolation. MPA insists that these conditions violate not only DRC’s national laws but also international human rights conventions.

Notable individuals named in the list include Hon. Edouard Mwangacucu, Aime Gashirabake Jacques, Bora Bendera, and Kiruhura Zahabu Adolphe, among many others. The organization also drew attention to the fact that women, though fewer in number, are also being subjected to the same injustices.

MPA is urging the United Nations, African Union, regional stakeholders, and international human rights organizations to urgently intervene. Their demands include immediate and unconditional release of all detainees not formally charged, independent investigations into cases of disappearance and death in custody, and international pressure on Congolese authorities to end ethnic-based persecution.

This development adds to growing concerns over Congo’s deteriorating human rights record, especially in its handling of ethnic minority populations in the conflict-affected eastern regions. For decades, the Banyamulenge and Tutsi communities have faced suspicion, violence, and displacement. However, the current wave of detentions represents what MPA calls «institutionalized repression through judicial abuse.»

As international focus remains fixed on global crises elsewhere, MPA warns that the silence surrounding the plight of Congo’s Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities may have irreversible consequences. “These are not just names on a list,” the group concluded. “They are voices silenced by injustice and we must speak for them before it’s too late.”