Through mountains high and skies so wide,
He stood where many bled and cried.
Not for riches, not for fame,
But for a people bound in pain.
A soldier once in ranks so grand,
He walked away, took his stand.
Not in treason, not in flight,
But to defend his people's right.
With Twirwaneho, he stood tall,
A voice, a shield against the fall.
A leader strong, a heart so bold,
A story carved in fire and gold.
Yet shadows feared the light he gave,
They sent the sky to mark his grave.
A silent drone, a coward’s strike,
To dim the flame, to kill the fight.
But warriors' spirits do not die,
Their names are sung, their banners fly.
In whispered prayers, in battles fought,
In every dream his vision sought.
For justice walks where he once tread,
Though Makanika now lies dead.
He gave his all, he paid the price,
The warrior’s ultimate sacrifice.
And so we stand, we rise again,
To honor him, to bear his name.
For tyrants fear what love can weave,
And Makanika will never leave.
History has never been kind to those who fight against oppression. Yet, time immortalizes them. General Rukunda Michel, known as Makanika, was one such man—a warrior who gave everything to protect his people, the Banyamulenge of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His story is one of sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.
He stood where many bled and cried.
Not for riches, not for fame,
But for a people bound in pain.
A soldier once in ranks so grand,
He walked away, took his stand.
Not in treason, not in flight,
But to defend his people's right.
With Twirwaneho, he stood tall,
A voice, a shield against the fall.
A leader strong, a heart so bold,
A story carved in fire and gold.
Yet shadows feared the light he gave,
They sent the sky to mark his grave.
A silent drone, a coward’s strike,
To dim the flame, to kill the fight.
But warriors' spirits do not die,
Their names are sung, their banners fly.
In whispered prayers, in battles fought,
In every dream his vision sought.
For justice walks where he once tread,
Though Makanika now lies dead.
He gave his all, he paid the price,
The warrior’s ultimate sacrifice.
And so we stand, we rise again,
To honor him, to bear his name.
For tyrants fear what love can weave,
And Makanika will never leave.
History has never been kind to those who fight against oppression. Yet, time immortalizes them. General Rukunda Michel, known as Makanika, was one such man—a warrior who gave everything to protect his people, the Banyamulenge of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His story is one of sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Makanika was a seasoned military officer, once a respected member of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC). As second-in-command in charge of operations and intelligence in North Kivu’s Walikale sector, he had an intimate understanding of the terrain, the conflict, and the unrelenting cycle of violence that plagued his homeland. Yet, when his people were pushed to the brink of extinction, he chose to leave the uniform of the state behind and take up arms for their survival.
In early 2020, he walked away from the FARDC, not in betrayal, but in pursuit of a higher calling—defending the Banyamulenge. Makanika united young men and fellow warriors under the banner of Twirwaneho, a self-defense force committed to shielding their people from persecution and systemic discrimination. His leadership extended beyond the battlefield; he built Abarwanashaka, a community of resilience that spanned the world, uniting the Banyamulenge diaspora in their struggle for recognition and dignity.
Makanika did not die an ordinary death. He was assassinated in a calculated drone attack—a testament to the threat he posed to those who sought to silence the Banyamulenge. It was not an act of war but of fear, a precision strike designed to erase him, to sever the bond he had built between his people. His assassination was meant to crush the movement he had built, to leave his followers leaderless, to extinguish the hope he had ignited. But history has shown that ideas do not die with their champions. If anything, they gain momentum.
The news of his assassination reverberated beyond the battlefield. His comrades in Twirwaneho mourned, but they did not disband. The Banyamulenge diaspora, whom he had inspired, refused to let his vision fade. His name became a rallying cry, whispered in refugee camps, spoken in resistance meetings, and written in history as yet another testament to the power of sacrifice.
He joins the ranks of heroes who have fallen, not in vain, but as beacons for future generations. The struggle for justice, dignity, and survival continues, and the name Makanika will be remembered by all who stand against oppression. The true measure of a warrior is not how many battles he wins, but how deeply his ideals take root in the hearts of his people. Makanika’s legacy is not just in Twirwaneho or Abarwanashaka—it is in the resilience of the Banyamulenge, who continue to stand, fight, and survive against all odds. His fight was not for glory, nor for personal gain, but for the fundamental right of his people to live without fear.
As we reflect on his sacrifice, we must also ask ourselves: How do we honor such warriors? By ensuring that their struggles were not in vain. By continuing to amplify their stories. By refusing to let the oppressed be forgotten.
Makanika is gone, but his legacy marches on.