Forgotten Congolese Banyamulenge Ethnicity in Republic democratic of Congo South Kivu region from 2017-2021

A Research Published by Paul Habineza, Student Researcher at New School of Anthropocene (NSOTA) London July 2025.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a vast country located in Central Africa, with a population of over 90 million people, making it the fourth most populous country in Africa. The DRC is rich in natural resources, including minerals like cobalt, copper, and diamonds, but despite this wealth, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world due to decades of conflict, corruption, and political instability. The DRC bordering several countries in the region but this ethnicity Banyamulenge is located in South Kivu bordering Rwanda and Burundi.

The problem at hand is the ongoing violence and systematic ethnic cleansing efforts targeting Congolese Banyamulenge community in the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Banyamulenge, a minority ethnic group with Tutsi origins, have faced relentless persecution, driven by deep-seated ethnic tensions and the complex dynamics of regional conflict.

“The problem at hand is the ongoing violence and systematic ethnic cleansing efforts targeting Congolese Banyamulenge community in the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).”

Image credit: The New Humanitarian

This umpteenth attack is part of a coordinated plan implemented since April 2017 to cleanse the area of any Banyamulenge presence.  Over the past 8 years, 2000 banyamulenge have lost their lives, More than 90%  villages and infrastructures  have been completely destroyed and burned to the ground, more that 500,000 cattles looted and tens of thousands people dispersed in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. All these report were submitted to the current government with no actions. The Banyamulenge Massacre have repeatedly occurred on the watch of Congolese government officials and UN Peacekeeping Mission (MONUSCO).

This is the reason of existence of Twirwaneho, a spontaneously born self-defense movement. The Twirwaneho action was born from the inability of the Congolese state and its security organs to fairly protect all citizens. Although the Banyamulenge population felt abandoned by their government, they did not consider the Congolese army as their enemy but rather begged them to protect everyone without discrimination. The Eastern African region, African Union , Angola peace Program , Doha Peace agreement and United States agreement between countries concerned should bring sustainable peace for  Congolese in general and Banyamulenge Minority ethnicity in particular.