A coalition of over 400 intellectuals including academics, lawyers, religious leaders and artists - from more than 50 countries is pressing the United Nations to address the escalating persecution of Congolese Tutsi in eastern DR Congo, warning of a looming threat of extermination. In an open letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the group demands urgent intervention to halt atrocities against the vulnerable community. Signatories include prominent figures such as Senegalese author Boubacar Boris Diop, Rwandan-French writer and singer Gaël Faye, and genocide survivors Yolande Mukagasana, Esther Mujawayo, and Félicité Lyamukuru. The letter also carries the support of scientists, academics, and political leaders like Professor Charles Murigande, former Rwandan ambassador and foreign minister, and Dr. Alain Destexhe, a former Belgian senator. Victim associations from DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, and Papua New Guinea have joined the call, reflecting global alarm over the violence. ALSO READ: DR Congo: Nduhungirehe asks UN to act on killings of Tutsi The letter highlights a surge in hate speech and attacks targeting Congolese Tutsi, drawing parallels to historical atrocities. It challenges the oversimplified narrative of the crisis as a resource-driven conflict tied to Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebel group, arguing that this framing obscures the brutal reality. “This misinterpretation, widely echoed in the media, overlooks the daylight atrocities—killings, mutilations, and even cannibalism—inflicted on Congolese Tutsi by their executioners,” the letter states. ALSO READ: M23 are no terrorists, the Congolese army is – say Bukavu residents The signatories emphasise the conflict’s complexity, involving multiple armed factions with divergent aims. They single out the FDLR genocidal militia and the Wazalendo, both of which have openly vowed to exterminate Congolese Tutsi. The letter also accuses MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, of abandoning neutrality by aligning with armed groups backed by the Congolese government. “MONUSCO has deviated from its peacekeeping mandate, associating with dangerous militias,” the group asserts. ALSO READ: MONUSCO ignores M23 rebel warning, intensifies support to Congolese army coalition The coalition proposes several urgent steps for the UN: Reassess MONUSCO’s mandate and effectiveness in stabilizing the region. Address Rwanda’s security concerns by disarming the FDLR and countering its genocidal ideology, which has persisted since the 1994 genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. Investigate past peace agreements between the DR Congo government and M23, holding all parties accountable for unimplemented terms. ALSO READ: AFC-M23: An african struggle distorted by neo-colonial interests The group warns that continued collaboration between the Congolese government and genocidal factions or mercenaries should prompt the UN to reconsider military support for Kinshasa. They also call for a credible, impartial UN mediator to lead peace efforts and demand guarantees for the security and citizenship rights of Congolese Tutsi, who face systemic discrimination. On the economic front, the signatories advocate for a neutral international commission to probe mining contracts and resource exploitation, which they say fuel conflict and instability. They also urge the UN to bolster faith-based organizations in peace-building, citing their potential to foster dialogue and reconciliation.
