Harvard scholar Bojana Coulibaly reported on the October 2023 massacre in Nturo, DR Congo, where 300 Tutsi homes were burned by the FDLR militia. Coulibaly’s research reveals the involvement of Burundian EAC forces during the attacks, highlighting a troubling alliance with genocide ideologies. The situation underscores ongoing ethnic cleansing and failures in international oversight amid a complex security landscape following the withdrawal of M23 rebels.
Bojana Coulibaly, a Harvard scholar, alongside her research partner, investigated the recent massacre in Nturo, a village in eastern DR Congo. This incident, involving the burning of 300 homes belonging to Congolese Tutsi, took place during an attack by the FDLR militia on October 2-4, 2023. Coulibaly’s findings reveal systematic targeting of Tutsi residents six months after M23 rebels withdrew from much of their territory, heightening tensions in the area.
During her investigation, Coulibaly interviewed local residents, uncovering evidence that their homes were attacked by FDLR, a group formed from perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The M23 rebels had surrendered considerable territory to East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) in late 2022. However, the EAC forces were deemed ineffective and withdrew entirely by December 21, 2023.
The Burundian EAC forces were present during the attacks on Nturo. Residents reported that these forces appeared complicit, giving FDLR-Nyatura groups a “green light” and enabling systematic extortion of local families. The FDLR and affiliated groups, namely Nyatura and Wazalendo, created a hostile environment where residents lived under constant fear and imposed taxes on their livelihoods.
The violence culminated in a horrific attack that led to the annihilation of the village and the displacement of its residents. Survivors were forced to seek refuge in IDP camps, while the buildings in Nturo were subsequently set ablaze. By November 2023, returning residents faced further military attacks from the FARDC amid a chaotic and destabilized region.
Coulibaly’s research exposes the ongoing genocide ideology in DR Congo, claiming that the attacks on Nturo are part of a broader ethnic cleansing campaign against the Congolese Tutsi population. She highlights the failure of international bodies like MONUSCO, which did not conduct thorough investigations following these events.
The findings raise critical questions about the security landscape in eastern DR Congo post-M23 withdrawal. As new rebel alliances form, like the Alliance fleuve Congo (AFC), which emerged from past M23 factions, the challenges to peace and human rights amplify. AFC accuses Western nations and international entities of interfering with peace efforts, indicating that the roots of the conflict remain deeply embedded in political strife and historical grievances.
The investigation by Bojana Coulibaly highlights egregious acts of violence against the Tutsi community in Burundian-occupied eastern DR Congo, demonstrating the systemic targeting of this population. The role of the EAC forces raises questions about complicity, while the ineffectiveness of international responses underscores a growing humanitarian crisis. The emergence of new militant groups poses further challenges to regional stability, amplifying the dire need for accountability and comprehensive peace negotiations.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
