Harvard scholar Bojana Coulibaly investigated the October 2023 massacre in Nturo, DR Congo, where FDLR militia attacked Congolese Tutsi residents, allegedly with facilitation from Burundian EAC forces. Her findings illustrate ongoing ethnic cleansing and the influence of genocide ideology, with scant international response. The emergence of the Alliance fleuve Congo (AFC) aims to rectify governance injustices amid persistent violence in the region.
In researching the genocide ideology in eastern DR Congo, Harvard scholar Bojana Coulibaly explored the tragic events surrounding the October 2023 attack on the village of Nturo, located near Goma. In her report, published on March 19, 2025, she detailed how the village, home to around 300 Congolese Tutsi families, was assaulted by the FDLR militia, a group formed by remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The attacks occurred over three consecutive days, beginning on October 2, 2023, and happened shortly after the M23 rebels retreated from control of much of their territory.
The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) was deployed in November 2022 with the goal of stabilizing this conflict-ridden region. However, as tensions escalated between the Congolese army and M23, the local situation worsened. The regional force’s mandate did not include combat against M23, leading to complexities in their operations and eventual dismissal from the area by the Congolese government in December 2023.
During Coulibaly’s investigation, evidence was uncovered indicating that the FDLR targeted the Nturo community after the withdrawal of M23, with reports suggesting that the Burundian EAC forces facilitated these attacks. Coulibaly reported that, “All the Nturo residents we interviewed agree that the Burundian EAC soldiers gave a green light to the FDLR-Nyatura-Wazalendo on the day of the main attack,” emphasizing the complicity involved.
The brutal assault on Nturo included killings, looting of properties, and the systematic burning of homes, leading to the displacement of the community members. In a distressing video post-attack, the assailants openly boasted about erasing a Tutsi village from the map. Following the violence, many residents sought refuge in IDP camps amid an atmosphere of pervasive fear from ongoing threats by FDLR and Nyatura.
In late 2023, while hosting displaced villagers returning to rebuild as they faced persistent assaults from the Congolese army, Coulibaly noted that the effects of genocide ideology endure in eastern DR Congo. The plight of families from Nturo remains largely unaddressed by international bodies, as the UN peacekeeping mission has not conducted any investigations into these events. Coulibaly lamented the ineffectiveness of international responses, underlining, “The total annihilation of Nturo is proof that there is ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Congolese Tutsi in eastern DRC.”
The ongoing violence illustrates the immense challenges in ensuring peace within the region, as indicated by the emergence of a new rebel coalition, Alliance fleuve Congo (AFC), formed in late 2023 to advocate for good governance and to combat genocide ideology. Despite aspirations for peace, the AFC has faced sanctions that complicate dialogue with the Congolese government, reflecting the entrenched difficulties ahead for achieving stability.
The investigation into the attack on Nturo by Bojana Coulibaly reveals the intricate dynamics of violence and complicity among militias in eastern DR Congo. The targeting of the Tutsi community by FDLR, with alleged support from EAC forces, underscores the persistent impact of genocide ideology. The absence of significant international reaction further emphasizes ongoing ethnic cleansing and highlights the complexities involved in achieving lasting peace amid the regional instability. The rise of the AFC rebel coalition reflects a potential development in addressing the deep-rooted issues within the area.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
