Uvira, March 8, 2025 During a forum organized by Uvira’ s interim mayor, Kifara Kapenda Kik’y, on Saturday, March 8, self-proclaimed Mai-Mai General René Itongwa made extremely serious remarks, openly threatening the Banyamulenge community living in the city.
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René Itongwa warned that all Banyamulenge would be killed if war reached Uvira, accusing them of harboring “infiltrated enemies” in their homes. These statements, made during an official event organized by local authorities, raise serious concerns about the risk of targeted mass violence against this minority group.
What was meant to be a community dialogue forum instead became a platform for inciting hatred and violence. By allowing such public threats, local authorities appear to tolerate if not encourage violence against the Banyamulenge, a community that has long been marginalized and persecuted in eastern DRC.
René Itongwa’ s remarks are not isolated. They are part of a broader context of growing hostility toward the Banyamulenge, who are often falsely accused of collaborating with foreign armed groups. This persistent stigmatization is fueling an atmosphere of fear and instability in the South Kivu region.
Several observers are also denouncing the alleged involvement of the Congolese army (FARDC) and the Burundian army (FDN) in supporting Mai-Mai militias, including the one led by René Itongwa. According to local sources, these alliances aim to weaken and expel the Banyamulenge from their ancestral lands, particularly in the highlands of Uvira, Fizi, and Mwenga.
These alleged ties between the Mai-Mai and regular forces further complicate the situation, undermining efforts to uphold justice and protect civilians.
Faced with this escalation of hatred, human rights organizations are calling for urgent action from the international community to:
- Officially condemn the statements made in Uvira and any incitement to hatred and violence against the Banyamulenge.
- Demand immediate action from Congolese authorities to guarantee the safety of this community.
- Investigate alleged support from FARDC and FDN to Mai-Mai militias, particularly the role of René Itongwa.
- Prevent any act of ethnic cleansing or an unfolding genocide in the region.
What happened in Uvira on March 8, 2025, cannot be ignored. Allowing calls for the massacre of an entire community during an official public forum is not only a moral failure but a dangerous warning sign. If the international community, NGOs, and Congolese authorities do not act swiftly, the region could spiral into another wave of ethnic violence with devastating consequences.
