Me Ntwali was a champion of peace and justice for the Banyamulenge in DR Congo
Mahoro Peace Association will celebrate the life and legacy of Me Bukuru Ntwali on June 19 at Double Tree Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, South Portland. The celebration will begin at 3:00 p.m. and is expected to continue until 7:00 p.m. Me Ntwali was killed on June 2, 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda. Me Ntwali had spoken out against the genocide of the Banyamulenge, and his death has traumatized the Banyamulenge Diaspora, including those living in Maine.
The memorial service is being organized by family members of Me Ntwali, who reside in Maine, and the Mahoro Peace Association (MPA), which unites the entire U.S. Banyamulenge community.
MPA speaks of the “slow, silent” genocide taking place against their people in the Kivu areas of Democratic Republic of Congo. Recently 95% of Banyamulenge villages have been destroyed, 90% of the livestock has been raided, and there is widespread killing and sexual violence against women and children. Genocide Watch has labeled the situation a ‘genocide emergency.’
The Banyamulenge community hopes the memorial will raise awareness of the ethnic cleansing targeting the Banyamulenge minority of the DRC, something that Me Ntwali worked hard to bring to the attention of the world. The mainstream international media, as well as the Congolese media, has almost entirely ignored the crisis, which has been ongoing for four years.
