Twirwaneho

Twirwaneho (translated as "Let's defend ourselves") is an armed group operating in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Twirwaneho is composed primarily of members of the Banyamulenge community, a Tutsi subgroup originally from Rwanda but inhabitants in the South Kivu province.

The group was established in the early 2010s as a self-defense militia formed to counter ethnic violence, land conflicts, and attacks by rival armed factions, notably the Mai-Mai. Although it waned around 2009, it reappeared in 2015 under David Muhoza Ndahigima, also known as "El Shabaab", during a resurgence of insecurity in South Kivu's highlands. Under his leadership, Twirwaneho transformed from a defensive militia into a more structured armed organization carrying out offensive operations against opposing militias and ethnic groups. Its ranks expanded over time to include ex-combatants, diaspora members, and allied fighters, with support from transnational Banyamulenge networks. Beginning in 2018, it became a key participant in escalating violence across Uvira Territory, Fizi Territory, and Mwenga Territory, engaging in clashes with Mai-Mai coalitions, fighting Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) units, and interacting with Burundian and Rwandan armed groups. Reports by the United Nations Security Council have linked Twirwaneho to serious human rights abuses, including killings, displacement of civilians, and sexual violence.

Following 2020, the group expanded and became more centralized, especially after former FARDC officer Michel Rukunda ("Makanika") joined its ranks. By 2023, it had affiliated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC), and in February 2025, it aligned with the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement, taking part in joint military operations. Twirwaneho's president, Freddy Kaniki Rukema, serves as the AFC's deputy coordinator of economic, financial, and development affairs, while Charles Sematama is the group's military commander.