SUMMARY

Repeatedly conflicts have appeared in 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? Between the same communities, conflicts have arisen 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. Similarly local conflicts over the local governance have been intermingled into the mix. At the same time, the different ethnic groups 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. Similarly different Congolese armed groups have also at times allied themselves with, Rwanda, Burundi or different Rwandan or Burundian rebel groups.

The conflict between CNPSC and Ngumino, Twiganeho should be understood in this context. CNPSC is a Mayi Mayi coalition including armed groups from the Babembe and Banyindu and Bafulero communities, all considered as autochtone to the region. Ngumino and Twiganeho are militias from the Banyamulenge community perceived as rwandophones and foreigners to the region. In 2018 there was an escalation in the violence on the high-plateau and the different groups fighting for the communities residing there fought more and more in broad coalitions.

The conflict between CNPSC and Ngumino, Twiganeho first became active on 21 December 2020 when CNPSC attacked Ngumino and Twiganeho in the villages of Ngoma, Kitasha, Mikalati, Cakira, Nyamara and Kamombo in Fizi territory of DR Congo.