Commemorating the assassination of Archbishop Christophe Muzihirwa of Bukavu killed by Rwandan Army in 1996

On that day of Tuesday October 29^th 1996, Monsignor Christophe Muzihirwa Archbishop of Bukavu in South Kivu Province was assassinated by Rwandan Army as he came from helping refugees who were in difficult situation in Bukavu

That very Tuesday at around 8am, the city of Bukavu was shocked to learn that Archbishop Christophe Muzihirwa was murdered by the Rwandan Forces. Early in the morning he was alerted about Rwandan refugees who were at risk of being assassinated by Rwandan Soldiers who have entered the City of Bukavu in South Kivu, he moved in order to ensure that refugees are safe and managed to do all he could and exactly these refugees survived. On his way back, when he reached a place called Nyawera roundabout in Bukavu, he was stopped by Rwandan soldiers, they told him to sit down, which he did then they started talking on a phone, about 30 minutes they received instructions to kill Muzihirwa, they shot at him and left him dead on the roadside.

On this day Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda soldiers have entered DRC in a war against former President Mobutu, these forces where under a coalition called AFDL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation).

Today we remember the struggle of Muzihirwa for Peace and the Great Lakes Region, some of his letters about peace in the region can be found on the internet, and also his advocacy for the effective protection of refugees in DRC through durable solutions. His letters also about the protection of refugees can be found on the internet also, please google them and know more. This is where we also got inspirations for the effective protection of refugees in DRC.

Muzihirwa surprised people one day in Bukavu, during the Celebration of the Archdiocesan Day, after the Mass, people now gathered for the Party where food was ready to eat and to drink. So they invited the Archbishop Muzihirwa for the prayer to bless the food. In his words he said this “ dear brothers and sisters who are here today, each one of you came from home this morning, he/she had something to eat, and if not he/she is sure that in this evening he/she will have something to eat at home. But there are thousands of people especially refugees in camps around us here, who have not yet eaten for the last three days and in this evening they are sure if they will get food, so let us take this food to them. If you are ready please join me, we go and distribute this food to those who are hungry now”. And the whole food was taken to refugees.

Commemorating this is a reminder that we have not yet done enough to ensure that refugees in DRC are protected, especially Rwanda refugees who have been massacred, killed, deported by Rwandan Army deployed in Eastern DRC since 1996 up to now. The desire of Muzihirwa to see refugees being protected is not yet fulfilled, we must work hard. On this day we also remember that his humanitarian and charity struggle to help refugees has not also been fulfilled as he reminds us that sometimes helping others may need to sacrifice ourselves, this is far from being a reality. Thousands of refugees are living in dire situation in DRC and we have remained indifferent towards their anguish.

But what is important is that those two values and commitments he left to us are still in us, deep in our hearts only waiting for favorable opportunities in order to drive them, so far talking about this alone it is also a great courage currently when once again both North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces are under the control of Rwanda currently and refugees especially in Goma have paid a heavy price. Refugees’ especially Rwandan refugees are the main target of Rwandan Military Interventions.  

This commemoration is also a reminder that we should know the truth about the death of Christophe Muzihirwa, who killed him, who gave orders, why was he killed, what problem did his death solve, what could happen if he was left alive…. And so many other questions. We need the truth and we are committed to various activities until the truth is revealed to us. And finally once we know and we have answers to all our questions, then we shall say “Rest In Peace dear Archbishop Christophe Muzihirwa”.

But also Muzihirwa cannot rest in peace if we have not yet fulfilled his wish to have refugees protected and granted relief aid. This is why our interventions about refugees will bear that name of Muzihirwa in DRCongo.