The Banyamulenge are known to be fierce fighters who defend their country.
Three men from the Banyamulenge ethnic group in Congo did not abandon their country after fleeing to Uganda; instead, they chose to fight for their parents who had been killed by armed groups working closely with the Kinshasa government.
These three include Maj. Gasinzira Bigizi, known for his accurate shooting, Frank Gatabazi, one of the founders of Twirwaneho, who later went into exile, and Bonifasi Kadahugwa, who had been conducting humanitarian activities while he was in Uganda.
In the photo, Gatabazi is in the front, Bigizi is in the middle, and Bonifasi is at the back.
At the beginning of this month in the year 2025, these men crossed into the DRC from exile and are currently located in Kamanyola in South Kivu, where the M23 group and Twirwaneho liberated them at the end of February this year.
As explained, these men were three who did not abandon their country after their relatives continued to be killed by the Kinshasa government due to their ethnicity as Tutsis.
History recounts the plight of the Banyamulenge or Tutsis in general, detailing how they were killed in the DRC. It shows that the government of this country began killing them in 1964. This continued until 1996, when the AFDL group emerged, although it later evolved into the RCD, which also took the path of annihilation.
The killing of the Banyamulenge or Tutsis intensified in 2017. This is when the Banyamulenge began to be harassed, their homes were destroyed, thousands of their cattle were stolen, and many were killed. It is said that the government in Kinshasa used armed groups like Mai-Mai and FDLR to kill the Banyamulenge and also employed national army troops. In 2020, soldiers from the 12th brigade led by Brig. Gen. Muhima Dieudonne killed many Banyamulenge in Minembwe, including four women who were killed in Lulenge, others in Minembwe center, and six women who were killed in Lundu.
This is when many of the Banyamulenge began to leave the country after having fled, while those who were soldiers of the Kinshasa government returned to help their people in Mulenge.
Among the soldiers who came from the Congo government to assist in Mulenge were General Makanika, who became the overall leader of Twirwaneho, and recently passed away, as well as Brigadier General Charles Sematama, known as Intare-Batinya, who is now the overall leader of Twirwaneho, along with many others.
The two men, Gatabazi and Bonifasi, are already known for their rescue activities. When they are in hiding, they engage in mobilization and other activities.
In addition to that, Gatabazi is among the founders of Twirwanaho in Bidegu, Minembwe in 2008, but later he fled the country.
