Speaking at a press briefing in Goma on Monday, Nyarugabo alleged that the Burundian troops are reinforcing local militias and the Congolese army in operations aimed at wiping out his community, a campaign he says began in 2017.
Nyarugabo, who hails from the Minembwe highlands, explained that the attacks were started by Mai-Mai militias from the Fulero, Bembe, and Nyindu communities, who swore to end their attacks only once the Banyamulenge were exterminated.
He accused the Congolese government of initially ignoring the violence until the creation of MRDP-Twirwaneho, a self-defence group formed to protect the Banyamulenge.
'More than 400 villages have been burned, thousands of people killed, and around half a million cattle looted. Many survivors fled to refugee camps in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, while others sought safety abroad,' he said.
Burundi's role questioned
Burundi and the DRC signed a 2022 agreement to jointly combat armed groups such as RED Tabara and FOREBU. But Nyarugabo said the Banyamulenge were shocked to see Burundi, once a haven for their community, now cooperating in operations against them.
'The Burundian state was once a refuge for us. They received us, hosted us. Even after the Gatumba massacre, despite no real accountability, people continued to flee there whenever conflict erupted in Uvira or the highlands, and they were treated well. Even now, some remain there,' he added.
He said there are currently between 12 and 15 battalions, comprising more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers, stationed in the highlands.
'You may wonder, what are more than 10,000 Burundian soldiers doing in those mountains? They claim they came to hunt down RED Tabara, their enemies. But strangely, RED Tabara in that region allied with the Mai-Mai against us. And when the Burundians arrived, they too joined forces with the Mai-Mai.
'Between 12 and 15 Burundian battalions, comprising over 10,000 soldiers, are now stationed in the highlands. Officially, they claim to be pursuing RED Tabara, but in reality, they have joined forces with Mai-Mai groups and FARDC to attack our people,' he said.
According to him, Burundian forces fought RED Tabara, which then fled into Mwenga forests. But instead of pursuing them, Burundi joined the FDLR, the DRC army, and Mai-Mai militias in attacking and looting Banyamulenge communities in Minembwe and beyond.
Nyarugabo claimed Burundian troops are deployed in Bijombo, Gahuna, Kagogo, Mugeti, Irango, Nyakirango, Murambya, Gatanga, Gitaka, Kanono, Mitamba, Marimba, Rurambo, and other locations.
He further alleged that drones launched from Kisangani and Bujumbura have carried out repeated strikes in Minembwe, killing civilians and destroying villages. On August 31, he said, drones mistakenly hit an FARDC base in Karunga, killing between 36 and 48 Congolese soldiers, including a battalion commander.
Call for international intervention
Nyarugabo appealed to Burundi to withdraw from what he described as 'Kinshasa's plan to annihilate the Banyamulenge' and urged the international community to step in.
'We have no quarrel with Burundi. They should not allow Tshisekedi's politics to stain Burundian history with the blood of innocent Banyamulenge,' he said. 'If they are truly fighting RED Tabara, let them work with us, not with Congo, Mai-Mai, and the Interahamwe.'
He vowed that the Banyamulenge would continue to defend themselves if targeted.
'I swear, the Banyamulenge will never allow themselves to be exterminated,' he declared.
Lt Gen Masunzu and others accused of 'Stockholm Syndrome'
Although the Banyamulenge formed Twirwaneho for self-defense, some of their leaders chose to remain aligned with the Congolese government. These include Lt Gen Pacifique Masunzu, commander of the 3rd military region, and Urban Development Minister Alexis Gisaro.
Both have publicly denied that atrocities are being committed against the Banyamulenge, undermining the very rationale for MRDP-Twirwaneho's existence.
Nyarugabo claimed their stance is driven by a form of 'Stockholm Syndrome.'
'In short, they are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a mental condition where victims sympathise with their abusers. That's their illness,' he said.
He added that despite their denials, they are well aware that their communities in South Kivu have been uprooted by attacks from Mai-Mai, government forces, and allied militias.
'When Sukhoi jets and drones strike Minembwe, they do not discriminate between kin. Those who die are our peopleâ€"and theirs too. Among the dead we bury every day are our own relatives as well as theirs.'
Nyarugabo urged Banyamulenge collaborating with Kinshasa to 'wake up, abandon delusion, and return to truth,' warning that anyone complicit in harming South Kivu civilians would also be held accountable.
'If they cannot speak the truth for their own safety, that I can understand. But they should remain silent rather than deny reality. One day they will be questioned, and they will feel shameâ€"because what I am saying is the truth.'
IGIHE
