SUMMARY
The conflict between APCLS (Alliance des Patriotes pour un Congo libre et souverain, Alliance of the People for a Free and Sovereign Congo) and NDC (Nduma Defense of Congo) was mainly fought in the Nord Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). The Nord Kivu province is situated in the eastern parts of the country bordering Rwanda and Uganda. Much of the land in the Nord Kivu province is fertile and it is more densely populated than other parts of the country. The Nord Kivu province is and has for centuries been inhabited by a broad range of different communities: Hunde, Nande, Nyanga, Tembo, Kano, Twa, Pere, and Hutu and Tutsi. Before colonization these communities were governed differently in different chiefdoms. And under the colonial administration these chieftaincies were absorbed by the new power and in some cases re-drawn into Sectors and in some cases importing new chiefs. The Belgians also made a distinction between the indigenous/autochthonous tribes of the area who were entitled to holding land and the foreigners; oftentimes being those of Rwandan descent (Hutu and Tutsi), who were not entitled to holding land. At the same time all land belonged to the colonial power and they could expropriate customary land to lease or sell it to plantation-owners.
During the colonial rule the plantation-owners needed labor on their farms. To meet this demand labor workers were recruited in neighboring Rwanda. In some areas of the Nord Kivu Province this new wave of immigration changed the ethnic balance. In total it is believed that 150 000 and 300 000 Hutu and Tutsi immigrants moved to Nord Kivu during the colonial period. After independence these shifts have been one of the roots of the conflicts in the area. While the indigenous communities have kept the customary power and the right over land, the Hutu and Tutsi have been more numerous and therefore a threat in a democratic DR. Congo. Different laws regulating citizenship have granted or ripped the Hutu and Tutsi communities of their rights aggravating the situation. Under the Mobutu Zairianisation process the big plantations were nationalized and then granted to close allies of president grew Mobutu according to his patronage system of ruling the country. Hutu and Tutsi elite manage to by land during this period and consequently manage to gain economic power. The conflict between APCLS and NDC emerged in these contexts. APCLS was predominantly Hunde, while the NDC consisted mainly of Hutu fighters.
APCLS and NDC have mainly fought over the town Pinga town bordering Masisi and Walikale territories. Pinga is inhabited by mainly two communities 30% Hunde (from Masisi), 60% Nyanga (from Walikale). This small area has been the base for many rebel groups in recent years and in 2013 four groups were represented: APCLS, FDLR, Nyatura and NDC. According to some sources one of the conflict issues between the armed groups has been the control of a cassiterite mine that had recently been discovered in Mutongo, Kaseke area of Walikale territory. The area has many had important gold mines that at times have been controlled by FDLR and other armed groups.
The first clashes between the two communities in Pinga broke out in July 2011. In March 2012 the government army FARDC left Pinga as M23 appeared on the national scene. This opened up for a coalition of APCLS, FDLR to occupy the area. These groups looted homes and many Nyanga was forced to flee. In August 2012 NDC managed to oust the APCLS/FDLR coalition from the town. The Hunde population fled the area. The Congolese army retook the village after recurring clashes against NDC now allied to Raïa Mutomboki in October 2012. They managed to keep control over the area for one year. During this year, clashes were frequently reported between NDC and APCLS, FDLR and Nyatura trying to regain control over the area. Although the army remained some control, the two groups reportedly took control over Pinga after different clashes. In November 2013 the FIB (Force International Brigade) of MONUSCO took over control over Pinga.
Community leaders of both the Hunde and Nyanga community tried to negotiate between the rebel groups in 2011, this however never led to the end of clashes.
The non-state conflict between APCLS and NDC is first included in UCDP data in 2013. By the end of May that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.
