DRC: Congressman Calls for US Intervention to End Violence Against Banyamulenge

American Congressman John Curtis has written to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations over the ongoing violence against the Banyamulenge, inquiring into the steps being taken to address the genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo province of South Kivu.

The congressman, in the letter, says the Banyamulenge community is urging the international community, particularly the US to intervene and stop the ongoing militia violence.

"For the last three years, local Mai Mai militias in conjunction with Burundi-led armed group allies have reportedly killed more than 200 Banyamulenge, wiped out 200 villages and looted more than 125,000 cattle in different villages in the area," Mr. Curtis says in the letter seen by the Kampala Post.

"I would like to inquire into the steps you are taking to urge the UN-specifically United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO)- to take action to protect the Banyamulenge community of the DRC," the Congressman adds.

MONUSCO is a UN peacekeeping force in the DRC)which was established by the United Nations Security Council to monitor the peace process of the Second Congo War, though much of its focus subsequently turned to the Ituri conflict, the Kivu conflict and the Dongo conflict.

The Congressman who acknowledges Ambassador kelly Craft's strong leadership also asks for her views on how best to handle the situation.

"From your perspective, what can the UN do to prevent and deter armed group attacks against the civilians in eastern DRC more broadly? Mr Curtis inquires.

Background 

Recent reports indicate that more than 110,000 people, most of them women and children, have been displaced by the violence, which is being fuelled by hate speech disseminated through the media, social media and in public discourse.

Violence and killings have also been taking place in Congo Central and Kinshasa. It is estimated that between March 30 and April 24, at least 62 civilians were killed and 74 injured.

Museveni rebukes UN

President Yoweri Museveni has on several occasions said that the United Nations is responsible for preserving terrorism in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

While meeting a UN Special Investigations Team led by Dmitry Titov recently, President Museveni said the UN operation in D.R. Congo and to some extent in Somalia was the conservation of terrorism.

"The terrorists are weak. They have had freedom of movement and space but made no progress in their ventures. If they were strong they would have made a big impact," Mr Museveni said then.