Minembwe in Tears: The Human Cost of Tshisekedi’s Rule

Internally Displaced Banyamulenge in Minembwe fearful for their future

The highlands of Minembwe in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, are facing a humanitarian and security catastrophe that has gone largely unnoticed by the international community. Since January 2026, densely populated villages—including Kalingi, Rubemba, Rwitsankuku, Mutunda, Bidegu, and Gakenge—have been subjected to repeated bombardments by drones and mortars, directly targeting civilian areas. According to multiple local sources, these attacks are carried out by the DRC government’s coalition forces, namely the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), elements of Burundian forces, Wazalendo militias and DRC-backed genocidaires FDLR.

The violence has resulted in civilian casualties, including women, children, and the elderly, who have already endured years of insecurity and instability. The indiscriminate strikes have destroyed homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods, now exposing entire communities to unprecedented levels of vulnerability.

March 1, 2026: A Dark Day

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, the situation escalated drastically. The villages of Karongi, Gakenke, Kalingi, and Nyaruhinga, all predominantly inhabited by Banyamulenge communities, were systematically set ablaze by Kinshasa’s coalition forces. Hundreds of homes and essential belongings were destroyed. Collateral damage also occurred in Ilundu, Kawela, Rutigita, Rugezi, and Nyaruhinga. These attacks triggered massive new displacement, further straining local capacities. Observers note this marks a worrying pattern of escalation, with violence spreading both in frequency and geographic scope.

Healthcare on the Brink of Collapse

The humanitarian consequences are dire. Hundreds of wounded civilians are currently lying on the floors of Minembwe General Hospital, the area’s only health facility, which operates under tough conditions. Since February 2025, all access routes to Minembwe—by road, air, and foot—have been blocked by the regime’s coalition, namely Burundian elements, leaving the hospital in a state of total shortage. It lacks essential medicines, surgical kits, transfusion equipment, sterile supplies, and basic logistical support.

Despite these conditions, the few medical personnel remaining are working around the clock under constant threat of bombardment, with depleting stocks and overwhelming patient numbers. The risk of preventable deaths from untreated injuries, infections, and post-traumatic complications is rising sharply.

Previously, care for the wounded was facilitated by the Uvira Red Cross in collaboration with the ICRC, but these mechanisms are no longer operational in Minembwe. The suspension of support, targeting primarily wounded Banyamulenge civilians, has left victims without access to emergency evacuation or proper medical treatment.

Mass Displacement and Severe Humanitarian Crisis

The violence by the Kinshasa regime has forced over 25,000 people to flee their homes, seeking shelter in neighboring villages or makeshift camps. These new internally displaced persons (IDPs) join thousands already displaced, living in dire conditions: insufficient water, food scarcity, lack of protection, and deep trauma. Women are giving birth in dangerous conditions, malnutrition is acute among children under five and breastfeeding women, and overcrowding exposes IDPs to waterborne illnesses and high risk of sexual violence, with reports of 3–5 households sharing a single dwelling.

Security conditions in Minembwe continue to deteriorate despite promises of a february 18, 2026, ceasefire mediated by Angola. Local and international media, as well as early-warning and advocacy mechanisms, remain largely silent. Telephone communications are cut across the Highlands, eliminating the only remaining means to report the situation or support civilians through mobile money transfers.

The scale of violence, destruction of livelihoods, mass displacement, and collapse of essential services make this situation a clear humanitarian and security emergency. Coordinated, immediate intervention from humanitarian actors, regional partners, and the international community is not just necessary—it is urgent. Minembwe bleeds in silence. Without rapid and decisive intervention, this crisis, as a result of the Kinshasa regime, threatens to spiral further with catastrophic consequences for civilians already pushed to the brink.