Banyamulenge protest against Burundian troops in Minembwe

By The Inspirer.

Residents of the Fizi, Uvira, and Mwenga territories in South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) staged protests on November 4, 2025, in Minembwe, demanding the withdrawal of Burundian troops from their region.

The demonstrators accused the Congolese army (FARDC) of killing many Banyamulenge civilians and committing acts of sexual violence, while Burundian forces deployed in the area allegedly use starvation as a weapon against those who remain.

Protesters expressed anger over the blockade imposed by Burundian soldiers, which has cut off access to markets and essential supplies, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

During the protest, they sang songs that denounced past and ongoing atrocities, including one that said: “They attacked us in Mikenke, killed our children and women. Burundians go back home, you committed genocide in Mikenke. We appeal to the international community to help us—we don’t want Minembwe and Mikenke to become another Gatumba.”

One woman at the protest said the Burundian soldiers were deliberately starving civilians, calling it an act of genocide. She urged the international community to intervene, saying the routes they relied on for food and basic needs had been blocked by Burundian troops.

“We, the mothers, do not want Burundian soldiers here. They should go back home. They committed genocide in Gatumba and now they are continuing it in Minembwe by starving us. They must have found the Gatumba genocide insufficient and came to finish it here,” she said.

A man from the Shi community expressed solidarity with the Banyamulenge, praying that God would open safe routes so people could resume trade and normal life as before the arrival of Burundian forces.

According to the Mahoro Peace Association, since 2017—when the Congolese government began military operations against Banyamulenge communities—around 328,000 people have been displaced, while 548 villages, 134 schools, and several health centers have been burned down.

The organization added that more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers are currently stationed around Banyamulenge villages, cutting off access to markets and essential services, thereby denying residents their right to live.

Burundian troops were deployed to South Kivu under a bilateral agreement between the governments of Burundi and the DRC. Although the mission was officially presented as a joint effort to combat armed groups, local residents say that civilians—not rebels—have become the primary victims.

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