A former US envoy for Africa has called for an end to longstanding persecution and violence against Tutsi communities in DR Congo. Tibor Nagy, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs between 2018 and 2021, spoke out following the April 20 protests held in Washington D.C., where more than 4,000 demonstrators, mainly Banyamulenge and other people of Congolese descent, denounced continued attacks against their community in eastern DR Congo. They demanded that the US administration pressure the Congolese government to stop violence committed by its army and allied militias. ALSO READ: Congolese lawyer questions mediators’ silence amid attacks against Banyamulenge “It's about time for some attention to the suffering of Congo's Tutsis,” Nagy said in a post on X on Thursday, April 24. “All focus seems to be on what Rwanda is doing wrong while DR Congo gets a pass. Justice for Congo's Tutsis is a foundational problem which a long-term solution must address.” Protesters pointed to the situation in Minembwe in South Kivu province, where the Banyamulenge community has been encircled by the coalition comprising the Congolese army (FARDC), Burundian forces, the Kinshasa-backed FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and other armed groups. Since late 2025, a blockade imposed on Minembwe has affected civilians' access to markets and essential supplies such as food and medicine. ALSO READ: How Burundian troops in South Kivu sparked a distinct humanitarian crisis amid DR Congo’s wider war Protesters called on Washington to pressure Kinshasa to halt drone strikes on Minembwe and Masisi, and open humanitarian corridors. Republican Representative Joe Wilson also weighed in, aligning himself with the demonstrators’ concerns. “The Banyamulenge gather in Washington correctly calling out dictator (President) Tshisekedi and the genocidal FDLR forces for carrying out another genocide in Africa's Great Lakes,” he said. ALSO READ: Banyamulenge take Burundi govt to court over abuses in Minembwe Wilson went on to urge immediate action from the Congolese and Burundian presidents, stressing the need to translate diplomatic commitments into reality. “I call on Presidents Tshisekedi and Ndayishimiye to immediately stop all violence and implement the Washington Peace Accord. The problems in Congo require active enactment by the Congo, not blaming President Trump.” ALSO READ: 80-year-old Congolese reflects on lifetime of injustice, attacks in DR Congo Despite ongoing peace talks and agreements signed between the Congolese government and AFC/M23 under Qatar’s mediation since April 2025, hostilities have not stopped.
