Report on the dialogue among Congolese on the issue of Tutsi population in DRC held on Monday November 3rd, 2025

REPORT ON THE DIALOGUE ON THE TUTSI IN THE DRC

Our weekly dialogues aim at creating opportunities for people to engage on issues about forced migrants, harmonize views, combat against wrong information, help people to network and learn from each other. This is unique and the first one which offers space for people to discuss issues about refugees and other forms of forced migrants in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Monday November 3^rd, 2025

Before this dialogue, we had two concerns. Some people told us that the subject was sensitive and complex, and others told us that discussing it would be a way of attacking a community.

As usual, we want to make it clear that even if the subject is sensitive and complex, as citizens we have a duty to address it and make it easier and more detailed so that it is well understood. This must be done with us, and now.

We are in a process of encouraging open discussion, and we are proud to talk about our communities because this is our identity. One part of our identity that is often misunderstood is the Tutsi community in the DRC. That is why we must give people the real information and create a space for people to understand it in order to avoid fake news.

The dialogue started 30 minutes late and lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes, during which time the participants had the opportunity to share the real information among themselves. The meetings revealed issues of disagreements and issues which people shared in common and on which they all agreed upon.

To promote peace, we must tell each other the truth about our current identity and the truth about our history. Sometimes it is difficult but we should it, we cannot build peace on lies about our identity and our history.

Two constants were presented: the various wars in the DRC, which always begin with the Tutsi community, and the land issue. The Tutsi claim to be either discriminated against or seek citizenship as a motive for wars since 1996 up to date. But why should we continue on this path, and what other alternatives do we have in order to create harmony and focus on development?

The discussion observed that war is not necessary to resolve discrimination or to claim citizenship, and together we are united to fight against discrimination and together we are united to put in place better laws which protect each person in the country and which provides opportunities for each person. So we do not need the war in order to advance that, we need in contrary democratic spaces where people can fully participate in decision making process.

We noted that with current knowledge, progress has already been made in uncovering the truth, showing that the Tutsi arrived in the DRC in three waves: those brought by the colonizers in 1920, those who came as refugees in 1959, and those who migrated through unregulated means.

It is also a fact that they remained in the country as aliens, they could use the land but they did not own the land up to now because the land in DRC belongs to the Tribes and Ethnic Groups.

 The Tutsi began their political and armed struggle long ago just after DRC independence in 1960; indeed, as early as 1964, they already had an armed group. It was in this context that they made agreements with President Mobutu to help him fight rebellions in order to obtain Congolese citizenship. Around 1970, President Mobutu issued a decree granting them naturalization, but he revoked it two years later. And to this day, we have no documents showing that Tutsis were ever naturalized. This is one among the reforms we ought to advocate but in a conducive environment, but not with guns.

We also observed that the term “Banyamulenge” does not exist and that Tutsis should be proud of their Tutsi and Rwandan identity. We encourage all people to avoid the word Banyamulenge because it was a fabrication which is the cause of wars and ethnic violence in eastern DRCongo.  Participants also observed that the Tutsi war is communal, due to the involvement of each community member, whether through the sacrifice of their children, financial support, or moral support, for example, through prayers.

We also observed that Article 10 of the DRC Constitution is misunderstood and misused by politicians who tell people that simply being on Congolese soil in 1960, during independence, automatically grants them Congolese nationality. This is not true and people should encouraged to abide with the law on citizenship. We reiterated that Congolese nationality is either by origin or by accusation, and that to be Congolese by origin, one must own land, which the Tutsi do not currently possess.

We emphasized that our dialogues are not decision-making bodies but are purely for sharing knowledge and providing a framework for reflection and analysis.

Participants expressed their hope that the Congolese government would provide the National Commission for Refugees with the necessary financial resources to effectively carry out its work on refugee issues. They also emphasized the need for legal reforms, particularly the implementation of laws that facilitate Congolese citizenship for migrants, and the promotion of our community identities. And the introduction of the new refugee policy.

The meeting reiterated that the current DRC is a unified land, not the result of partition, and that every piece of land belongs to someone.

Our next session will focus on the repatriation of refugees, especially those currently in Rwanda.

Thank you very much.