Rwanda genocide survivors’ group warns of ethnic cleansing against Tutsi in eastern DRC
Human rights organisations have reported increasing instances of hate speech and incitement against Tutsi communities, particularly in regions affected by the fighting.
The network representing survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, IBUKA, has raised the alarm over what it describes as a campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocidal violence against Tutsi communities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement on Tuesday, IBUKA accused the Congolese government of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed of remnants responsible for the 1994 genocide, warning that history is repeating itself as the world remains silent.
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IBUKA said it has documented increasing violence targeting Tutsi communities, particularly the Banyamulenge and other groups with Rwandan ancestry, in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The organisation expressed concern over what it called a "deliberate campaign" of mass killings, displacement, and hate speech, comparing the situation to the events that preceded the 1994 genocide.
"The warning signs are clear, and yet the international community is once again failing to act. We are witnessing a repeat of history, where a targeted ethnic group is being systematically attacked while the world watches in silence,” reads the statement.
Chilling similarities
“The current wave of ethnic cleansing bears chilling similarities to the events that unfolded in Rwanda three decades ago. The FDLR, which has been sheltered and supported by elements within the Congolese government, is executing a campaign of terror against Tutsi populations in the DRC.”
The group accused the Congolese government of turning a blind eye to the atrocities, arguing that state forces have either been complicit or have failed to protect vulnerable communities.
"The Congolese leadership, instead of ensuring the safety of all its citizens, has chosen to side with genocidal forces, giving them free rein to attack Tutsi populations with impunity," they said.
IBUKA also pointed to increasing anti-Tutsi rhetoric in DRC, which it said mirrors the hate speech that fuelled the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
"The same language of dehumanisation used in Rwanda before the genocide is now being amplified in the DRC, with politicians and media figures openly calling for the extermination of the Tutsi," the organisation warned.
The survivors’ group also called out international organisations, accusing them of failing to take decisive action despite mounting evidence of atrocities.
Intervene immediately
IBUKA urged the United Nations, African Union and regional leaders to intervene immediately, warning that continued inaction could lead to another large-scale genocide.
“The world cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of 1994. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to act before it is too late,” the organisation said.
The accusations come amid growing tensions in eastern DRC, where clashes between armed groups and the Congolese military have intensified.
The presence of the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa alleges is backed by Rwanda, has further complicated the situation, with both Rwanda and the DRC trading blame for the ongoing conflict.
Human rights organisations have reported increasing instances of hate speech and incitement against Tutsi communities, particularly in regions affected by the fighting.
According to IBUKA, such rhetoric is fuelling violence and reinforcing divisions reminiscent of those that preceded the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
While the Congolese government has not responded directly to IBUKA’s claims, it has consistently denied any collaboration with the FDLR and instead accuses Rwanda of destabilising the region.
However, analysts warn that the persistent targeting of Tutsi civilians, coupled with the government’s failure to curb FDLR activities, raises serious concerns about state complicity.
As the crisis deepens, IBUKA’s call for urgent intervention highlights the fragility of peace in the Great Lakes region.
Survivors of the 1994 genocide fear that, unless swift action is taken, the world may once again stand by as history repeats itself in eastern Congo.
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