Reports from different parts of Minembwe indicate that fighting that lasted for more than a week, involving FARDC troops, Burundian forces, and Wazalendo militias on one side, against MRDP-Twirwaneho on the other, resulted in heavy losses for both the Burundian army and FARDC.According to these reports, the Burundian forces suffered the heaviest casualties, with claims that they lost 578 soldiers during the clashes.
Although these reports have not been officially announced or confirmed by the authorities of any of the parties involved in the fighting, some residents and observers of the conflict claim that a large number of soldiers were killed, a situation that continues to fuel debate and concern among local communities.
One MRDP-Twirwaneho soldier, who requested anonymity, said:
“FARDC, the Burundian army, and the Wazalendo militias were dealt a severe and unexpected blow. Even an elderly man stood up to confront the enemy that was threatening Minembwe. That man was General Charles Sematama, the Commander-in-Chief of MRDP-Twirwaneho forces.”
He went on to claim that the Burundian forces had launched the operation with the objective of taking control of, or capturing, Minembwe, but instead encountered fierce resistance and suffered a major defeat.
The MRDP-Twirwaneho soldier said he personally saw the bodies of 578 Burundian soldiers, adding that the actual death toll could be even higher. According to him, these casualties occurred during the fighting, which lasted for more than a week.
However, the information provided by this soldier has not been confirmed by official authorities, and should therefore be treated and analyzed with caution until an official report is released regarding what took place in the week-long fighting in Minembwe, in eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Information from the area also indicates that the clashes forced FARDC troops and their allied forces to retreat toward an area known as Point Zéro and Kwa Mulima. According to these reports, Minembwe is currently under the control of MRDP-Twirwaneho, a group that says it defends the Banyamulenge community.
These developments are among the reasons why many Banyamulenge are expressing joy, both those in Minembwe and those in the diaspora. However, as information from one side of the conflict continues to be released, there is still anticipation for statements from other authorities in order to obtain a complete and reliable picture of what happened during the fighting.
