Stop genocide against the Banyamulenge community & their uprooting (DR Congo)

Here is a real picture of what is happening now to the Banyamulenge community of Rurambo (Eastern DR Congo).

35 Banyamulenge villages have been destroyed in one month; old women are being burnt alive in their houses; men and young people are being killed  indistinctly; thousands of cows are raided every week by mai mai +Red Tabara militias; more than 4 000 survivors (still pursued by killer militias)  are wandering for safety.

Since April 2017, a genocide ideology against the Banyamulenge community is being preached using hate speech, parliamentarian debates and discriminatory orders from some high ranking Congolese officials and officers working with warlords in eastern DR Congo. 

On March 16th  2021, mai mai + Red Tabara attacked and wiped off the map villages of Rwikubo, Kahundwe and Kageregere (Uvira district / eastern DR Congo).

Since then, recurring attacks have destroyed all  Banyamulenge villages in Rurambo (Uvira territory).  Haters are celebrating what they call  “cleansing Rurambo of Banyamulenge community”.
They are calling for killer militias to finish what they have started in other areas (Bibokoboko...); they are also appealing to the same militias to pursue Banyamulenge survivors wandering for safety in the high and middle plateaus of Uvira.  

Banyamulenge people are being killed for who they are. They are being dehumanized and declared foreigners in their own country; they are being uprooted from their own land; even though they have been living there (eastern DR Congo) for more than 200 years.

Mai mai + Red Tabara (executioners) are denying Banyamulenge the right to life, the right to land, the right to possession and the right to have access to state administration ( eastern DR Congo)

Since April 2017, mai mai & Red Tabara supported by the local army (FARDC) have destroyed more than 230 Banyamulenge villages ( 90% of total Banyamulenge villages in the DR Congo). They are implementing a well planned strategy to “clean Congo of Banyamulenge” regarded to be invaders in their own country by killing and burning down all villages from Mibunda (Itombwe), Minembwe, Kabara, Bijombo, Katanga and now Rurambo (was the beacon of hope and community coexistence for several decades). They have also raided more than  300 000 Banyamulenge cows (approximately 95% of Banyamulenge livestock). They have killed hundred of people, raped women and children and destroyed public infrastructures. 

Despite the magnitude of destruction; the DRC government never condemn ongoing genocide against Banyamulenge and their uprooting from their land. It has failed to stop killings. Instead of helping members of parliaments, and prominent politicians have been engaging publicly in hate speech fueling attacks without facing the consequence of the law. 

We are asking you and the international community to:

A) Stop ongoing genocide against Banyamulenge being carried out by mai mai militias + Red Tabara working with some military officers in the south Kivu province / DR Congo;

B) Support Banyamulenge by signing this petition and making ongoing genocide against Banyamulenge known to the world; 

C) Help by sending humanitarian assistance to more than 4000 displaced people  from Rurambo areas victims of April 2021 mai mai + Red Tabara attacks .

D) Put pressure on the DRC government to  restore peace in the Eaten part of the country and to reinstate Banyamulenge community in their rights .

Mahoro Peace Advocacy team