On the night of August 13 to 14, 2004, the Gatumba camp in Burundi was the scene of a terrible massacre. At least 150 Congolese Tutsi refugees, mostly women, children and the elderly, were brutally killed. Those responsible for this attack are the Burundian Hutu rebels of the National Liberation Forces (FNL).
This tragedy, which continues to haunt the memory of the survivors, was commemorated on Sunday August 13 and Monday August 14, 2023 in Bukavu. Ceremonies were organized by the Banyamulenge community to pay tribute to the victims and demand justice.
In the hall of the major seminary of Ruzizi 1er in Nguba, portraits of the victims are exhibited, recalling the extent of the tragedy. Among the survivors present, Kibonangoma Dieu-Merci Hosea, who was still a child at the time, remembers with emotion: “Our brothers, our sisters, our parents, our grandparents were massacred. These wounds are still present in our hearts. We cannot remain silent as those responsible for this heinous act, such as Mr. Agathon Rwasa and Pastor Habimana, have never been brought to justice.”
Since the arrival of Félix Tshisekedi in power in 2018, the Banyamulenge community has remained hopeful of seeing the case move forward before international justice. Convinced that the President advocates the rule of law, they expect a reaction from him. Byishimwa Alexis, vice-president of the Banyamulenge youth of South Kivu, said: “We are convinced that if the DRC puts pressure on the UN, it will do the same with Burundi so that there is a follow-up of this file. We will not forget these acts, despite the attempts of the executioners to make us forget.”
These commemorations are also an opportunity for the Banyamulenge community to denounce the tribal hate speech they are facing from certain Congolese political leaders during this election period. They insist on the need to fight against these divisions and to promote justice and reconciliation.
The 2004 Gatumba massacre remains an open wound in the region’s history, but the survivors’ perseverance and pursuit of justice continue to inspire hope for genuine reparation and recognition for the victims