In a strongly worded statement, Congolese artist Alesh has countered recent claims by Azarias Ruberwa that Swahiliphones in the Democratic Republic of Congo face discrimination. Alesh, known for his activism through music, disputes Ruberwa's narrative, pointing to his own history and involvement with armed groups in the region. Ruberwa, a former senior figure in the RCD-Goma rebel movement, has been accused of attempting to deflect attention from his own past actions.
Alesh highlights Ruberwa's role as secretary general of RCD-Goma from 2000 to 2003, a period marked by significant human rights abuses. He recalls the May 2002 incident in Kisangani, where RCD-Goma forces repressed a mutiny, resulting in at least 163 deaths, summary executions, rapes, and looting. Alesh personally witnessed some of these atrocities, which he claims were covered up by Ruberwa and his superiors. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented these abuses, but no commanding officers were prosecuted.
Alesh also implicates Ruberwa in the 2004 crisis, when, as vice president of the DRC, he oversaw defense and security. During this time, Laurent Nkunda, a former RCD-Goma officer, led a rebellion in Bukavu, committing documented atrocities. Alesh cites Nkunda's own testimony to IRIN, in which he blamed his actions on orders from his RCD-Goma superiors, including Ruberwa. Nkunda later founded the CNDP and, in 2012, some of his fighters formed the M23, a group responsible for recent violence in eastern DRC.
The M23, according to Alesh, has become one of the deadliest groups in eastern DRC, responsible for at least 114 civilian deaths in June 2026 alone. The Kivu Security Tracker and OCHA have documented these abuses, along with the displacement of over 1.23 million people in North Kivu province as of February 2026. Alesh argues that Ruberwa's claims of discrimination against Swahiliphones are unfounded and serve only to obscure his own complicity in these human rights abuses.
Alesh disputes Ruberwa's assertion that Swahiliphones face state-sponsored persecution, pointing out that Swahili is one of the DRC's four national languages, and the constitution mandates its promotion without discrimination. While acknowledging that some individuals may hold prejudices against Swahili speakers, Alesh argues that this does not constitute a state policy of persecution. He accuses Ruberwa of misrepresenting reality to further a hidden agenda.
Alesh draws parallels between Ruberwa's narrative and that of the M23 and AFC, armed groups that have used claims of ethnic and linguistic persecution to justify their actions. By echoing these claims, Alesh argues, Ruberwa is aligning himself with an unconstitutional approach that has caused widespread suffering among Congolese civilians. He calls for a genuine examination of the past, including the UN's Mapping Report, which documented human rights abuses in the region.
Alesh concludes that Ruberwa's credibility as a peace advocate is compromised by his past actions and associations. To be a credible advocate for peace, one must acknowledge crimes committed by one's own side, condemn all violence, and avoid perpetuating the narratives of armed groups. Alesh asserts that true peace in the DRC will come through truth and justice, rather than through those who have led or supported abusive forces.
Key points
- Alesh disputes Azarias Ruberwa's claims of widespread discrimination against Swahiliphones in the DRC.
- Alesh highlights Ruberwa's past involvement with armed groups, including RCD-Goma, and his role in covering up human rights abuses.
- The M23, an armed group with roots in RCD-Goma, has been responsible for significant violence and displacement in eastern DRC.
