A British Member of Parliament has urged the UK government to take a stronger stance on addressing the ongoing persecution of the Banyamulenge community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Rebecca Long-Bailey MP highlighted concerns raised by the Banyamulenge Community Association in the UK (BACA). She detailed the community’s historical and ongoing suffering, including the 2004 Gatumba massacre in Burundi, where more than 160 Banyamulenge refugees were brutally killed.
Long-Bailey referenced reports of thousands of Banyamulenge people being systematically targeted through violence, displacement, and politically motivated hate speech. She pointed to the findings of UN Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, who warned in 2022 that escalating violence in the region bore the hallmarks of past genocides.
The letter also raised alarm over the alleged arbitrary arrests and detention of Banyamulenge activists in the DRC, with concerns that detainees could face torture or other mistreatment.
Long-Bailey called on the UK government to:
• Push for justice for the victims of the Gatumba massacre.
• Demand an end to the persecution of the Banyamulenge through the UK’s influence at the UN and direct talks with the DRC government.
• Address the root causes of ethnic violence in the DRC.
• Provide humanitarian assistance to displaced Banyamulenge.
• Investigate reports of unlawful detentions and ensure detainees’ welfare.
She emphasized the urgency of these measures, stating that failure to act could lead to further bloodshed. The UK government has yet to issue an official response.