Congolese Tutsi Refugees In Rwanda Warn Over DRC Citizenship Reform

Karongi, August 11, 2026 - Congolese Tutsi refugees living in Rwanda have warned that proposed constitutional reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo could threaten their citizenship rights, while renewing calls for justice and a safe return to their homeland.

The concerns were raised on August 10 during commemorations marking the 22nd anniversary of the massacre of Congolese Tutsis, including victims killed at the Gatumba refugee camp in Burundi. The event included a procession and candlelight vigil, with refugees reflecting on decades in exile.

Mpumuro Joseph, coordinator of Congolese refugee camps in Rwanda, alleged that the reform process under President Felix Tshisekedi could be used to strip Congolese Tutsis of citizenship. He also linked the initiative to what he described as Tshisekedi's ambition to seek a third presidential term. The claims remain allegations and have not been independently established.

Ndarizhu Benjamin, a survivor of the 2004 Gatumba massacre, recalled how refugees who had fled Uvira were attacked after reaching a camp in Burundi. He alleged that attackers burned the camp, killed and mutilated refugees, and that nearby security forces failed to intervene.

The appeals highlight how unresolved citizenship, refugee and return issues remain tied to wider Rwanda-DRC tensions, with potential implications for regional stability and future political negotiations.