Bisimwa said the military operations by AFC/M23 in Minembwe, South Kivu Province, are aimed at preventing Banyamulenge civilians from facing killings similar to the 2004 Gatumba massacre in Burundi.
Bisimwa made the remarks as AFC/M23 and its allies commemorated the Gatumba massacre, stressing that the events should not be treated as a closed chapter of history while civilians continue to be killed because of their ethnicity.
He accused the DRC army, Burundian forces, Wazalendo fighters, the FDLR and foreign mercenaries of carrying out attacks in Minembwe and imposing a blockade on the commune, allegedly depriving residents of food, medicine, clean water and other basic necessities as a way of slowly killing them.
He said, “In confronting this situation, the revolutionary forces did not stand by. They took responsibility for preventing these atrocities and contributing to the restoration of lasting peace in Minembwe. Our forces intervened to stop further killings that were taking place. It is a deliberate plan prepared by the government in Kinshasa.”
Bisimwa alleged that the DRC government and its allies were seeking to kill Banyamulenge people in Minembwe in a manner similar to what happened at the Gatumba refugee camp 22 years ago.
He said, “This policy of exterminating civilians, led by the government in Kinshasa, must stop. Our movement has carried out operations on the ground aimed at preventing another massacre in Minembwe like the one that occurred in Gatumba.”
The Gatumba massacre took place on the night of August 13–14, 2004. A total of 166 Banyamulenge were killed, while another 106 were injured. The armed group FNL-PARIPEHUTU claimed responsibility for the attack.
AFC/M23 says the history of Gatumba should serve as a warning to prevent, at an early stage, actions that could lead to another mass killing of civilians.
