IMURENGE

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David Manoa | Founder — Imurenge.com

David Manoa is a survivor, community leader, and aspiring cybersecurity professional with a deep commitment to advocacy, truth, and service. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, David is a member of the Banyamulenge community, an ethnic Tutsi minority group that has faced decades of persecution and displacement.

On Friday, August 13, 2004, David's life was forever changed when more than 160 innocent people half of them children were brutally massacred at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi. The victims, including members of his own community, were under United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) protection. However, they were attacked by armed men who shot, hacked, and burned refugees in cold blood. The attackers, reportedly members of the Hutu rebel group National Liberation Forces (FNL), specifically targeted the Banyamulenge, while non-Tutsi refugees were left unharmed. Survivors were left to cope with unimaginable trauma, and many families, including David's, lost loved ones and everything they had.

In the aftermath of the massacre, and following months of hardship and uncertainty, David and his family were among the first survivors resettled in the United States with the support of the UNHCR. Though arriving with little, David embraced a new beginning, determined to heal, rebuild, and give back to his community.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and Information Technology at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), with the goal of using technology to protect and empower others, particularly those from vulnerable and underserved communities.

In addition to his work in tech, David is also specialized in Mass Media and works as a Professional Live Streamer, utilizing his skills to connect, inform, and inspire global audiences. His background in media has allowed him to become a powerful storyteller and an effective voice for the Banyamulenge community and other marginalized groups.

In 2011, David Manoa and Dr. Fidele Sebahizi co-founded Imurenge.com, a Banyamulenge digital news and media platform created by four young men in California. The project was born out of a need to connect and inform the growing Banyamulenge diaspora, who had been scattered across the globe due to decades of displacement and violence. Since its launch on August 7, 2011, Imurenge.com has become a vital source of information, community updates, cultural preservation, and advocacy. It has had a significant and lasting impact by offering a reliable, trusted resource for Banyamulenge people around the world.

Today, David and his team are expanding the mission of Imurenge.com by working tirelessly to revive and preserve the rich culture and heritage of the Banyamulenge people. Their current projects include building an online cultural library, curating ancestral stories, and honoring the legacies of Banyamulenge heroes. In an effort to foster deeper connections among families and tribes, they have developed a powerful new feature that allows users to create profiles and add their own family members to a growing ancestral archive. This inclusive platform welcomes input from all Banyamulenge tribes and families, creating a living digital heritage that can be shared across generations.

Additionally, Imurenge.com has played a vital role in inspiring and supporting the creation of other news platforms, such as MPC, Kivu Times, HUMURA INC, Banyamulenge.com, and others—amplifying the voice and reach of Congolese and Banyamulenge communities worldwide.

Looking ahead, David and his team dream of one day expanding their platform with offices on the ground in Mulenge, the ancestral home of their people. Their goal is to strengthen the connection between the diaspora and their homeland and to contribute directly to the cultural and informational development of the region.

David’s journey is one of resilience, vision, and service. He continues to honor the memory of those lost in the Gatumba massacre by advocating for justice, unity, and the preservation of his people’s history and identity.