The ongoing conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has intensified as armed groups such as AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho continue their military and advocacy efforts to combat historical injustices and ensure security for their communities. While some view these movements as liberation forces striving to protect marginalized populations, others perceive them as destabilizing actors in an already volatile region.
In the midst of this turmoil, CEO Officer Jean de Dieu, a prominent advocate for peace and justice, has voiced strong concerns about the systemic discrimination and violence that have long plagued the Banyamulenge and Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities. His calls for dialogue and accountability reflect the urgent need for a long-term solution to the crisis.
For decades, the Banyamulenge and other Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in Eastern DRC have faced exclusion, forced displacement, and targeted violence. Successive governments in Kinshasa have either ignored their plight or actively contributed to policies that deprive them of citizenship rights, land ownership, and political representation.
According to leaders of Twirwaneho and AFC/M23, their mission is to resist the ongoing persecution of their people and to challenge the state-sponsored narratives that label them as foreigners in their own country. These groups argue that they are not rebels but defenders of fundamental human rights, filling the security void left by a government that has failed to protect its own citizens.
Speaking on the issue, CEO Officer Jean de Dieu emphasized:
“For too long, the Banyamulenge and Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese have been subjected to systematic discrimination. It is unacceptable that a segment of the population continues to suffer in a country where they belong. The international community must not turn a blind eye to this crisis.”
While AFC/M23 continues to engage in military operations aimed at securing key territories, Twirwaneho functions as a self-defense force for local communities under attack from armed militias such as Maï-Maï, FARDC-backed groups, and other ethnic-based factions.
Advocates argue that these groups emerged as a necessity, not as an aggressive insurgency, but as a means of survival in the absence of state protection. According to multiple reports, villages inhabited by Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese have been burned, families have been forcibly displaced, and systematic massacres have taken place—all while the government in Kinshasa either remained silent or actively supported these atrocities.
CEO Officer Jean de Dieu further noted:
“No government should tolerate the mass displacement and killings of its own people. When the state fails to act, communities have no choice but to protect themselves.”
Despite their military campaigns, AFC/M23 and Twirwaneho have repeatedly expressed their willingness to engage in peace talks—provided that these negotiations genuinely address the root causes of the conflict. They demand that the Congolese government acknowledges the historical injustices faced by their communities and guarantees equal rights, security, and political participation for all citizens.
However, Kinshasa has consistently rejected these calls for dialogue, branding these groups as mere armed rebels and refusing to negotiate with them. This continued resistance to peace efforts has only fueled further instability and humanitarian crises.
CEO Officer Jean de Dieu has strongly advocated for a diplomatic resolution:
Sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military force alone. Justice must be served, and all communities must be given equal recognition and rights. We urge the Congolese government to open meaningful discussions that will lead to lasting stability.
For lasting peace to take hold in Eastern DRC, several key steps must be taken:
- The Congolese government must acknowledge the rights of Banyamulenge and Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese as full citizens of the country.
- A formal peace dialogue should be initiated, involving all stakeholders, including Twirwaneho and AFC/M23.
- The international community, including the United Nations (UN) and the East African Community (EAC), must actively intervene to prevent further atrocities and facilitate conflict resolution.
- All armed groups, including FARDC-backed militias, must be held accountable for human rights violations committed against civilians.
The failure to address these core issues will only lead to prolonged conflict and suffering. Without justice, peace will remain elusive.
As the struggle for justice and security continues, the role of advocacy and diplomacy becomes increasingly crucial. Figures like CEO Officer Jean de Dieu remind the world that this conflict is not just about territorial control it is about human rights, dignity, and the fight against systemic oppression.
The road to peace will not be easy, but it must begin with genuine dialogue and the recognition that all Congolese citizens regardless of ethnicity deserve equal treatment, security, and the right to exist in their homeland without fear.
The question remains: Will the Congolese government listen before it’s too late?
