top of page

Updated Report: Anti-Banyamulenge Attacks, DR Congo

RAPPORT SUR LES ATTAQUES CONTRE LES BANYAMULENGE DANS LES HAUTS ET MOYENS PLATEAUX DU SUD-KIVU EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO

REPORT ON ATTACKS AGAINST THE BANYAMULENGE IN THE HAUTS & MOYENS PLATEAUX OF SOUTH KIVU IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO


Version française initialement publiée le 20 février 2023

Mise à jour de la version française publiée le 17 mai 2023

English translation published May 17, 2023

Displaced Banyamulenge civilians gather in Minembwe to mourn the deaths of two women and one man who were decapitated in a neighborhood 2-3km from Minembwe Centre on April 18, 2020. — Delphin Rukumbuzi Ntanyoma



Nous avons documenté cette tragédie pour la mémoire des victimes. Il faut rappeler l'objectif poursuivi par cette étude qui est celui de faire connaitre l'extermination des Banyamulenge. Cette extermination se fait de manière systématique avec la complicité et l'implication du pouvoir et des forces de sécurité loin des médias de ce monde. Au moment de la rédaction du présent rapport, les situations de sécurité et les conditions humanitaires de la communauté Banyamulenge dans les hauts et moyens plateaux des territoires d’Uvira, de Fizi et de Mwenga en République démocratique du Congo demeurent totalement dangereuses. Les Banyamulenge ont été victimes de violations graves du droit international humanitaire et du droit international des droits de l’homme, notamment des assassinats, meurtres, viols, arrestations arbitraires, enlèvements et des déplacements forcés à l’intérieur du pays tout comme à l’extérieur. Les Banyamulenge déplacés à l'intérieur du pays se sont déplacés principalement vers les régions de Minembwe, Bibogobogo et Kahololo suite à de nombreuses attaques de ces dernières années. Bien que la mission de maintien de la paix des Nations Unies (MONUSCO) ait installé une base dans cette zone dans le but de protéger les civils, les Mai-Mai ont continué à encercler et à attaquer les Banyamulenge dans les hauts et moyens plateaux des territoires d’Uvira, de Fizi et de Mwenga en provenance de plusieurs directions. Ils les ont également assiégé dans tous les axes, créant des difficultés pour les Banyamulenge d'accéder aux champs pour se nourrir et recevoir de l'aide humanitaire.



We have documented this tragedy in memory of the victims. The objective of this study is to document the extermination of the Banyamulenge. This mass killing has been carried out systematically with the complicit involvement of the government and the security forces far from the media. At the time of writing this report, the security and humanitarian situation of the Banyamulenge community in the Hauts Plateaux (highlands) of Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga territories in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains highly precarious. The Banyamulenge have been victims of several violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including assassinations, killings, rapes, arbitrary arrests, abductions and forced displacement within and outside the country. The internally displaced Banyamulenge have mainly moved to the Minembwe, Bibogobogo and Kahololo regions following numerous attacks in recent years. Although the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) is based in this area to protect civilians, the Mai-Mai have continued to surround and attack the Banyamulenge in the highlands of Uvira, Fizi and Mwenga territories from several directions. They have also besieged all areas, creating difficulties for the Banyamulenge trying to access the fields for food and humanitarian assistance.



NB: This report has been produced by an external researcher and activist and is not an official Genocide Watch publication. It does not represent research conducted internally and directly by Genocide Watch staff. Genocide Watch supports and promotes efforts by other actors to investigate, document, and bring attention to the plight of persecuted communities such as the Banyamulenge of DR Congo. The report has been reviewed by several academics, and it may be subject to further updates.




Télécharger les rapports ici / Download the reports here :




Hundreds of villages have been burned and destroyed in Minembwe territory in the highlands of South Kivu. — Delphin Rukumbuzi Ntanyoma



Innocent Nteziryayo is a founding and active member of Collectif des Avocats des Parties Civiles, a group acting in support of victims of human rights violations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and representing them in judicial processes. He is the coordinator of the Gatumba Justice Project, advocating for justice on behalf of Gatumba genocide survivors. He also formerly worked as a public prosecutor in Rwanda. As an advocate, he is interested in justice for human rights violations against minority communities. Innocent Nteziryayo holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Anthropology with Gender Studies from the University of Hull in the UK (2016-2019). He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from ILPD in Rwanda (2009) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from UNILAK, in Rwanda (2003-2007).


Follow Genocide Watch for more updates:

  • Grey Facebook Icon
  • Grey Twitter Icon
  • Grey YouTube Icon
bottom of page