Ties to fuel discrimination in Rwanda

The infamous group of rebels M23 devastated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, seizing the two largest cities in the region in a deadly uprising that forced hundreds of thousands to escape from their homes.

The central in their campaign is the claim that ethnically Tutsi living in Dr. Congo is persecuted.

Digging in Tutsis status in Dr. Congo – and how it refers to the M23 uprising – is a complex and sensitive thing that goes to the core of one who is considered to be Congo.

For starters, many global authorities claim that in their alleged fight against discrimination, the rebels committed unjustified crimes. IN UN and USA, for example, have sanctioned the M23 leaders Through charges of war crimes, such as sexual violence and the murder of civilians.

Second, some regional analysts say that instead of wanting to defend Tutsis, M23 – and Rwanda, which supports the rebel group – primarily wants to use the great mineral wealth of Eastern Dr. Cong.

It is also worth noting that in Dr. Congo, there are hundreds of thousands of Tuts – there is no official estimate – and many do not support the actions carried out on their behalf.

As said, experts and organizations such as UN have documented the decades of discrimination against Congolski Tutsis and Banyamulenge – Tutsi subgroup concentrated in the South Kiv province.

This ranges from ethnic killings, to discrimination in the workplace, to hate speech by politicians.

At the root of this discrimination is the Tutsis Association with neighboring Rwanda, which Tutsis has been leading since 1994. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, many Congoon Tuts played a key role in violent rebellions supported by governments and then ran DR Congo.

The perception that the Congolian Tuts “foreign” may have deadly consequences.

Bukuru Muhizi, researcher and economist from Mweng South Kiva territory, told the BBC that people from different generations of his family were killed for their identities Banyamulenge and Tutsi.

He said that in the last six years, his Congoil soldiers and local fighters from miles and local fighters from Veliki Uncle were killed. Congonic armed forces did not respond to the request of the BBC for comment on this allegation.

Mr. Muhizi said that his family lived in today’s Dr. Congo for centuries and that he “wished the world knew” that his community was experiencing what she called “silent genocide.”

Muragwa Cheez Bienvenue, activist Banyamulenge, said he once was on the target of airports in the city of Bukava.

“I stopped – they told me I looked like [Rwandan President] Kagama also made me pay about $ 150 (£ 120) to save myself from prison, “he told the BBC, adding that he supports the cause of M23.

Prior to colonization, part of the territory that was now Dr. Congo was subjected to the Ruandic Monarchy, which is Tutsi. He has long fought against expansionist wars, expanding the kingdom to more and more Eastern Africa.

Tutsis, Hutus and other ethnic groups have lived in the Kingdom in Rwanda and have done so since they are at least 19th century. But when the colonial forces in Africa enhanced arbitrary boundaries, the kingdom was divided between today’s Dr. Kong and Rwanda.

After that, the other Tuts moved to Dr. Congo into the waves. In the middle of the 20th century, Belgian colonialists brought workers from today’s Rwanda to the staff of their plantations, while others came themselves in search of a better life.

In the meantime, Tutsi refugees began to arrive in Dr. Congo, fleeing the waves of ethnic violence in Rwanda and Burundi. Both countries have already dominated their minorities by Tutsi, which led to tension with most Hutu.

It is considered much more to arrive in 1994 during the Rwandan genocide, in which about 800,000 people were slaughtered, mostly Tutsis. But when the Government, under the guidance of Tuts, seized the power and ended the massacre, some returned, especially after some responsible for the genocide then fled to Dr. Congo.

How are the communities of Tuts and Banyamulenge Dr.

In the early 1970s, the then President of the Mobut Sese Seko approved a citizenship to all who came from Rwanda or Burundi, provided they were present in the Congole Territory before 1960.

But in 1981, Parliament responded to these rights and many Tutsis, Banyamulenge and people from other minority groups “were made in their nationality and left without citizenship”, and UN Report noticed.

In the 1990s, Tutsis and Banyamulenge were susceptible to multiple massacre in the DR Congo. For example, the UN report says that the Congo’s army assisted armed groups in the murder of nearly 300 Banyamulenge in the city of Baraki in 1996.

He also states that “many” Tutsis and Banyamulenge lost their jobs and suffered discrimination and threats.

Today, the Constitution considers that the Tutsi and Banyamulenge Congoan groups and some individuals from these communities occupy high armies and management positions. In fact, the LT-GGA Pacificique Masunz, a man who has been fighting the M23 as commander of the key area in Eastern Dr. Congo, originates from the Banyamulenge Community.

But there is still significant evidence of discrimination. 2024, the experts working for the UN said that in the southern Kivu Banyamulenge it is usually considered harmful their neighboring communities. This discourse encourages “hatred, discrimination, hostility and violence,” experts said.

Recent reports on Tutsi and Banyamulenge soldiers were also killed in the Kongol army. According to Human rights watchThe mob was killed by military officer Banyamulenge 2023. “In an apparent case of ethnic hatred.”

Politicians – past and present – also pushed discriminatory feelings.

The feelings of anti-tuts seem to be increasing during the M23 rebellion, say experts Dr. Kong, like Mr. Stearns.

Said the BBC that he saw the “pretty scary” posts on social media in the last few weeks – “the phenomenon of people in other parts of the country that expresses doubts about a particular person, often a military officer or police officer … The path looks and claims that certain people They look like they’re Rwandan. “

Although some Congoon Tutsis could support the current uprising of the M23, Mr. Stearns says: “Many of them feel uncomfortable because of the consequences they will have for them as a community, because it once again means that they will be portrayed as a traitorous rebels.”

The Congoic government somehow went into recognition of the discrimination of Tutsis. For example, earlier this year, President Félix Tshisekedi said he had “had enough” speech against banks and claimed that such comments had made Rwandi pronunciation to attack Dr. Congo.

However, authorities also declined to charges of wide persecution. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said BBC: “We have 450 tribes and there is a conflict between some of them in many parts of the country … The government position is against any discrimination or hate speech against each community.”

However, Mr. Bienvenue, on the other hand, told the BBC that he “strongly” believes that his ethnic group was discriminated against, giving the example that his sister had been dismissed once after being told that “she looked like Rwanda’s spy.”

This is despite his family living in the same area for centuries.

“Banyamulenge are here since Congo was Congo!” He said, annoyed.

Additional reporting Emery Macumeno in Kinshasi