SUMMARY

Chini ya Tuna became involved in one-sided violence after emerging as a self-defense militia in 2022 in Irumu territory, Ituri province, northeastern DR Congo (Zaire). The group was associated with the Indigenous Lese community and arose amid longstanding intercommunal tensions, particularly between the indigenous communities of Ituri and migrants from North Kivu, particularly the Nande ethnic group. These communal tensions had been exacerbated by land disputes, historical grievances, and the presence of numerous armed groups in the region. Chini ya Tuna has occationally clashed with FPP-AP and IS. Chini ya Tuna quickly became implicated in severe violence against civilians, particularly targeting the Nande population.

Although Chini ya Tuna has not issued formal public statements explaining its violence, local sources and civil society leaders suggest that the group justifies its attacks as defensive or retaliatory acts tied to communal grievances with the Nande.

Chini ya Tuna’s tactics have been characterized by extreme brutality and targeted ethnic violence. The group has killed civilians using machetes and other crude weapons. The group has also been accused of torture with some victims reportedly tied up and subjected to horrific abuse before death. Chini ya Tuna was also accused of looting for example cacao and other resources during attacks on villages.

Chini ya Tuna was mainly active in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom, Irumu territory. As of January 2024, Chini ya Tuna and FPP-AP led by Kabidon, signed a unilateral commitment to cease hostilities, enabling the potential return of displaced populations and the resumption of agricultural activity in over 60 villages. After this date one-sided violence by Chini ya Tuna de-escalated.

Chini ya Tuna first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in In November 2022, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached after the group had targeted Nande civilians in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom.