SUMMARY
CMC (Collectif des mouvements pour le changement, Coalition for movements of change) with its armed wing called FDP (People's Defense Forces) was formed as an umbrella movement of Hutu-Nyatura groups in the Nord Kivu province of DR Congo (Zaire) and some Raia Mutomboki factions in Sud Kivu. Nyatura groups fought to protect the Hutu population in [DR Congo] (/#/country/490) from attacks by other armed groups and the Congolese army but in 2016 many of these groups joined together under CMC to challenge then President Kabila. A manifest stating that ”from December 20, 2016 Kabila is no longer constitutionally recognized President” and a “commitment to fight by all means the dictatorial, undemocratic and unconstitutional military system erected in Kinshasa” was published in February 2017 by the group.
CMC maintained a presence across both Kivu provinces but was strongest in Bukombo groupement, in southern Bwito chiefdom of Rutshuru territory, where the dominant Nyatura Domi faction maintained its headquarters. The coalition united several armed groups, including Nyatura Domi-FPC, APRDC, Nyatura-FDP, Nyatura-Love, Nyatura Jean-Marie, Nyatura Niyonzima, and Nyatura Nzayi.
The president of the CMC was Athanase Murundura, also known as Baobab. The spokesperson of the movement was Jean-Claude Habyarimana Mbitse, also known as Jules Mulumba. The principal military commander within CMC was Dominique Ndaruhutse, also known as Domi, who led the influential Nyatura Domi faction in Rutshuru territory.
CMC fighters were primarily equipped with small arms and light weapons and operated through semi-autonomous Nyatura factions loosely coordinated under a common political and military umbrella. The group cooperated with APCLS, FDLR, Nyatura Kasongo and NDC-R.
On 9 May 2022, CMC effectively ceased to operate as an independent group when it joined the Alliance des résistants de la patrie (ARP), a coalition of armed groups formed in Pinga to fight M23 alongside the Government of DR Congo. Through this integration, CMC later became part of the VDP alliance established in 2023. Former CMC leader Dominique Ndaruhutse subsequently assumed an important role within VDP, where he reportedly coordinated military operations, administration, and logistics.
NDC-R (Nduma Défense du Congo - Rénové, Reformed Nduma Defence of Congo) was formed as a splinter faction from NDC in July 2014 after NDC deputy commander Guidon Shimiray Mwissa had accused Sheka Ntabo Ntaberi of embezzlement. NDC-R members were mainly ethnic Nyanga. NDC-R was headquartered in Irameso in Walikale territory. The main objective of NDC-R was to fight against FDLR and then integrate into the national army of DR Congo (FARDC) but they were also involved in the mining business.
NDC-R grew from an estimated strength at between 300 and 600 elements in 2016 to a force of 1000 to 1250 men in 2018. NDC-R closely cooperated with UPDI/Mayi Mayi Mazembe in its fight against FDLR. Some parts of UPDI joined NDC-R in 2016. NDC-R has also been supported by parts of the Congolese army in its military campaigns. After the split of APCLS in 2018 NDC-R allied themselves with the splinter faction APCLS-R.
NDC-R was led by Guidon Shimiray Mwissa and Colonel Jean Claude Kamutoto. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa was part of Mayi Mayi in the 1998-2003 war and was part of the integration into the national army that followed upon the Final Peace Agreement. Mwissa defected from the army in 2007 and joined a small Mayi Mayi called Forces Divines Simba for a year before becoming part of NDC. Guidon Shimiray Mwissa surrendered to the government in August 2021.
