Moïse Nyarugabo, a former DRC Minister and advocate for Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, has condemned recent attacks on the Banyamulenge by a coalition of FARDC, FDLR, and Wazalendo militias.
In a statement, he revealed that “On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the coalition made up of FARDC, Wazalendo, FDLR, and others acting as an unflagged military force launched early morning attacks in the areas of Rugezi and Irumba, in the southern part of Minembwe.”
He added: “On the morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the same fighters again launched attacks in the western and northern parts of Minembwe, in areas such as Marunde, Firo in Luhemba, Bilalo Mbili, Rwitsankuku, and in the center of Mikenke, which was severely targeted due to the presence of displaced Banyamulenge people.”
He said the attacks are ongoing: “These displaced persons fled once again from where they had sought refuge, escaping into the mountainous regions.”
Nyarugabo warned of more attacks: “More attacks are expected in the coming days, starting from Point Zero in the Fizi Territory, and will coincide with attacks targeting the Banyamulenge population in the Uvira Territory, specifically in the Groupements of Bijombo, Kigoma, and Itara.”
He questioned the motives of the DRC government: “One might wonder the reason or explanation behind these attacks in Minembwe and the surrounding highlands. What is the true objective of Kinshasa (the DRC government), especially at a time when multiple military operations have been launched across the country? And what happened to the Doha Agreements?”
He also accused the government and its partners of blocking aid “It seems they are preparing for further attacks, but people are keeping quiet about it.” And cautioned: “Regardless of how things unfold, those who remain silent and those who choose to close their eyes will no longer have the excuse of having done nothing, history will hold them accountable.”
To the Wazalendo militia, he warned: “No matter what happens, you must learn to live together as fellow Congolese, and your evil plans to eradicate this ethnic group will not succeed, just as FARDC’s eight-year alliance with the FDLR has failed to achieve that goal.”
This comes despite recent peace agreements signed between the DRC government, Rwanda, and the AFC/M23 movement while reports claim that the Congolese government continued to mobilize weapons and soldiers in the same conflict zones.
RADIOTV10