ConflictBarometer_2012

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
the newly formed armed group Nyatura, composed largely
of Congolese Hutu from Masisi, North Kivu. Armed Forces of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and FDLR repeatedly
clashed in North and South Kivu. FDLR frequently
attacked FARDC and MONUSCO bases and killed at least 30
soldiers. However, factions of FDLR tried to collaborate with
the army, following repeated attacks by other armed groups
[1 DR Congo (inter-militant violence)].
On February 15, FARDC and MONUSCO launched operation
Amani Kamilifu, intended to track FDLR in Kabare district,
South Kivu. FARDC claimed to have killed 60 and captured
162 FDLR militants. The operations led to the displacement
of at least 20,000 civilians. Following the M23 mutiny, President
Joseph Kabila announced the suspension of all military
operations in the east, including Amani Leo which was intended
to eradicate FDLR [1 DR Congo (CNDP / M23)]. After
FDLR expanded their territory in 2011, it increasingly faced
resistance by other armed groups. However, FDLR recaptured
territory and continued violating the population following
the military void left by the M23 rebellion in April. For instance,
FDLR killed at least 50 civilians in May during raids in Kalehe,
South Kivu. The most fatal of which occurred in Kamananga
on May 14, leaving at least twenty people dead. Consequently,
civilians demonstrated in front of the MONUSCO base in
Bunyakiri, South Kivu. The demonstration turned violent and
eleven Pakistani blue helmets were injured. In October, FARDC
and MONUSCO launched operation Taharazi against Mayi-
Mayi Yakatumba, FDLR and National Front for Liberation (FNL)
in Fizi, South Kivu [1 Burundi (FNL)], killing at least seven militants
and arresting several dozens. On October 16, FDLR killed
five civilians and injured six MONUSCO peacekeepers in an
ambush in Buganza, near Lake Edward, North Kivu.
The trial against FDLR president Ignace Murwanashyaka
and his deputy Straton Musoni continued in Stuttgart, Germany.
On July 13, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Sylvestre
Mudacumura, the highest ranking military FDLR commander,
on the count of war crimes. In December, three suspected
FDLR members were arrested in Bonn, Germany. They were
also accused of financially supporting Ignace Murwanashyaka
who was under EU embargo. The UN Security Council renewed
MONUSCO's mandate until 30/06/13. Also, on November 28,
it adopted a resolution prolonging the arms embargo on M23,
FDLR and Mayi-Mayi groups.
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DR Congo
violence)
Intensity:
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
(inter-militant
4 Change:
Start:
2011
FDLR, Nyatura vs. Mayi-Mayi Cheka, Raia
Mutomboki, FDC vs. APCLS vs. Mayi-Mayi
Shetani vs. M23
subnational predominance, resources
The conflict concerning subnational predominance and resources
between different militant groups in the eastern DR
Congo continued on a violent level. In North Kivu, the Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Nyatura
militants, composed largely of Congolese Hutu, clashed with
Mayi-Mayi Cheka and the newly emerged group Forces for the
Defense of the Congolese (FDC) in the Walikale and Masisi
regions [1 DR Congo (FDLR), DR Congo (Mayi-Mayi)]. FDC was
created in late 2011 as a local defense group against FDLR
as well as the DRC army, the Armed Forces of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (FARDC). FDC was led by Butu Luanda,
an ex-officer of the National Congress for the Defense of
the People (CNDP) [1 DR Congo (CNDP/M23)]. In South Kivu,
FDLR fought the Raia Mutomboki militia. Raia Mutomboki had
been mostly dormant for the past few years but resurfaced
in 2011 after continued FDLR presence in South Kivu. Raia
Mutomboki was composed of members of the ethnic groups
Tembo and Hunde.
In January, FDLR repeatedly clashed with FDC near the
towns of Walikale and Masisi, causing approx. 35,000 to flee.
On January 11, a group of soldiers, allegedly Rwandan special
forces guided by the FDC, raided the FDLR headquarters
in Walikale. They killed FDLR leader Brigadier General Mugaragu,
prompting the defection of about 50 FDLR fighters.
Skirmishes between FDLR and FDC continued throughout the
year. In the very first days of January, FDLR attacked civilians
in Bamuguba Sud, Shabunda, accusing them of collaboration
with Raia Mutomboki. About 45 people were killed and
some 4,400 fled. Facing repeated attacks by Raia Mutomboki,
FDLR collaborated with the Nyatura militia. Both Raia Mutomboki
together with Mayi-Mayi Kifuafua, and FDLR together
with Nyatura abused the local population, accusing them of
supporting the respective antagonist coalition. Torching and
looting villages in North Kivu, they caused the death of 264
civilians between April and September. Throughout the year,
FDLR and Raia Mutomboki repeatedly clashed in South Kivu,
mainly in the Hauts Plateaux in Kalehe and eastern Kabare.
The fighting between Raia Mutomboki, FDLR, and FARDC displaced
at least 218,000 people in South Kivu until June.
FDLR also fought over subnational predominance with
different Mayi-Mayi groups. Mayi-Mayi Cheka and FDLR repeatedly
clashed in Walikale over the control of mining sites,
causing the population to flee. On September 1 and 2,
Mayi-Mayi Cheka and FDC on the one side, and FDLR and
Nyatura on the other, clashed in Rutshuru, as well as in Masisi.
Also, the Mayi-Mayi militia Alliance of Patriots for a Free
and Sovereign Congo (APCLS) clashed repeatedly with Mayi-
Mayi Cheka in Walikale and Masisi territories. After FARDC
concentrated its North Kivu forces in order to fight M23 in
July, both FDLR and Mayi-Mayi Shetani occupied the villages
around Ishasha, Rutshuru. Fighting over control and taxation,
they caused over 3,000 people to flee to Uganda. At the beginning
of October, M23 took control over these villages without
encountering resistance of FDLR or Mayi-Mayi Shetani
[1 DR Congo (CNDP/M23)]. After FDLR and Mayi-Mayi Shetani
had retreated, they clashed over control of other regions
in Rutshuru on October 10, leaving thirteen militants dead.
Subsequently, FDLR and Mayi-Mayi groups also clashed with
M23 towards the end of the year. On October 22, alleged
M23 fighters clashed with APCLS near the latter’s headquarters
in Lukweti, Masisi. Together with FARDC, APCLS fought
M23 elements in Sake, North Kivu, on November 22, eventually
driving them off. All rebel groups engaged in raping and
extorting the population as well as in the forced recruitment
of children.
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