Burundian army gives Twirwaneho 24 Hours to Withdraw from Mikenke
Tensions have sharply escalated in South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after Burundian forces reportedly issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Twirwaneho armed group to vacate the Mikenke area in Minembwe commune.
According to field sources, Burundian troops have positioned heavy artillery in Mikarati, capable of striking targets across Mikenke, Mikarati, and Sanganya. One local source told Kigali Daily News, “The Burundians have a serious plan — they are ready to shell Minembwe. The atmosphere is tense.”
In addition to Burundi’s military posture, Colonel André Ekembe, the Congolese army commander overseeing Minembwe operations, is reported to have arrived in Gipupu, where he gave Twirwaneho fighters a three-day deadline to leave Mikenke or face a full-scale offensive.
The Mahoro Peace Association (MPA), a regional civil society group, has condemned the developments, warning that Burundian forces have surrounded civilian communities in Minembwe since Saturday, October 18 — an act it described as “a deliberate escalation that could pave the way for genocide.”
MPA reported that Banyamulenge civilians attempting to flee Minembwe toward Ndondo were blocked by Burundian troops (FDNB) and Wazalendo militias led by a commander identified as Kakobanya. It further stated that roads in areas such as Mikalati have been cut off, preventing Banyamulenge residents from accessing markets, farms, and public spaces, while neighboring ethnic groups — including the Bembe, Fuliiru, and Nyindu — continue to move freely.
“The actions of the Burundian army are not accidental,” MPA said in a statement. “This is part of a long-term plan, prepared since 2017, to isolate and economically suffocate the Banyamulenge people and strip them of their dignity.”
The organization estimates that between 10,000 and 15,000 Burundian troops are currently deployed across South Kivu, many of them operating alongside Congolese forces, the FDLR militia, and local Wazalendo fighters.
“Reliable information indicates that Burundian forces, FDLR, and Wazalendo are coordinating as a unified force capable of executing an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Banyamulenge,” the statement added.
MPA strongly criticized the governments of Burundi and the DRC for their role in the crisis, saying, “Instead of contributing to peace, they are engaging in coordinated military operations targeting civilians based on ethnicity — a grave violation of both national and international law.”
The group has called on the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) to urgently convene a special session on the South Kivu crisis and deploy observers to prevent further atrocities.
As of Monday evening, the situation in Minembwe remained volatile, with fears mounting that a large-scale confrontation could erupt within hours if diplomatic intervention fails.
