SUMMARY

Repeatedly conflicts have appeared on the Ruzizi Plain of the Sud Kivu Province in the DR Congo (Zaire). Many of them have been explained by the question of identity: are Rwandophones – i.e. speakers of Kinyarwanda and Kirundi legitimate members of the Congolese nation? At the same time conflicts arise between agriculturalists and pastoralists, especially during the transhumance period (the seasonal movement of people with their livestock). Livestock has often caused damage to the farmers’ land, thereby conflicts have evolved over the access to and control of land. At the same time, the different ethnic groups living on the Ruzizi plains have supported and joined different armed groups and militias in the country supporting different sides in the many conflicts over governmental power that have been ongoing in the country.

The non-state conflict between Bafulero and Banyamulenge, Barundi is first included in UCDP data in 2014. On 6 June 2014 Bafulero and Banyamulenge, Barundi clashed around Mutarule. Banyamulenge claimed that a Bafulero militia had attacked Banyamulenge herders and in revenge Barundi and Banyamulenge youths attacked and killed over 33 Bafulero that was gathered in an outdoor church service.