Uvira Once Again Reports Violence: Soldier Killed, Rising Security Concerns for Banyamulenge Community
Reports from the city of Uvira, in South Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), indicate that during the night of Thursday into Friday, May 22, 2026, a soldier was shot dead in the Kasenga area. He is believed to have been a member of the Banyamulenge community serving within the FARDC (Armed Forces of the DRC).
According to reliable sources cited by Minembwe Capital News, the soldier was killed by fighters from the Wazalendo group, a militia that has been cooperating with FARDC in ongoing military operations in eastern DRC. Although military authorities have not yet publicly disclosed his identity, local reports and eyewitness accounts, including circulating images, suggest that he may have been a Munyamulenge based on his appearance and background.
This incident occurs amid growing concerns over insecurity and ethnically driven suspicion in South Kivu, particularly in areas under the control of FARDC forces operating alongside armed groups including Wazalendo, the FDLR, and Burundian troops deployed for joint military operations in the region.
In recent years, there have been repeated allegations that some Banyamulenge members serving in state institutions, particularly within the FARDC, have been targeted, killed, or persecuted by their own allies due to their ethnic identity or suspected links to rebel movements opposing the Kinshasa government.
Analysts note that the Banyamulenge issue in South Kivu has deep historical roots, linked to long-standing disputes over land, citizenship, and the presence of armed groups in the region. These dynamics have contributed to persistent claims from some Banyamulenge communities that they face isolation and abuse, both from civilians and within security institutions.
In Uvira and surrounding areas, residents report that since the intensification of military operations involving FARDC, Wazalendo, and Burundian forces, civilian security has further deteriorated. Some allege that individuals suspected of having ties to the Banyamulenge community or other armed groups opposing the government are being targeted, arrested, or killed.
Uvira is one of the key cities in South Kivu, located near Lake Tanganyika and close to the border between the DRC and Burundi. In recent months, it has become a focal point of military activity due to ongoing clashes between FARDC and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23).
Although the Congolese government has repeatedly stated that cooperation between FARDC and Wazalendo aims to counter M23 and MRDP-Twirwaneho and restore stability, many residents continue to report cases of violence, looting, and property seizures allegedly carried out by Wazalendo fighters operating in these areas.
Information from Uvira also indicates a recent rise in incidents of theft, nighttime robberies, and assaults on civilians, acts which residents claim are being committed by armed individuals linked to groups cooperating with FARDC.
As of now, neither government nor FARDC military authorities have officially confirmed the death of the soldier or identified those responsible. However, local reports continue to describe a growing atmosphere of fear and tension, particularly among Banyamulenge-speaking communities and families with relatives serving in the Congolese army.
Observers of the security situation in South Kivu warn that without urgent measures to protect civilians and address rising ethnic suspicion and identity-based targeting, the situation could further deteriorate, deepening tensions in a region long affected by conflict and instability.
