The village was the scene of the Moiwana massacre on November 29, 1986, during the Suriname Guerrilla War between the Surinamese military regime, headed by Dési Bouterse, and the Jungle Commando led by Ronnie Brunswijk.

The army attacked the village, killing at least 35 of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, and burned Brunswijk's house.

The survivors fled with thousands of other inland inhabitants over the Marowijne River to neighboring French Guiana.

Reportedly he was forced out of his car near Fort Zeelandia and shot in the head, with his body left outside Bouterse's office.

The government has stated that it is still continuing its investigation of the massacre, but that prospective witnesses either had moved or died, or were uncooperative.