Makanika was the group's leader and was killed in a drone strike launched by a coalition of DRC forces on February 19, 2025. Twirwaneho is a Kinyarwanda word meaning "let us defend ourselves."
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Ndakize Kamasa Welcome, on February 20, the group extended condolences to the Banyamulenge community, its supporters, and Twirwaneho members worldwide.
'Our hero passed away on February 19, 2025, falling on the battlefield while fighting against the genocide that has been waged against the Banyamulenge and similar communities for the past seven years. This genocide has been planned and executed by the government of our country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in collaboration with Wazalendo and its partners, who carried out the drone attack from Kisangani to weaken our self-defence efforts,' the statement read.
Twirwaneho reiterated that the resistance efforts initiated by Col Makanika would continue, emphasizing that nothing would halt their struggle.
The group also called on Banyamulenge people across the world to rise and join their self-defence mission 'until we achieve victory against attempts to exterminate us, seize our ancestral land, and end the injustices and killings we suffer.'
Col Makanika was formerly the Deputy Commander of FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) in Walikale, North Kivu province, where he was in charge of operations and intelligence.
He previously stated that he left the Congolese military after realizing that it was failing to protect his Banyamulenge community, which had long been subjected to violence by armed groups, with some elements within the military allegedly complicit in these atrocities.
For many years, the Banyamulenge in the DRC have been subjected to extreme violence. Observers describe these acts as genocide.
Since colonial times, the Banyamulenge have been denied rights in their own country, including the right to exist. Direct attacks against them date back to 1964 during the Mulele Rebellion. After a period of relative calm, large-scale massacres resumed in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Since April 2017, the violence has escalated dramatically. Armed Mai-Mai groups, in collaboration with Red Tabara and FNL PALIPEHUTU from Burundi, have launched coordinated attacks from various locations, particularly in South Kivu province, including Lemera, Rurambo, Itombwe, Swima, Uvira, Sange, and Lulenge.
These groups have engaged in widespread killings, house burnings, livestock theft, and forced displacements, in what appears to be a well-organized campaign of violence.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/twirwaneho-confirms-death-of-col-makanika
