The clouds were weeping when the Banyamulenge Community of Minembwe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gathered in total despair and indignation in February to protest against the persistent attacks by gunfire and bombs from every corner of their territory.
Hundreds of drones and tactical bomber aircraft have been the cause of daily terror and despair.
From the beginning of 2026, hundreds of drones and tactical bomber aircraft have been the cause of daily terror and despair for unarmed civilians. We know where this is trending, it’s been done before… to remove a people from their land—or wipe them out in the process.
The DRC regime and its allies are following an ethnic cleansing playbook by imposing deadly living conditions (no food, sugar, soap, cooking oil, or medicine) upon the people of Minembwe—my people. On top of this unjust and brutal mistreatment, they are now victims of a persistent rain of bombs and mass shootings.
Conversations with friends and family in my homeland are heart-breaking. I am compelled to raise a red flag of concern wherever I can because most mainstream media is disinterested in reporting the atrocities happening to the Banyamulenge people. I especially desire to inform the Body of Christ around the world about the strategy that is targeting innocent Banyamulenge citizens in Minembwe and surrounding villages. A strategy that has a clear motivation behind it.
Beneath a blood soaked land
Local voices remain unheard and the truth about mass killings and daily terrorism is twisted to suit economic purposes.
The situation for the Banyamulenge of South Kivu Minembwe (of Tutsi heritage and territory) is being ignored and overlooked because it is inconvenient for the powers that be to bring it to the world’s attention. Local voices remain unheard and the truth about mass killings and daily terrorism is twisted to suit economic purposes. While there is vague talk of peace for the sake of economic gain, the high mountains over Itombwe, Mwenga, Fizi, and Uvira remain under mortal siege.
Thirsty multinationals look on with glee, content to talk but not to take any action, let alone responsibility for the situation. They are too invested in obtaining access to the blood minerals. If they succeed it will be off the back of the sacrifice of innocent men and women who have fought their entire lifetime for their right to live and thrive on the land—a people who have been struggling to survive since DRC was colonized by King Leopold II of Belgium (since 1885).
“Believers” and unbelievers nationally and internationally remain silent.
Whether through ignorance or willful avoidance, so-called “believers” and unbelievers nationally and internationally remain silent. While those in the region are being slaughtered, some even cut into pieces and grilled, paraded, and then eaten in broad daylight with nobody daring to oppose and denounce this rampant and unrestrained evil, including human rights and humanitarian organizations.
The hypocrisy of peace
US involvement is considered by some to be nothing more that maneuvering to gain control of Congolese critical minerals.
Massacres are happening while “peace talks and negotiations” continue to be held regarding other regions. Most famous are the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity under the controlling eyes of President Trump (since 2020). When it comes to DRC, US involvement is considered by some to be nothing more that maneuvering to gain control of Congolese critical minerals.
Another agreement is the Doha Framework for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement Between The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 Movement. Then there is a new initiative by the African Union to take over all peace initiatives on eastern DR Congo, in which the African leader “resolved to have one Africa-led peace initiative for the conflict in eastern Congo”.
Frustratingly, none of these attempts at brokering “peace” are addressing the issue of drones and aerial bombing that are killing Banyamulenge in Minembwe.
An unbearable silence
I have been waiting for years to hear at least one voice speak out.
I have been waiting for years to hear at least one voice speak out from local, national, or international Christian organizations addressing this issue. Regrettably, no voice spoke out while this evil festered and now it’s happening en masse in the cold light of day.
There are numerous faith-based missions and humanitarian organizations serving in the Great Lakes Region, and many churches connected with international denomination networks. I am very sure that most of them know what is happening. The questionable silence makes me wonder why this mute attitude continues considering the seriousness of the blatant crimes against unarmed civilians, crimes against humanity. What or who are they protecting by remaining silent?
Government supported terror
Pressure imposed on the region by the United States, demanding the withdrawal of the AFC/M23 (Alliance Fleuve Congo or the Congo River Alliance/March 23 2009 Movement) from Uvira (a city in South Kivu Province, on the northwestern shore of Lake Tanganyika near Burundi), has only served to accelerate serious human rights violations because of the return of the DRC government’s army and its allies.
Three churches under the leadership of Banyamulenge were completely destroyed and looted.
Ethnically motivated killing, violence, and looting restarted, singling out the Banyamulenge people who were living in the city of Uvira. Three churches under the leadership of Banyamulenge were completely destroyed and looted. No organization nor church raised its voice to condemn these selective attacks, that destroyed Banyamulenge homes, churches, and businesses.
The destruction of those churches and properties in the city of Uvira is and remains a clear indication that the DRC government is complicit and supportive of this pogrom, even rewarding an armed militia called “Wazalendo”, serving as their dealers of death. Those who have managed to escape are now living under severe conditions as internally displaced people in Kamanyola, the South Kivu province of eastern DRC.
Heartbreak at home
My English teacher, a pastor and a very humble man, (was) beaten and humiliated in public.
I was astonished to see my English teacher, a pastor and a very humble man, beaten and humiliated in public. While the Wazalendo were searching from house to house, my dear friend was arrested, tortured, and paraded in public throughout the city, all the while his torture video quickly trending online.
Risking his life, he challenged political leaders in Uvira city about this injustice. He called out those leaders who pretend to protect hostages, but who actually want money in exchange for the safety of people like himself.
To date, over 450 villages have been destroyed in my homeland region. Livelihoods have been obliterated, hopes annihilated. More than 700,000 head of cattle have been rustled or slaughtered, and an estimated 80% of the population has been forced into exile.
Unless they are abruptly stopped, these acts will result in the killing, in whole or in part, of the entire Banyamulenge people in that area, simply because of who they are and that they live on a land potentially rich in mineral wealth.
This is an existential threat to my people and with each passing day the death toll rises.
This is an existential threat to my people and with each passing day the death toll rises, and trauma grows to meet it among those waiting for the next swarm of drone attacks or the scream of bomber jets approaching from the distance to bring more death and desolation.
Will the global Church respond?
D.A. Carson has written a book titled, How Long, O God: Reflection on suffering and evil. This is the cry of the Banyamulenge people today. It is too easy for those not directly involved to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to evil and suffering. It is convenient to ignore undertaking due diligence until we ourselves are confronted with tragedy.
Nevertheless, I am testifying to what I know—to what my friends and family are experiencing. I am calling on the global Church to undertake due diligence for my people, the Banyamulenge, and to protest against the grave injustice being perpetrated upon them.
Immediately stop the progrom of ethnic cleansing against Banyamulenge in South Kivu.
With one voice let us all together stand and call on the DRC and Burundi governments, with their coalitions of Mai-Mai, Wazelendo, and foreign mercenaries, to immediately stop the progrom of ethnic cleansing against Banyamulenge in South Kivu.
We refuse to allow our story to be told by those greedy for what God has entrusted us to take care of.
I am reminded that history is arrogant. It is written by the powerful. As the African proverb states, “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” We are not illiterate lions. We are masters of our own historical narrative, and we refuse to allow our story to be told by those greedy for what God has entrusted us to take care of: our families, our homes, our livelihoods, and our lands.
Let the global Church learn from the prominent German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller, once a Nazi sympathizer and promoter of Nazi ideals, who reflected on his former allegiance while incarcerated in a concentration camp during the last eight years of the Nazi rule (1937-1945). From him we have this legacy, a warning to us all:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Rev. Prosper was born in Democratic Republic of the Congo and forcibly displaced due to ethnic killing against his community, Banyamulenge. For more than three decades, he was on the move until in 2024 his family was finally resettled in Australia. During this time of displacement, Rev. Prosper planted Heart For Global Grace Ministries in Uganda, served as a refugee missionary with TeachBeyond/Beyond Borders focusing a refugee children education. He is passionate about encouraging the integration of ethnic churches in Australia and building connections with the wider community. While nurturing collaboration between churches in cultural transition and main-stream churches with Philoi Global, he led the African Australian Christian Churches Alliance. Rev. Prosper is an active member of the Refugee Highway Partnership, an Ambassador of Peace in Australia for the Global Network of Peace Ambassadors (GNPA), and is currently leading the Tabernacle Gospel Church, a newly planted congregation within the migrant community in South Australia.
