ConflictBarometer_2015

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
300 people died, while tens of thousands fled the violence.
Several armed groups controlled mining sites. RM groups
were mainly present at cassiterite mines in North and South
Kivu, engaging in illegal taxation and pillaging. Activities of
Mayi-Mayi groups, especially Mayi-Mayi Simba, encompassed
illegal taxation of the population, forced buying, and pillaging
at gold mines and 3T mines in North Kivu, Orientale and
Maniema.
In Walikale territory, North Kivu, Ngowa Bisiri and Shebitembe
Muhisa led two rival factions of RM. Between June 1 and 10,
a coalition of RM Ngowa Bisiri and Nduma Defense of Congo
(NDC), also known as Mayi-Mayi Cheka, engaged in fighting
with the alliance of RM Shebitembe Muhisa and Mayi-Mayi
Kifuafua in the villages Nsindo and Ntoto. Around 20 people
were killed, including at least ten civilians. Thousands fled
the violence. Further clashes between RM Ngowa Bisiri and
NDC, on the one hand, and a coalition of Mayi-Mayi Kifuafua
and NDC-Renewed (NDC-R), also known as Mayi-Mayi
Guidon, on the other, led to five civilian fatalities in Ntoto
and Mwiki on August 5. One week later, RM Ngowa Bisiri and
NDC clashed with the Movement of Action for Change (MAC)
in Mukoberwa, leaving three civilians injured. The group's
leader Ngowa Bisiri surrendered to MONUSCO on August 28.
In Shabunda territory, South Kivu, other RM factions continued
to engage in violent actions and gold mining activities.
Throughout the year, fighting between RM groups and the
military in Shabunda left at least 40 militants dead. Most
notably, 33 militants were killed in clashes between RM Mabala
and FARDC in Kiseku and Nzovu forest on December 9.
Furthermore, RM factions expanded their territorial control in
Shabunda. On May 16, RM Kabazimya/Clément seized control
of Lugulu, Milenda, Kaligila, Mitonko, and Mumbano, reportedly
committing acts of sexual violence against women. RM
Makombo gained control of at least ten villages around Kigulube
and Mulungu in late August, extorting money from the
population and forcing more than 600 families to flee.
Throughout the year, several RM leaders surrendered to the
government. In mid-February, RM Sisawa leader Félix Digondi
turned himself in. On September 17, RM faction leader Ms.
Cynthia, the former spouse of ex-leader Paul Ngumbi Wangozi,
surrendered in Shabunda center. Subsequently, Willy
Alexandre and 16 of his fighters laid down their weapons
on September 28 and on October 9, Kabe Sanga together
with 20 of his companions surrendered to the government,
handing over several IEDs, rocket launchers, and AK-47 rifles.
RM groups were also active in Walungu, Kabare, Kalehe, and
Mwenga territories in South Kivu. On April 7, RM Blaise and
RM Lukoba clashed in the groupement of Nindja, Kabare.
Eleven people were killed while numerous fled the violence.
During fighting between RM factions and FARDC in Bunyakiri,
Kalehe, on June 18, five civilians were killed, four injured,
and three women raped. In mid-June, RM groups also carried
out attacks on humanitarian organizations in different mining
areas. On December 1, FARDC arrested RM leader Ndarumanga
in Ngando, Mwenga.
NDC, led by former mineral trader Ntabo Ntaberi Cheka,
continued to operate in Walikale and Lubero, North Kivu.
Throughout the year, NDC frequently clashed with the dissident
group NDC-R, led by Guidon Mwisa Shimweray, also
targeting civilians. Furthermore, NDC committed acts of
sexual violence. At least 39 people were killed in clashes between
the two groups in the groupement of Ihana, Walikale,
between March 27 and the beginning of August. Furthermore,
at least 10,000 people were displaced. The group NDC-R also
operated in Walikale and Lubero. On July 5, FARDC attacked
the militia in Mianga, Walikale, killing one militant and forcing
numerous people to flee the area. At the end of July,
alleged NDC-R fighters attacked a commercial convoy on the
road between Nsindo and Mera, Walikale, killing one civilian
and one policeman. Subsequently, inhabitants of the area
set up self-defense militias. The coalition between NDC-R
and Mayi-Mayi Kiyanda-Yira, labelled Union of Patriots for
the Defense of Innocents (UPDI), launched attacks against
FDLR in the groupement of Ikobo, Walikale, on November
22. Furthermore, UPDI carried out attacks against FDLR and
Lafontaine's Union of Congolese Patriots for Peace (UPCP) in
Lubero. Tit-for-tat violence continued until the end of the
year, leading to at least 15 fatalities, massive displacement
and destruction of residential houses.
The Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo (AP-
CLS) continued to operate in the territories of Masisi and
Walikale, North Kivu. One civilian was killed and thousands
were displaced due to fighting between APCLS and FARDC in
the areas of Lwibo, Kinyumba, and Lukweti, Masisi, between
March 14 and 19. Reportedly, heavy weapons were used. On
September 23, the rebels attacked MONUSCO soldiers near
the medical center of Kashebere, Masisi. One peacekeeper
and four militants were injured and around 6,000 people fled
the area. FARDC wounded one militant and arrested at least
one APLCS leader in clashes in Mberere, Masisi, between
October 8 and 11. The arrest led to violent demonstrations
by ethnic Hunde, which left at least two civilians injured. A
total of 37,000 people fled the violence. APCLS also engaged
in fighting with FDLR in Masisi in mid-September, forcing
around 60 families to flee.
The ethnic Hutu Nyatura militias operated in the North Kivu
territories of Masisi, Walikale, and Rutshuru, as well as in
Kalehe, South Kivu. On February 11, a Nyatura group clashed
with ethnic Nande militants of Mayi-Mayi Shetani near the
Nyamilima-Katwiguru road in Rutshuru. On July 10, Nyatura
and APLCS members jointly kidnapped ten civilians and pillaged
goods in the villages of Biriba, Bukondo, and Buhima,
Walikale. Around 100 families fled the area. A Nyatura attack
against FARDC in Bukombo, Masisi, on June 17 left two
soldiers and three militants dead. When Nyatura fighters and
the military clashed in Lumbishi, Kalehe, on August 12, two
rebels were killed, among them Nyatura leader Bahati.
Mayi-Mayi Kirikicho continued to attack civilians and other
militias in Kalehe. During fighting between a coalition of
Mayi-Mayi Kirikicho and Kifuafua and an unidentified RM faction
in Bulembwe and Kaholo on January 6, militants killed
one civilian, raped ten women and burned down approx.
20 houses. Government forces captured Kirikicho leader
Marongo in Katiri on January 24.
Mayi-Mayi Werrason continued to carry out attacks against
civilians in Mambasa territory, Orientale province, using rifles,
machetes, spears, and arrows. From the end of April
until the end of August, the group killed at least six people,
including four policemen. For instance, during the night of
August 23, Mayi-Mayi Werrason members killed one civilian
and raped two women in the mining zones of Lelesi and
Wamba in central Mambasa. According to MONUSCO, this led
to significant displacement.
Mayi-Mayi Simba continued to be active in the territories
of Mambasa, Bafwasende, and Wamba, Orientale province,
Lubutu, Maniema province, as well as Butembo and Beni,
North Kivu. Overall, at least 31 people were killed, including
seven civilians. For instance, 15 Simba militants and five
members of Mayi-Mayi Yira were killed in clashes in Kambau,
Butembo, on July 22. In early August, a coalition of Mayi-Mayi
Simba and Mayi-Mayi Luc took control over several villages
in Bafwasende and Lubutu. On November 12, around 100
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