A wave of ethnic violence has erupted in Uvira, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising alarms of a potential genocide against the Banyamulenge (Tutsi) community. According to a post by Kivu News 24 on X dated September 19, Wazalendo militias backed by the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and Burundian National Defense Forces (FDNB)—have begun attacking and burning homes of Banyamulenge civilians following a 10-day ultimatum demanding their departure from the region.
“After the Wazalendo militias and their FARDC-FDNB allies gave the Banyamulenge 10 days to leave the city of Uvira, now supported by the governments of the DRC and Burundi, they began attacking all the Tutsi in the area, killing them and eventually burning their homes.” — Kivu News 24, X, Sept 19, 2025
Human Rights Watch and other international organizations have warned that the situation bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and could escalate into genocide if left unchecked. The violence follows the controversial removal of General Olivier Gasita, a Tutsi officer, from his post in Uvira—an act that was intended to appease local militias but has instead emboldened their demands for the complete expulsion of all Tutsis from the region.
This crisis echoes the horrors of 1996, when similar operations targeted the Banyamulenge during the First Congo War. Analysts say the current campaign is fueled by deep-seated ethnic hatred, historical grievances, and political maneuvering.
#Uvira : After the Wazalendo militias and their FARDC-FDNB allies gave the Banyamulenge 10 days to leave the city of Uvira, now supported by the governments of the DRC and Burundi, they began attacking all the Tutsi in the area, killing them and eventually burning their homes. https://t.co/DWMKXUTfM5 pic.twitter.com/M6TvEE2aM5
— Kivu News 24 (@kivunews24) September 19, 2025
Complicating matters further is the covert involvement of Burundian forces. The Burundian Human Rights Initiative reported that Burundi has secretly deployed troops to eastern DRC since 2021, ostensibly to pursue rebel groups. However, their presence has intensified local conflicts and contributed to the militarization of ethnic tensions.
Human Rights Watch’s May 2025 report documented widespread abuses by Wazalendo militias, including arbitrary killings, forced displacement, and destruction of civilian property—all allegedly carried out with the tacit support of the Congolese government.
The international community has yet to respond decisively. Regional observers warn that without urgent intervention, the violence in Uvira could spiral into a broader humanitarian catastrophe, threatening the fragile stability of the Great Lakes region.
As attacks continue, the Banyamulenge community faces an existential threat. Calls are growing for immediate international action, including independent investigations, protective deployments, and diplomatic pressure on the DRC and Burundi to halt support for armed groups and uphold human rights.
