This appeal is part of an open letter issued by the Mahoro Peace Association, a group advocating for the rights of the Banyamulenge, which was sent to U.S. leaders, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of Congress.
Douglas Kabunda, the association's leader, emphasized that since 2017, Banyamulenge communities in the Fizi, Uvira, and Mwenga territories have endured brutal attacks by a coalition of Congolese military forces.
Kabunda pointed out that the Banyamulenge areas in South Kivu are surrounded by over 58 military camps, where civilians are prohibited from accessing markets, hospitals, or receiving humanitarian assistance.
He also highlighted that many houses and crops have been burned, with drone strikes by the FARDC and Burundian forces still targeting civilians in November 2025, despite the Doha ceasefire agreement.
He also reminded that Burundi had acknowledged its blockade of the Minembwe area, which is home to the Banyamulenge. On November 12, Brigadier General Gaspard Baratuza, the spokesperson for the Burundian army, accused the residents of collaborating with the enemy.
Kabunda stressed that the ongoing attacks against civilians, without distinction between combatants and non-combatants, constitute severe violations, including war crimes such as starvation, displacement, and genocide, as the Banyamulenge are being targeted as a group.
The Mahoro Peace Association is calling for an end to the siege of Banyamulenge-inhabited areas and for Burundian forces to withdraw from eastern DRC.
Additionally, they have requested that an independent international commission be dispatched to the Fizi, Uvira, and Mwenga regions to investigate the ongoing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide targeting local populations.
Kabunda also urged for sanctions against the Burundian and Congolese military officers responsible for the siege and starvation of Banyamulenge civilians, including asset freezes and travel bans to the United States.
To amplify their message, Banyamulenge communities in the U.S. are planning protests from November 23 to 28, demanding that the U.S. government take action.
IGIHE
