The morning of March 3, 2025, will forever be etched in the memory of the Banyamulenge people. As the sun rose over the hills of South Kivu, waves of armed militias stormed their villages, setting homes ablaze and forcing families to flee into the forests. Reports from multiple sources confirm that these simultaneous attacks were carried out by a coalition of Mai Mai militias and elements of the Congolese army (FARDC), targeting Banyamulenge communities across Fizi, Mwenga, and Minembwe.

Senator Moise Nyarugabo, a respected Banyamulenge leader, took to social media to sound the alarm, revealing the extent of the destruction and calling for urgent intervention.

Villages in Flames, Civilians Massacred

Fizi Territory (Bibokoboko Locality):

At 6:30 AM, armed groups descended upon the villages of Magaja, Bivumu, Bikirikiri, Kabara, and Hanzi, situated just 20 kilometers from Baraka. Eyewitnesses reported columns of attackers coming from Baraka, Lweba, Kafulo, and Kakuku. Without warning, gunfire erupted, and within hours, Kabara, Rurimba, Bijanda, and Kwamatare were reduced to ashes. Women, children, and the elderly, many of whom had been under the so-called "protection" of the Congolese army, were left defenseless. Those who survived the gunfire were forced to flee into the wilderness, unsure if they would live to see another day.

Mwenga Territory (Itombwe Sector):

The horror extended beyond Fizi. At 5:00 AM, gunmen attacked Mikenke, Bilalo Mbili, Rwitsankuku, and Point Zero. The Mikenke displacement camp, a refuge for countless families who had already been forced from their homes in previous attacks, became a death trap. Within minutes, flames engulfed the shelters, leaving people with no choice but to run into the unknown. The screams of children and the elderly echoed through the hills as they scattered in search of safety.

Fizi Highlands (Minembwe Route):

By 7:00 AM, more villages, Kivumu, Biziba, Gipimo, and Nyagishasha, fell under siege. Houses were torched, livestock stolen, and families torn apart. In each of these attacks, a disturbing pattern emerged. The Banyamulenge villages were being erased, while neighboring communities, the Babembe, Bafulero, and Banyindu, remained untouched.

A Coordinated Extermination?

For years, the Banyamulenge have faced persecution in eastern Congo, but today's events mark a terrifying escalation. According to sources on the ground, these attacks were not spontaneous but carefully planned. Just two days ago, reports surfaced of secret meetings between FARDC, Mai Mai militias, and FDLR rebels, an alliance seemingly forged with one purpose, the extermination of the Banyamulenge.

Senator Nyarugabo, who has been one of the few voices advocating for his people, did not mince words. "If this is not genocide, then what is it?" he asked. "Our villages are burning, our people are being slaughtered, and the world remains silent."

A Cry for Help That No One Hears

For the Banyamulenge, survival has become a daily battle. The international community, despite being well aware of their plight, continues to turn a blind eye. Human rights organizations have documented countless massacres, yet no meaningful action has been taken to protect these people.

With each passing day, the situation grows more desperate. Those who have survived today’s attacks will face the unforgiving wilderness tonight without food, shelter, or medical aid. The world must decide, will it continue to watch in silence, or will it finally act before the Banyamulenge are wiped off the map?

For now, the people of Mulenge have only one choice, to resist, to fight, and to survive. But how much longer can they hold on?

By Manoa David