SUMMARY

Twiganeho or Twirwaneho, which translates from Kinyamulenge as “Let’s defend ourselves”, is an ethnically Banyamulenge self-defense militia active primarily in the Hauts Plateaux of Fizi, Uvira and Mwenga territories, South Kivu Province, in the eastern DR Congo (Zaire).

The group first appeared after armed mobilization of demobilized fighters and young Banyamulenge by a former FARDC commander named Chunguti in Minembwe in 2008. The group, formed to defend the Banyamulenge community against armed Bembe militias who were engaging in attacks and cattle raiding targeting Banyamulenge communities. The group functioned as a community-based, reactive self-defense movement, reflecting the Banyamulenge’s broader strategy of mobilizing only when perceived threats arise. Its history is deeply embedded in the dynamics of ethnic self-protection, militarized youth culture, and community survival in an area torn by decades of regional instability.

The group became more and more invisible after 2010 before reappearing as an Ngumino ally in the increasing inter-community tensions in 2015.

Twiganeho has always been a decentralized group. In the 2008 mobilization the Twiganeho was led by Raban Musemakweli Senga also known as Rabani Ntagendererwa Musemakweli. In the 2015 mobilization the group was led by David Muhoza Ndahigima also known as “Al Shabaab” and Mararo until his death in December 2019. These leaders were often locally recognized rather than formal military commanders, reflecting the group's grassroots, non-hierarchical organization. In 2020 Twighaneo partially absorbed into AFP-Gutabara the armed movement formed by Colonel Michel Rukunda (Makanika).