SUMMARY
Mayi Mayi Makabe, also spelled Mai Mai Makabe or Maï Maï Makabe, was a Mayi Mayi militia active in Katanga Province, DR Congo (Zaire), mainly in Malemba-Nkulu territory. The group was led by Kalenga Ngwele, known as Makabe, one of the most prominent Mayi Mayi commanders in Katanga. During the Second Congo War, Mayi Mayi Makabe initially fought alongside the Congolese armed forces and their Zimbabwean allies against RCD, with the aim of preventing RCD and its allies from taking control of Malemba-Nkulu.
Mayi Mayi Makabe’s objectives shifted over time. During the war against RCD, the militia operated as a local pro-government self-defense force defending Malemba-Nkulu against RCD advances. In 2001, however, the relationship between Makabe’s militia and the government forces changed. As the front stabilized and government troops began attacking civilians in the area, Mayi Mayi Makabe entered into open conflict with the government armed forces. The group also attacked civilians whom it perceived as enemies, collaborators, or witches. The group did not articulate a clear national political program or a separate incompatibility concerning control of the Congolese government so clashes with the government is not part of the UCDP data.
Mayi Mayi Makabe operated mainly in Malemba-Nkulu territory in Katanga Province. Its areas of activity included Musao, Mukanga, and surrounding localities in the Malemba-Nkulu region. The group’s activities formed part of wider post-war insecurity in northern Katanga, where several Mayi Mayi groups continued to operate after the main front lines of the Second Congo War had stabilized.
The group recruited locally in Katanga and was organized around Mayi Mayi networks loyal to Makabe and his subordinate commanders. Around 1000 combatants reportedly followed Makabe after he accepted the title of Head of Security for the Malemba-Nkulu region and withdrew to Musao. The militia’s fighters were part of a broader Mayi Mayi environment in Katanga in which local armed groups mobilized around self-defense, ritual practices, local authority, and access to weapons distributed during the war.
Mayi Mayi Makabe was organized around Makabe’s personal authority as a local commander. Its structure included subordinate commanders such as Kabale Makana a Nshimba, commonly known as Kabale, and other Mayi Mayi leaders including Mwende. In 2002, Makabe signed an order making Kabale responsible for security in Mukanga town and the surrounding area. The group’s internal cohesion weakened as disputes emerged over resources, disarmament, and authority.
The militia’s military capacity was based on local recruitment, small arms, Mayi Mayi ritual practices, and wartime support networks. During the Second Congo War, the group had cooperated with government forces and their Zimbabwean allies. After the relationship with FAC deteriorated, the group fought government forces and committed abuses against civilians. Its combatants used violence against perceived collaborators and persons accused of witchcraft, contributing to widespread insecurity in the Malemba-Nkulu region.
In August 2002, the Governor of Katanga, Ngoy Mukena, and General John Numbi Banza Tambo, both relatives of Makabe, met with Makabe at his headquarters in Musao in an effort to restore calm in the Malemba-Nkulu region. They gave Mayi Mayi leaders Makabe, Mwende, and Kabale gifts in exchange for a commitment to disarm. The leaders, however, could not agree on how to divide the gifts, and the violence continued. In February 2003, Governor Mukena and General Numbi again met Makabe. They made him a general and gave him the title of Head of Security for the Malemba-Nkulu region. In exchange, Makabe reorganized his militia, had Kabale arrested, and promised to recall the weapons that had been distributed across the region.
Makabe subsequently gave up the life of a militia leader and withdrew to Musao. Around the 2006 elections, there were fears that Makabe might take up arms again if Joseph Kabila did not win the election.
Mayi Mayi Makabe was led by Kalenga Ngwele, known as Makabe. He was related to two prominent Congolese political and security figures: General John Numbi was his nephew, and Katanga Governor Ngoy Mukena was his uncle. Makabe’s deputy was Kabale Makana a Nshimba, commonly known as Kabale. After being given authority over Mukanga in 2002, Kabale later became a source of conflict. In 2003, Makabe had Kabale arrested. Kabale was killed during a police attack on 13 May 2003.
