SUMMARY
The Ituri province, located in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) (Zaire) has long been a hotspot of violent conflict. The violence, often perpetrated by a multitude of armed groups ranging from loosely organized militias to more formalized rebel movements, initially stemmed from long-standing land disputes between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups. Over time, these ethnic tensions evolved into a broader regional conflict driven partly by competition over natural resources.
The Lendu, one of the largest communities in Ituri, number between 750 000 and 1 million people. They are traditionally pastoralists and are widely regarded as the region's original inhabitants. The Hema, in contrast are a smaller group with an estimated population of between 300 000 and 400 000 people. They are predominantly agriculturalists and engaged in livestock raising, fishing, and commerce.
UPC (Union des Patriotes Congolais, Union of Congolese Patriotes) emerged as a significant Hema dominated armed faction in 2002, following a split from the RCD-K-ML (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Kisangani-Mouvement de Libération, Congolese Rally for Democracy/Kisangani/Liberation Movement). The UPC accused RCD-K-ML of favoring the Nande ethnic group over Hema, prompting its leaders to break away and form a new movement. Following the split, RCD-K-ML sided with the Lendu in the Ituri conflict.
As with many other local conflicts in the province, the rivalry between UPC and RCD-K-ML was driven not only by ethnic divisions but also by a struggle for territorial dominance and control over economically strategic areas, particularly urban centers and gold-rich zones. A major confrontation between the two groups occurred in August 2002, centering on control of Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province. RCD-K-ML initially controlled the town but the UPC, backed by the Ugandan army, launched an offensive. After days of intense urban fighting, UPC forces succeeded in capturing Bunia. Both sides fought with extreme brutality, frequently failing to distinguish between civilian and military targets. Their arsenals included AK-47s, Kalashnikov rifles, machetes, spears, and traditional weapons such as arrows. In addition to conventional combat, RCD-K-ML forces also targeted political leaders associated with the UPC. One notable incident was the assassination of Ituri’s provincial governor, Joseph Eneko Ngwaza, who was killed in an ambush by the CPA (Congolese People’s Army), the armed wing of RCD-K-ML.
The non-state conflict between the RCD-K-ML and UPC is first included in UCDP data in 2002. In August of that year a clash over the control over Bunia resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.
