Bishop Fidele Masengo, a senior Pentecostal pastor and head of the Foursquare Church in Kigali known for his influence on social and moral issues, has issued a strong warning amid deepening divisions within the Banyamulenge community.
His reaction follows a controversial March 17, 2026 meeting in which certain Banyamulenge individuals were received by Évariste Ndayishimiye in Burundi.
The move has triggered widespread backlash, with community representatives labeling the participants as “traitors” and denying them legitimacy, accusing them of being influenced by foreign interests and disconnected from realities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Addressing the issue, Bishop Masengo framed the situation as both a moral and communal crisis.
He lamented what he described as a decline in values and urged collective accountability, stating that members must reflect and repent for actions that bring harm, division, or dishonor to their people.
The controversy carries particular weight given longstanding grievances.
Many Banyamulenge cite ongoing insecurity in eastern DRC and historical trauma, including the Gatumba massacre, where civilians were killed, as reasons why engagement with Burundian authorities is seen by some as deeply painful.
Masengo’s intervention underscores the role of influential religious leaders in shaping public discourse in Rwanda, especially on issues where identity, history and regional politics intersect.