SUMMARY

RCD-K-ML (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Kisangani-Mouvement de Libération, Congolese Rally for Democracy/Kisangani/Liberation Movement) was a rebel faction active in the DR Congo. The group was both part of violence stirred in the north east by the insurgency trying to oust Kabila and the communal violence in the Ituri region.

The group existed in two phases; first RCD-K-ML split from RCD-ML in 2000 when factional fighting in the group broke out. The first phase was short-lived as the group was forced into an Uganda arranged movement called the FLC (Front de Libération du Congo, Front for the Liberation of Congo). Uganda had tried to solve a leadership fight in RCD-ML by merging MLC (Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo, Congolese Liberation Movement) and RCD-ML. The new alliance did not work and Mbusa Nyamwisi assumed leadership of the RCD-ML. The Nyamwisi faction became known as RCD-Kisangani-ML, as the original RCD leader Wamba-dia-Wamba continued to claim legitimacy as leader of the original RCD-ML. MLC and RCD-K-ML made an arrangement were MLC controlled the Equateur region to Bumba in the east and RCD-K-ML the area from Butembo to Isiro. RCD-K-ML was first based in Kisangani until being ousted. The group was then headquarted in Bunia. It later moved its headquarters to Beni.

Prior to the split, in January 2000, Nyamwisi started to recruit his own army of mainly ethnic kinsmen in Ituri – called the Usalama Battalion. Nyamwisi a Nande from Nord Kivu found support amongst his Mukonjo tribesmen in Beni and mainly recruited child soldiers. His group supported the Lendu tribe in the Ituri conflict. Before the national talks in mid-October 2001, Nyamwisi allied himselves with his former enemies in Kinshasa in a bid to become the stronger force in the Ituri region. The government of DR Congo supported RCD-K-ML with military material in the fighting in Ituri.

A peace agreement was concluded by all main actors in the DRC intrastate conflict in 2003. The RCD-K-ML was given 15 seats in the Transitional National Assembly, Nyamwisi was appointed Minister for Regional Cooperation. And the troops were integrated into the Congolese national army (FARDC). Before the national elections were held RCD-K-ML was transformed into a political party and renamed FR (Forces du Renouveau, Forces for Renewal).

RCD-K-ML has been involved in the non-state and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.