AFC/M23 denounces ongoing assaults on South Kivu’s Banyamulenge

The government coalition has been accused by AFC/M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo of carrying out a string of raids against the Banyamulenge community in South Kivu province.

Rebel spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka called the operations between May 23 and 29 “terrorist actions” that were systematically carried out on different highly populated districts of South Kivu in a statement put on X on Monday, June 2.

“The region is currently experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as a result of these savage attacks, which have resulted in incalculable human casualties,” Kanyuka said.

The statement claimed that the Congolese government troops carried out the attacks in cooperation with partner organizations such as the Wazalendo militias, the Rwandan genocidal militia FDLR, and the Burundian army.

“FDLR, FARDC and the national defense forces of Burundi (deployed from Kizura and Rulenge) carried out deadly attacks” in Rugezi, one of the targeted locations, according to Kanyuka.

Bibokoboko, Bijabo, Kalingi, and Mikenke are among the other impacted areas.

“Wazalendo militias, operating from Kipupu and Zero, launched coordinated attacks on the villages in Mikenke and Kalingi,” Kanyuka continued.

“The Wazalendo militias and the Burundian military launched joint offensives against the localities of Bijabo and Bibokoboko.”

For thirty years, hundreds of armed organizations have been active in the conflict-plagued eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The M23 rebels have been engaged in combat with government forces since late 2021. These forces are backed by a number of partners, including Burundian troops, SADC forces, European mercenaries, and other local armed militias.

Since January, the rebels have taken control of two significant cities in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congolese government is accused by the AFC/M23 of systemic shortcomings, such as economic mismanagement, bad governance, and the long-term persecution and displacement of Tutsi populations in the country.

Former President Joseph Kabila, who has been critical of the current President Felix Tshisekedi, returned from exile and is now living in AFC/M23-controlled territory in an attempt to end the conflict.

Hostilities persist despite several attempts to promote peace by local, regional, and international entities.