ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
against Mayi-Mayi Sumbadede fighters who had controlled a
mining site in Muchacha. The fighting caused 3,000 miners to
flee. The following month, Manu fighters took control of several
other mining sites in Muchacha. On September 2, FARDC
attacked the Manu-controlled mine in Basiri. In November,
800 civilians fled Mambasa Territory to Avakubi and Bafanduo,
Bawasende Territory, Tshopo Province, in fear of Manu
attacks.
The Simba group continued to operate in Butembo Territory,
North Kivu and Mambasa Territory, Ituri. At least 44 people
were killed and ten injured throughout the year. On April 19,
Simba militants attacked FARDC and the Congolese National
Police (PNC) near Biakato, Ituri. FARDC and PNC repulsed the
attack, killing fourteen militia fighters and capturing another
six. On July 16, eight Simba fighters were killed during fighting
with FARDC in Biasika, Ituri. In August, Simba fighters
attacked a mining site in Muchacha, Ituri. Three people were
killed, several abducted and four raped. On December 19,
a coalition of Simba, Mayi-Mayi Kilalo and Mayi-Mayi Corps
du Christ attacked several villages in Butembo, North Kivu.
One MONUSCO soldier and nine Simba fighters died in subsequent
clashes.
Corps du Christ fighters were active in Butembo and Beni
Territories, North Kivu. At least 22 people were killed in confrontations
between the group and FARDC. During fighting
on October 15, a school was hit by a rocket in Butembo city,
killing two students and two teachers.
The Nduma Defense of Congo (NDC), also known as Mayi-Mayi
Cheka and its splinter group, NDC-Renewed, also known as
Mayi-Mayi Guidon, remained active in Walikale, Rutshuru and
Masisi, North Kivu. At least 51 people were killed in NDC attacks
against civilians, clashes with FARDC and during infighting.
On February 7, NDC fighters attacked a Hutu community
around Luhanga, Masisi, killing 21 and injuring 40 civilians.
On April 22, 13 people were killed in fighting between two
rival NDC factions in Ihana, Walikale. Furthermore, at least
twelve people were killed in both, NDC-R clashes with the
FDLR-Nyatura coalition and NDC-R attacks on civilians. For
instance, on February 10, NDC-R killed FDLR-RUD commander
Jean Damascène Ndibabaje aka Musare during a raid on
the group's headquarters in Mashuta, Walikale. On July 7,
Nyatura and FDLR fighters clashed with NDC-R in Kikuku, Rutshuru,
forcing around 50,000 people to leave their homes. jli,
hsp, emh
DR CONGO (OPPOSITION)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1997
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
MLC, FIS, UNC, UPDS et al. vs. government
national power
The conflict over national power between opposition parties,
such as the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS),
the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), and the
Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC), on the one hand, and
the government of President Joseph Kabila, on the other, remained
violent.
As per the Congolese constitution, Kabila was barred from
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running for a third term in the presidential elections scheduled
for November 2016. Tensions over Kabila's refusal to
step down as president and over delays in the election date
increasingly turned violent. Opposition groups, human rights
advocates and journalists continued to face pronounced repression
by the government. The international community
and human rights groups called for free elections and a more
inclusive political dialogue with the opposition. The government's
crackdown on protest resulted in the death of at least
99 people and left at least 370 wounded.
On January 28, the communication ministry shut down two
radio stations based in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga Province
owned by presidential opponent Moïse Katumbi. On February
16, opposition groups called for a national strike. Subsequently,
at least four people were injured in clashes with
the police and 36 people arrested. On May 26 and 27, opposition
demonstrations turned violent in the capital Kinshasa
and Goma, North Kivu, leaving two dead and at least 81 injured.
On June 9, the opposition parties formed the umbrella
group ''Rassemblement'' to urge Kabila to step down. On June
22, Katumbi was sentenced in absentia to three years imprisonment
for illegally acquiring a building. Between September
19 and 21, heavy clashes between protesters and security
forces occurred in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma. The
UN Joint Human Rights Office counted at least 53 deaths, 143
injured persons, over 422 victims of human rights violations
and more than 299 unlawfully arrested and detained people.
The next day, the government banned all protests in Kinshasa.
On October 17, the constitutional court approved the request
by the electoral commission to postpone the elections until
April 2018 in order to update the voter's registration lists.
Two days later, the streets of Kinshasa and other major cities
remained empty after the opposition had called for a strike,
warning that a third term by President Kabila would not be accepted.
On November 4 and 5, the government blocked the
signal of Radio France Internationale and Radio Okapi after reports
on planned protests. On November 5, police used tear
gas to disperse UDPS protesters in Kinshasa. The following
week, the government imposed new restrictions on foreignowned
media. As a result of negotiations between opposition
parties and the government, Kabila appointed UPDS member
Samy Badibanga Prime Minister three days later. On November
19, police blocked access to venues in the main cities
where ''Rassemblement” had planned protests. In December,
the European Union announced sanctions against nine
senior Congolese officials, accusing them of oppressive measures
targeting government critics during the past two years.
The United States had already imposed sanctions in September.
On December 19, Badibanga announced the members
of a new interim government five minutes before the official
end of Kabila's last term. Nevertheless, clashes between
protesters and police erupted throughout the country leaving
at least 40 people dead, 107 protesters injured and 460
arrested. On December 31, the opposition and the government
agreed on a deal allowing Kabila to remain president
until elections in 2017, after the Congolese Catholic Church
had facilitated the talks. ceb