Banyamulenge refugees living in Kenya say news of the reported detention of Congolese army officer Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu allegedly   arrested on Sunday, November 2, 2025   in Kisangani and transferred to Kinshasa has brought a rare sense of relief, tempered by caution, after years of insecurity and displacement in South Kivu.

In a series of interviews conducted this week in Kenya, community elders, traders, faith leaders and youth organizers described the development as “a signal of possible accountability,” while stressing that any lasting change will depend on transparent proceedings in Kinshasa and measurable security improvements in the Highlands of Minembwe, Fizi, Mwenga and Uvira.

“We’re not celebrating a person’s humiliation,” a community elder said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. “What we welcome is the possibility that command responsibility will finally mean something for civilians in the Highlands.”

A youth organizer who fled Minembwe last year framed expectations in practical terms. “For us, the measure is simple: will markets open without extortion; will roads be patrolled without ambushes; will herders move without paying illegal taxes?” he told   UkweliTimes  . “If the answer is yes, then this arrest mattered. If not, it’s just noise.”

Women interviewed emphasized day-to-day security and livelihoods. “Security is whether I can take milk to market and come back with money, not trauma,” said a mother of three now living in Kenya. “If a new command stops militias from blocking routes and holds abusive officers to account, our people will feel it immediately.”

The alleged detention of Lt. Gen. Masunzu long a prominent figure in eastern DRC’s military structures has not been formally detailed by the Congolese authorities, and the army has yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the grounds for his apprehension. UkweliTimes could not independently verify the specific allegations. Rights groups and conflict monitors say official clarity will be crucial to prevent rumor from hardening into narrative in an already polarized environment.

Community leaders cautioned against framing the moment as an ethnic victory. “Many communities have suffered in South Kivu,” noted a pastor assisting recent arrivals. “Justice must be impartial, evidence-based and visible. Anything else fuels the next round of resentment.”

Still, many Banyamulenge argue the move could create space for a reset in command culture if Kinshasa follows through with credible replacements and strict oversight of units operating in the Highlands. Interviewees outlined immediate priorities they say would build public confidence: securing market days in Bijombo, Kipupu and Itombwe; protecting transhumance corridors for herders; dismantling illegal checkpoints; and responding rapidly to militia incursions.

“What we want is not revenge. We want a different security contract,” said a women’s association leader from Itombwe now in Kenya. “Let the state protect everyone equally and prosecute any officer or fighter who abuses civilians, whatever their community.”

Humanitarian workers supporting Congolese refugees say even modest improvements inside DRC could have outsized effects. Reduced ambushes and fewer instances of checkpoint extortion would expand access for vaccination drives, food deliveries and protection monitoring in the Highlands. Health workers add that predictable security around market days can lower risks of gender-based violence and help rural clinics retain staff.

Analysts warn of potential risks, including internal backlash within security structures and short-term vacuums if command transitions lag. “If this is perceived as political score-settling rather than a lawful process, it could harden factions,” a civil-society coordinator told   UkweliTimes  . “That’s why transparency matters.”

As of Tuesday, officials in Kinshasa had not provided a public timeline for disciplinary or judicial steps. Banyamulenge interviewees said their judgment will be based on what happens “on the ground” in the coming weeks: visible discipline within units, regular patrols on the Minembwe,Misezero,Itombwe axes, and safe corridors for commerce and movement.

“Give us thirty days of safer roads and functioning markets, and you will see hope return quicker than any speech,” said a trader from Uvira who recently arrived in Kenya. “If nothing changes, people will conclude it was just another headline.”

For now, the mood among many Banyamulenge refugees is cautiously optimistic relief at what they view as a long-overdue message from the chain of command, balanced by the recognition that durable change will be judged not in statements but in the everyday journeys of children to school and herders to market.

Overall, information gathered from security-linked sources indicates that Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu’s detention stems from two core allegations: a failure of command specifically, not preventing the fall of Nzibira to AFC/M23/MRDP and suspected unauthorized contacts with political figures and networks perceived as aligned with that coalition, including reported links to former president Joseph Kabila. These claims triggered concerns about a leadership gap within FARDC and prompted urgent disciplinary action.

However, Congolese authorities have not issued a formal charge sheet or an official communiqué detailing the legal basis for the arrest. For now, the rationale remains provisional pending a thorough investigation and any subsequent proceedings in Kinshasa. UkweliTimes will continue to follow the case and report verified updates as they become available.

Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu of FARDC in uniform at a public event, referenced in reports about his November 2, 2025 detention.