The assassination of General Rukunda Michel, the hero of Mulenge widely known as “Makanika,” continues to raise questions after he was brutally killed by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
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According to recent reports published by Campaignforpeacedr.com, there is undeniable evidence indicating that “Makanika” was killed by a special unit called “Akagara”, led by Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu, who is in charge of the third military zone responsible for operations in South Kivu.
The website explains that the Akagara unit, under Masunzu’ s command, lured General Makanika into a trap by calling him on his mobile phone while posing as FARDC deserters who wished to join the Twirwaneho self-defense militia.
General Rukunda, unaware of the deception, answered the call without suspecting foul play. He was known as a selfless leader who dedicated his life to protecting his people, much like Jesus who died for sinners.
However, behind that phone call was a hidden agenda. As he was speaking on the phone, his location was being tracked in real-time. Once his position was confirmed, a drone that had already been deployed in the area received the final coordinates and launched a missile at the house he was in, killing him instantly.
Investigations conducted after his death revealed that the drone was deployed from the headquarters of the third military zone of FARDC, commanded by Lieutenant General Pacifique Masunzu, a fellow Banyamulenge who has been accused of betraying his own people in exchange for higher military ranks.
The reports further claim that Gen. Masunzu personally bragged to FARDC officers about eliminating his own kin, a man who had dedicated his life to protecting the Banyamulenge.
The assassination of General Rukunda Michel, the hero of Mulenge, has triggered strong emotions among the Banyamulenge people, as well as among others in the Great Lakes region and across the world. Many Banyamulenge accuse the Akagara unit of extreme cruelty, saying they betray their own people to please the authorities in Kinshasa, despite the government’s failure to restore peace in their homeland in eastern DRC.
Additionally, Gen. Masunz allegedly ordered FARDC troops to attack Banyamulenge communities, leading to recent military offensives in Lundu and Nyarujoka, both heavily populated by Banyamulenge. These attacks have only worsened their suffering.
Despite the Banyamulenge facing extermination efforts by their enemies, including some of their own people, they believe God has been their protector. The Twirwaneho militia, founded by General Rukunda Michel Makanika before his death at the hands of Akagara, has made significant territorial gains.
Just two days after his assassination, Twirwaneho fighters launched a counteroffensive and captured the entire commune of Minembwe, expelling FARDC troops, FDLR militias, Wazalendo fighters, and even Burundian forces from the area.
Furthermore, the militia later took control of Mikenke and Kamombo and now controls a large portion of the highlands of Mulenge, the homeland of the Banyamulenge. In these areas under Twirwaneho control, peace prevails without any disturbances.
