Australia: Congolese community protests killings of Banyamulenge in eastern DRC

The demonstrators denounced what they described as targeted violence against Banyamulenge and Congolese Tutsis based on their ethnic identity.

They accused several actors, including the Congolese government, Burundian troops operating in eastern DRC, the FDLR terrorist group, Wazalendo militia, and other armed groups, of involvement in the attacks.

The protest also highlighted what participants called growing hate speech, discrimination, and persecution directed at Banyamulenge and Tutsi communities across the DRC.

Organizers said the demonstration comes amid continued reports of attacks in South Kivu, including drone strikes, the burning of villages, and restrictions on humanitarian access to Banyamulenge communities living in the highlands of Minembwe.

They argued that these conditions have contributed to the deaths of civilians, including children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

The protest was organized by the Banyamulenge Congolese Community of Australia (BCCA) and the Kinyarwanda Speaking Congolese Community (KSCC).

Participants marched through Canberra and delivered written messages to the embassies of the United States and Belgium, calling for greater international attention to the situation in eastern Congo.

Speaking during the protest, BCCA President Birori Zawadi Munyaruhanga said demonstrators were demanding justice, peace, and equal rights for affected communities.

“We are calling for justice, peace, and the right to live like everyone else,” he said, while also appealing for protection from both the Congolese government and the United States.

KSCC President Innocent Amini Yuhi said Canberra was chosen to ensure that the protesters’ message reached policymakers. He noted that similar advocacy efforts were underway among Banyamulenge communities in the United States and Belgium.

The protest follows demonstrations held earlier this year by Banyamulenge communities in Washington, D.C., and Kenya, where participants also called on the international community to intervene and address violence affecting civilians in South Kivu.

Protest organizers argued that lasting peace will require stronger international engagement and the implementation of peace agreements signed between the Congolese government and AFC/M23, which they say have yet to be fully implemented.