Mulenge is a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire. It includes the territory of South Kivu and Uvira, with some villages including Minembwe. The name MULENGE comes from the name of its people BANYAMULENGE, who originated mainly from Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The Banyamulenge speak the Kinyamulenge language which is a mixture of Kinyarwanda and Kirund. There is no clearly known reason why these people left their countries for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One possibility is that they did not flee from Rwanda because before European colonisation there were no such borders in Africa. The colonists divided Rwanda and Congo leaving some of the people of Rwanda in DRC., The Banyamulenge who were Rwandans became Congolese. Other possible reasons given are that in 1880s these migrants, mostly Rwandan Tutsis tried to avoid the increasingly high taxes imposed by King Rwabugiri of the Kingdom of Rwanda, or they fled the violent war of succession that erupted in 1895.
However, generations of Banyamulenge were born as Congolese in DRC, a country considered by some to be the richest country in the world, regarding natural resources and minerals and raw materials estimated over 24$ trillions. They live In a country made up of more than 200 tribes, a country where you see beautiful faces and fine clothes.
“The day will come when history will speak. Africa will write its own history. It will be a history of glory and dignity ” PATRICE LUMUMBA
Patrice Lumumba is the hero of DRC who fought for Zaire to become an independent republic free from Belgium control. However, today we see no glory and dignity in DRC when a number of tribes gather together to try to exterminate the Banyamulenge. The armed local Mai Mai militia, Babembe, Banyindu, Bafuliro community and tribes and the RED Tabara Guerrillas have come together to kill unarmed old men, women and children as well as taking their cattle. They burn their houses and villages. Thousands of innocent people are fleeing as many are being killed by those militia tribes.
Banyamulenge fleeing from Minembwe to other mountains in DRC
I hoped that the 21st century would be the enlightenment century. A time when no human being would repeat the darkness of the 20th century, the worst for humanity due to the Holocaust, many civil wars, genocides and violence across the world. So I am asking myself how can people in 2019-2021 kill other people for no reason but because of who they are?! It makes no sense for Africans to kill Africans, Congolese to kill Congolese. If I had the power I would contribute to try to save the children who starve and are fleeing to the forests with their weak and tired mothers. Some are dying now. I am just a writer but I am saddened when those in power do nothing when the blood of victims is shed. The government of DRC, which has a large military, does nothing about such horrible killings, The Banyamulenge themselves were saddened by The UN peacekeeping force (MONUSCO) who are camping less than 10 kilometres from their villages, where houses are burnt and children are killed.
And so I write, to raise awareness. I hope this blog will reach anyone who can do something to save the MULENGE people
Remember:
“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil. But those who watch them without doing nothing“
Save Banyamulenge.
Juvens Nsabimana
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