On the morning of Tuesday, December 16, 2025, a powerful voice once again drew attention to the security and human rights crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Obadioas Kavune, an intellectual and Munyamulenge widely known for his deep analysis of history and the injustice that has marked the lives of Tutsis in Congo, delivered a strong message through MCN, addressing the international community and global organizations.
In words filled with pain and anger, Kavune raised a serious question that many continue to ask: “Are Tutsis in Congo meant to die?” This was not an emotional outburst, but a question rooted in a long history of killings, persecution, and violence committed against Tutsis at different times, often while the international community watched or chose to ignore it.
Kavune pointed out that while the world presents itself as a defender of human rights, some populations appear untouchable, while others are allowed to die without anyone speaking for them. He argued that the silence of the international community regarding atrocities against Congolese Tutsis is not accidental, but a deliberate choice driven by political and economic interests.
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Reflecting on earlier history, Kavune recalled that in 1964, during the uprisings led by Pierre Mulele, many Congolese Tutsis were killed, looted, women were raped, and families destroyed, all in full view of the world, which failed to take meaningful action. This marked the beginning of a long journey of suffering and fear.
He added that in the years that followed, Mobutu Sese Seko, in his bid to regain control of the country, relied on Tutsis in wars that helped him return to power. However, according to Kavune, once Mobutu consolidated his rule, those same Tutsis were again expelled from their lands, stripped of their rights, while the international community remained silent.
Kavune strongly emphasized the year 1996, when Congolese Tutsis were given only a few hours to leave their ancestral land. What followed were massacres, widespread looting, and the burning of homes, as civilians fled into forests and mountains with no protection.
In 1998, as the war escalated again, Kavune said Tutsis continued to be killed in different parts of the country, including Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kalemie, and many other areas. People were murdered in broad daylight simply because of their ethnic identity, while the world looked on as if nothing was happening.
He stated: “Every time Tutsis were dying, the international community was silent. Even in 1994 in Rwanda, Tutsis were slaughtered while the world watched.”
These words underscored that the issue is not limited to Congo alone, but reflects a global illness, choosing whom to protect and whom to let be killed.
Kavune also reminded that from 2017 to the present, Tutsis in eastern Congo, particularly the Banyamulenge, have continued to face attacks by armed groups. Their villages have been destroyed, families displaced, cattle killed, civilians murdered or expelled from their land, even as some had begun returning home with hopes for peace.
He explained that for more than eight years, the Banyamulenge have lived like prisoners in their own country, constantly under threat from airstrikes and heavy aerial bombardments, yet none of this prompted strong international outrage or decisive action.
Unexpectedly, Kavune referred to the military operation in Uvira, noting that it immediately triggered loud reactions from the international community. Yet, in reality, he said, it was a response to people who had long been trapped in Minembwe, deprived of freedom and the right to live.
He questioned why the freedom of the Banyamulenge is treated as a crime by the world, while killing them and expelling them from their land has become normalized. He linked this to remarks by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who stated that those loudly condemning events in Uvira never spoke out about the long-standing suffering endured by the Banyamulenge.
Kavune also referred to events in Ituri Province, where he said the international community once again remained silent in the face of massacres that claimed many lives, showing that the problem is not isolated, but reflects a broader failure of justice.
In concluding his message, Obadioas Kavune called on the international community and global institutions to change their approach. He said the time has come to stop prioritizing political and economic interests over human lives.
He urged that humanitarian actors and peace advocates be allowed to do their work freely, without hidden agendas, in order to protect all civilians and uphold human rights without discrimination.
This message has been received as a powerful testimony adding to the growing voices demanding that the world reassess its role in the ongoing conflicts in eastern Congo. For many, Kavune’s words are a cry for justice, truth, and equal protection of human dignity, regardless of ethnicity, origin, or political interests.
