SUMMARY
Mayi Mayi Chini ya Tuna, also spelled Tchini Ya Tuna and also known as the Mouvement d’autodéfense pour l’intégrité du Congo/Alliance Chini ya Tuna (MAIC), was an Indigenous militia active in Irumu territory, Ituri Province, DR Congo (Zaire). The name Chini ya Tuna was roughly translated as “under our protection.” The group emerged in 2022 in the context of longstanding marginalization, land disputes, and insecurity affecting Indigenous communities in Ituri.
The group’s objectives were linked to the protection of Indigenous communities, especially Lese communities, and to local conflicts over land, customary authority, and access to fields in Irumu territory. Chini ya Tuna presented itself as a self-defense movement, but its activities also contributed to intercommunal violence and insecurity.
Chini ya Tuna operated mainly in Walese Vonkutu chiefdom in Irumu territory, Ituri Province. The group was involved in conflicts between Indigenous communities and Nande farmers, particularly in areas where questions over land use, return of displaced people, and cultivation rights had become contentious. Its activities disrupted relations between Lese and Nande populations and contributed to insecurity in parts of Walese Vonkutu and neighboring areas.
The group consisted mainly of members of Indigenous communities in Ituri, particularly Lese communities. The Lese were farming communities closely associated with the Ituri Forest of northeastern DR Congo (Zaire), where they had lived for more than 400 years. They were believed to have been among the first Central Sudanic-speaking groups in the area. The group’s recruitment and support base reflected grievances among Indigenous communities over marginalization, access to land, and relations with farming communities, especially Nande farmers.
Chini ya Tuna was a locally organized militia. Its structure was linked to local self-defense networks and community mobilization, and no clear overall leader was identified in the available reporting. In January 2024, the group was represented in a pacification dialogue in Komanda by Maratay Christoph, who signed a joint communiqué as responsible for MAIC/Chini ya Tuna.
Chini ya Tuna fighters used guerrilla tactics, including ambushes and raids. The group targeted civilian populations and rival armed groups and was reported to have used small arms and machetes.
Chini ya Tuna was mentioned in connection with the CRP a politico-military movement created in 2025 by Thomas Lubanga. CRP claimed to represent major armed groups in Ituri and listed Chini ya Tuna in its proposed military structure. Chini ya Tuna denied any alliance with Thomas Lubanga, and several armed groups also denied affiliation with CRP/FRP or denounced the use of their names and signatures.
In 2023, Chini ya Tuna publicly declared that it wanted to join the peace process in Ituri. The group’s move out of obscurity showed that it sought recognition as a relevant local armed actor and wanted to be included in ongoing pacification efforts, alongside other armed groups active in Irumu and the wider Ituri Province. In January 2024, the group was represented in a pacification dialogue and signed a joint communiqué. In the communiqué, Chini ya Tuna deplored abuses committed in Walese Vonkutu chiefdom and part of Basili chiefdom, asked forgiveness from the government, MONUSCO, and affected communities, and committed to supporting the return of displaced people and cultivators. The group also committed to stop hostilities, collaborate with security forces against ADF and its auxiliaries, restore state authority across Walese Vonkutu chiefdom, accompany the return of displaced persons and cultivators, respect customary practices and payments, and avoid manipulation that could undermine peace and social cohesion. It also called for the release of detained members and for an end to arbitrary arrests of Lese and Nande youth and leaders accused of belonging to Chini ya Tuna. On 27 June 2025, Chini ya Tuna was among six armed groups that signed a new peace commitment in Aru, sometimes referred to as Aru II. The signatories committed to ending hostilities, supporting the return of displaced persons, and contributing to social cohesion and stabilization in Ituri.
