SAVE MULENGE
Donation protected
Brief origin The Banyamulenge people
- Banyamulenge ( meaning people of Mulenge ), left various countries ( Burundi, Rwanda[mostly], Uganda , and Tanzania) more than 300 years ago looking for pastures for our cows. We settled on the Itombwe plateau at first and continued to expand and live in nearby areas in South Kivu, DRC. Despite all those years, some fellow Congolese fueled by political propaganda from some government officials refuse to accept us as Congolese and instead call us Rwandese and request that we leave the country. Why cant we leave? Well, if your ancestors, great grandparents, grandparents, parents and yourself (I.e me) were born and raised in Congo your whole life and that’s all you know, why would you leave for a “foreign” country?
On 16 March 2021, Mai Mai Ilunga and Red-Tabara launched attacks in the Kahololo area, killing 4 people, including an 82-year-old woman, burning 3 villages (Kageregeri, Kahundwe, Rwinkubo). Attacks intensified in the beginning of this month of April when the attackers burned the villages of Mataba and Goshen on 9 April 2021. Several other villages including Marungu 1 and 2, Murambi, Gitembe, Rukuka, Gahusi and Bijige (Bibangwa) were attacked and burned the following day. On 21 April 2021, four other villages namely Nyakamungu, Kageregeri 2, Mugono and Birindiro were attacked and burned. Finally, on 23 April, 16 villages that had served as a refuge for the fleeing and distressed Banyamulenge population were destroyed in a single day pushing survivors on the slopes of the hauts plateaux towards the Ruzizi plain where most of them are currently stationed in inhospitable conditions, fatigued, hungry and in constant fear of being exterminated. The latest attacks have claimed several dozens of lives and the whereabouts of many members of the community are still uncertain since those who could not flee have either been killed or are trapped in their hiding bushes, with retreating chances of survival, in an environment where they are surrounded by their attackers. The survivors who have fled the entire area have lost all their possessions, including herds of cattle and small livestock which were looted by the attacking Mai Mai and Red-Tabara groups. While recent attacks were aimed at destroying the Katobwe-Kahololo-Rurambo area that had largely remained safe, the ethnic cleansing nature of the unfolding tragedy is evidenced by the fact that attacks have not stopped in the Bijombo-Mikenke-Minembwe area. Since the beginning of April, attacks have increased in the latter area in circumstances that clearly show a high degree of complicity between the Congolese army deployed in the area (as denounced in our previous communications) and Mai Mai militias. For instance, on 1 April, Mai Mai attacks were launched on the villages of Kabingo, Masha, Monyi, Rutigita and others in the Minembwe area. Instead of securing the attacked population, the Congolese army attacked the besieged villagers, killing 5 people, including teachers and students. Similarly, on 9 April, three young people were killed in the Bibokoboko area by soldiers of the Congolese army in circumstances that have not been clarified, absent any official investigation in the matter.
The Congolese army (FARDC) has been said to be actively working with the rebels to eliminate Banyamulenge. The Monusco is merely observing what’s going on without offering any kind of support whether it’s nutritional, shelter, etc. We, as a community, have been sending money but it isn’t enough. It can’t be enough. We need justice to be served but most importantly we want the killings to stop NOW.
Matter of fact they should have stopped YESTERDAY.
This Gofund me is set up to help with the immediate needs of the displaced communities from . These families need food , clothes , water and sanitary products . Every donation , no matter how small.
List of items the money will be used for;
Transportation to safety
Food & snacks
Sleeping bags
Tents to sleep in
Warm blankets
Jackets
Scarfs
Gloves
Clothes
Thermal socks
Small first aid kits
Feminine products
Diapers, Wipes and kids warm clothes
Hand sanitizers, mouth wash, Colgate
Water
Soap
Shoes
Medicine
Body lotion
Utensils (cups, mugs, plates..)
- Banyamulenge ( meaning people of Mulenge ), left various countries ( Burundi, Rwanda[mostly], Uganda , and Tanzania) more than 300 years ago looking for pastures for our cows. We settled on the Itombwe plateau at first and continued to expand and live in nearby areas in South Kivu, DRC. Despite all those years, some fellow Congolese fueled by political propaganda from some government officials refuse to accept us as Congolese and instead call us Rwandese and request that we leave the country. Why cant we leave? Well, if your ancestors, great grandparents, grandparents, parents and yourself (I.e me) were born and raised in Congo your whole life and that’s all you know, why would you leave for a “foreign” country?
On 16 March 2021, Mai Mai Ilunga and Red-Tabara launched attacks in the Kahololo area, killing 4 people, including an 82-year-old woman, burning 3 villages (Kageregeri, Kahundwe, Rwinkubo). Attacks intensified in the beginning of this month of April when the attackers burned the villages of Mataba and Goshen on 9 April 2021. Several other villages including Marungu 1 and 2, Murambi, Gitembe, Rukuka, Gahusi and Bijige (Bibangwa) were attacked and burned the following day. On 21 April 2021, four other villages namely Nyakamungu, Kageregeri 2, Mugono and Birindiro were attacked and burned. Finally, on 23 April, 16 villages that had served as a refuge for the fleeing and distressed Banyamulenge population were destroyed in a single day pushing survivors on the slopes of the hauts plateaux towards the Ruzizi plain where most of them are currently stationed in inhospitable conditions, fatigued, hungry and in constant fear of being exterminated. The latest attacks have claimed several dozens of lives and the whereabouts of many members of the community are still uncertain since those who could not flee have either been killed or are trapped in their hiding bushes, with retreating chances of survival, in an environment where they are surrounded by their attackers. The survivors who have fled the entire area have lost all their possessions, including herds of cattle and small livestock which were looted by the attacking Mai Mai and Red-Tabara groups. While recent attacks were aimed at destroying the Katobwe-Kahololo-Rurambo area that had largely remained safe, the ethnic cleansing nature of the unfolding tragedy is evidenced by the fact that attacks have not stopped in the Bijombo-Mikenke-Minembwe area. Since the beginning of April, attacks have increased in the latter area in circumstances that clearly show a high degree of complicity between the Congolese army deployed in the area (as denounced in our previous communications) and Mai Mai militias. For instance, on 1 April, Mai Mai attacks were launched on the villages of Kabingo, Masha, Monyi, Rutigita and others in the Minembwe area. Instead of securing the attacked population, the Congolese army attacked the besieged villagers, killing 5 people, including teachers and students. Similarly, on 9 April, three young people were killed in the Bibokoboko area by soldiers of the Congolese army in circumstances that have not been clarified, absent any official investigation in the matter.
The Congolese army (FARDC) has been said to be actively working with the rebels to eliminate Banyamulenge. The Monusco is merely observing what’s going on without offering any kind of support whether it’s nutritional, shelter, etc. We, as a community, have been sending money but it isn’t enough. It can’t be enough. We need justice to be served but most importantly we want the killings to stop NOW.
Matter of fact they should have stopped YESTERDAY.
This Gofund me is set up to help with the immediate needs of the displaced communities from . These families need food , clothes , water and sanitary products . Every donation , no matter how small.
List of items the money will be used for;
Transportation to safety
Food & snacks
Sleeping bags
Tents to sleep in
Warm blankets
Jackets
Scarfs
Gloves
Clothes
Thermal socks
Small first aid kits
Feminine products
Diapers, Wipes and kids warm clothes
Hand sanitizers, mouth wash, Colgate
Water
Soap
Shoes
Medicine
Body lotion
Utensils (cups, mugs, plates..)
Organizer
Joseline Uwase
Organizer
Ottawa, ON
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