2023-11-22 10:24:13
An unhealthy climate has reigned lately between the two communities who look at each other like stone dogs. The administrative and political positions representing their localities divide them as the general elections approach. The territorial administration of South Kivu and representatives of the two communities are trying to ease tensions.
Present in eastern Congo since the beginning of the 18th century, the Barundi community regularly suffers attacks from their neighbors: the Bafulero. The latter consider them as foreigners who do not deserve to live on Congolese soil. However, even the Congolese constitution recognizes the Barundi chiefdom as an integral part of Congolese territory and also have Congolese nationality.
For the moment and according to various consistent sources, each chiefdom, including that of the Bafulero, has its representatives at different levels. “The Bafulero are now agitating to annex the Barundi chiefdom and consequently take all the political and administrative positions reserved for the Barundi community of Congo”insists a customary chief of the chiefdom of the Rusizi plain belonging to the Barundi.
However, this father of 14 children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren says that the Barundi in Congo occupy different positions in parliament, the government and the army. “This gives us the right to Congolese nationality and no one can dare to take our identity to attach other qualifications to us”, he insists angrily. Information collected on site indicates that electoral fever is rising on the eve of the elections next December.
The same information indicates that these are divisionist strategies and lies created to seek to exclude and prevent the Barundi of eastern DR Congo from participating in the elections. “These are delaying tactics to prevent us from electing our representatives and getting elected”estimates a candidate in the provincial legislative elections from the plain chiefdom belonging to the Barundi community.
The two communities called to live together
However, the two communities have a common and centuries-old history and live together. For him, it is necessary to maintain good cohabitation and good neighborliness for the general interest of their members. Same story for the King of Barundi with our big neighbor who has already increased awareness campaigns among the two communities to encourage them to work together and avoid ethnic divisions.
Richard Nijimbere Ndabagoye III, MP for South Kivu and from the Barundi community, believes that the Bafulero are considered their brothers and that they must cohabit together on the land of their ancestors. As a deputy candidate for his re-election in December, the young king insists on his social project on the integral development not only of the Barundi community but also for that of the Bafurelo.
The territorial administration of Uvira through the vice-governor means that different initiatives are underway to encourage the two communities to safeguard peace and security, especially since they have the same destiny as Congolese without distinction.
Par Jackson Bahati (Iwacu)
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