Investigation Reveals FDLR’s Role in Nturo Massacre Amidst Burundian Complicity
Harvard scholar Bojana Coulibaly investigated the massacre in Nturo, DR Congo, where 300 Tutsi homes were destroyed by the FDLR. The attack, occurring after M23’s withdrawal, was marked by complicity with Burundian EAC forces. The report highlights ongoing persecution of Tutsi residents and critiques the inadequate response from international bodies like the UN.
Harvard scholar Bojana Coulibaly, along with her research partner, investigated the October 2023 massacre in Nturo, a village located approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Goma in North Kivu Province, DR Congo. Their investigation, part of a larger book project on genocide ideology, revealed that 300 homes owned by Congolese Tutsi were destroyed in the attack orchestrated by the FDLR militia over three consecutive days beginning October 2, 2023.
The attack occurred after the M23 rebels withdrew from much of their territory in Rutshuru and Masisi, and shortly before the East African Community (EAC) forces completed their withdrawal. Notably, the EAC Regional Force was initially stationed in North Kivu to aid in stabilizing the region amidst the conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebels, yet their mandate became complicated due to political tensions and misalignments with Kinshasa.
Throughout the attack, Coulibaly noted that the FDLR repeatedly targeted the village under the oversight of the Burundian EAC troops, indicating a troubling complicity between these forces and the militia. She reported that residents of Nturo were systematically persecuted, often forced to pay taxes to FDLR for their cattle and land, leading to violence against those who could not comply.
Eyewitness accounts depict a harrowing scene where FDLR forces first looted homes and subsequently set them ablaze, culminating in the complete destruction of Nturo. Survivors fled to the Bwiza IDP camp, which housed around 17,000 internally displaced persons affected by the ongoing violence in the region.
Following these events, many Nturo residents returned to rebuild their lives, only to face further military attacks, including aerial bombings by FARDC. Coulibaly asserts that this cycle of violence exemplifies the detrimental impact of genocide ideology in DR Congo and illustrates the complex interplay between local and international military interventions in the conflict.
The international community’s response, specifically from entities like the United Nations, has been criticized for its inadequacy in addressing the atrocities in Nturo. Coulibaly emphasizes that rather than fostering security, the withdrawal of the EAC forces paved the way for further violence against the Tutsi population and poses inquiries regarding M23’s role as a potential stabilizing force amidst the chaos.
The findings of Bojana Coulibaly elucidate the grave situation in Nturo, highlighting the alarming complicity between peaceful forces and militant groups like the FDLR. The report underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Congolese Tutsi communities and illustrates how the dynamics of power, military presence, and genocide ideology contribute to the region’s instability. The inadequacy of international intervention further compounds these issues, raising essential questions about the path toward lasting peace in DR Congo.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
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