In an exclusive interview with KivuPride.com, Ceo-Officer Jean de Dieu, the Ambassador of Peace of Banyamulenge in Australia, issued an urgent plea for international intervention as the ongoing genocide against the Banyamulenge people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reaches alarming levels. He emphasized the dire situation on the ground, calling for immediate action to prevent further mass killings and displacement.
On the morning of Monday, March 3, 2025, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), Burundian troops, burned five Banyamulenge villages to the ground in coordinated attacks and armed groups affiliated with the FDLR and Wazalendo militias. The attacks targeted civilians in Bibogobogo, Mikenke, and the southern part of Minembwe. Among the villages destroyed were Kabara, Bijanda, and Magaja, all located in Bibogobogo, where Mai-Mai rebels led by the self-proclaimed Col. Toronto launched the assault.
Reports indicate that FARDC and Burundian troops also attacked the Mikenke refugee camp, home to thousands of displaced Banyamulenge. “The situation is dire,” , Ceo-Officer Jean de Dieu, stated. “This is not just an armed conflict; it is an orchestrated attempt to wipe out an entire community. The world cannot remain silent while innocent people are slaughtered and displaced.”
The Mikenke refugee camp, which had been established four years ago following previous Mai-Mai attacks, was set on fire. While the extent of the destruction remains unclear, sources confirm that thousands of Banyamulenge refugees are now without shelter. Further south, in Biziba, more villages have been reduced to ashes in continued Mai-Mai offensives.
Despite these atrocities, Banyamulenge self-defense forces known as Twirwaneho have been fighting back. They have reportedly repelled the coalition of FARDC, Burundian forces, FDLR, and Wazalendo in several areas, even reclaiming strategic positions in Biziba. However, the fighting remains intense, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence.
Ceo-Officer Jean de Dieu, expressed grave concern over the international community’s inaction. “We need urgent intervention. The UN, the African Union, and major world powers must act now to stop this genocide. If nothing is done, the Banyamulenge people will cease to exist in their homeland.”
He also emphasized the role of the Burundian government in supporting the attacks: “Burundi’s involvement in these massacres is undeniable. We call on the international community to hold those responsible accountable for these war crimes. The world must not look away.”
As the battle rages on, the Banyamulenge people remain under siege, with their homes and livelihoods systematically destroyed. The international community must respond to this crisis with urgency, deploying peacekeeping forces, enforcing sanctions on perpetrators, and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
“Silence is complicity,” Ceo-Officer Jean de Dieu, concluded. “If the world truly stands for human rights and justice, now is the time to prove it. The Banyamulenge cannot be left to die alone.”
KivuPride.com will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.
