SUMMARY

The conflict between RCD-ML and its splinter faction RCD-K-ML emerged during the final violent months of the Second Congo War often referred to as the “African World War”. As the main battlefronts in Equateur and Kasaï began to quit, the epicentre of violence shifted toward turi in the north-east where ethnic tensions between the Hema and Lendu communities spiraled into open conflict.

At the heart of the internal power struggle was Wamba dia Wamba, the original leader of RCD. Following the political and military split between Rwanda and Uganda Wamba-dia Wamba headed the Ugandan-backed faction known as RCD-ML. However as the Uganda and RCD-ML controlled the newly created Ituri province it became entangled in the worsening Hema-Lendu conflict.

In an attempt to mitigate ethnic violence Wamba-dia Wamba made a controversial decision to replace the Hema governor with an Alur, an ethnic group perceived as more neutral in the ethnic conflict. This move was not favorable to some Ugandan generals who were supporting Hema in the conflict. Soon these Ugandan generals began supporting Wamba’s key lieutenants, Mbusa Nyamwisi from the Nande and John Tibasima who was ethnic Hema, intensifying tensions within the group. Each lieutenant began building his own militia base . Mbusa Nyamwisi faciiliated military training of Lendu militiamen at the Nyaleke camp, close to the town of Béni, in Nord Kivu. John Tibasima supervised the training in Uganda and in the Rwampara camp, close to Bunia, of thousands of Hema militiamen in order to integrate them into the RCD-ML's armed wing APC. Wamba dia Wamba publicly criticized both men for exploiting ethnic tensions between the Hema and Lendu communities in order to establish power bases and gain control of Ituri's natural resources.

By early August 2002, the power struggle broke out into open conflict. Wamba dia Wamba attempted to reassert his authority by dismissing Nyamwisi and Tibasima from their posts, sparking violent clashes within the RCD-ML ranks. In November, after intense fighting in Bunia, Nyamwisi and Tibasima disposed Wamba from leadership. Forces aligned with Nyamwisi became known as RCD-K-ML. Surprisingly, the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni sided with Wamba.

Factional fighting continued and spread to the Ugandan border-post Kasindi. Uganda made multiple attempts to mediate the conflict but all failed. Eventually, in December, Wamba dia Wamba was exiled to Kampala signaling the end of his political influence. In order to restore calm to Ituri and avoid new splinter groups developing within the RCD-ML, Uganda forced all militias under their control: RCD-ML, the new RCD-K-ML, RCD-N and MLC to unite under a new movement, the Front de libération du Congo (FLC), led by Jean-Pierre Bemba. The formation of the FLC effectively ended the internal conflict between RCD-ML and RCD-K-ML.

The non-state conflict between RCD-ML and RCD-K-ML is first included in UCDP data in 2000. In November of that year, clashes between the two groups had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.