SUMMARY

Mayi Mayi Kifuafua and Raia Mutomboki militias operated in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Masisi territory, North Kivu province. Their violence against civilians occurred within the broader context of long-standing insecurity in the Kivus, marked by the presence of multiple armed groups and community-based self-defense forces. The violence escalated in 2012 as these two groups, largely rooted in local militias claiming to defend Congolese populations against perceived Rwandan influence, formed a temporary coalition to oppose the (FDLR) and Nyatura militias. These groups were widely seen by local actors as protectors of Rwandophone communities and collaborators with foreign interests, fueling ethnic and communal antagonism.

The Mayi Mayi Kifuafua and Raia Mutomboki coalition viewed entire communities as complicit with the enemy. Civilians perceived to be sympathetic to or supportive of FDLR or Nyatura forces, especially those from Hutu-dominated areas, were frequently targeted.

The violence committed by the coalition was marked by its extreme brutality. Common tactics included the massacre of civilians, executions, looting, arson, and sexual violence. Victims were often killed with machetes, and mutilation of corpses was reported. The coalition’s fighters returned to already-attacked villages to target individuals attending funerals or attempting to bury the dead.

The violence remained local and was concentrated in specific areas of Masisi territory, including Ufamandu I and II, Nyamaboko I and II, and Kibabi groupements DR Congo. These areas were characterized by overlapping claims to authority, customary control, and contested ethno-political alliances.

The Mayi Mayi Kifuafua, Raia Mutomboki coalition first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2012, when the one-sided violence resulted in more than 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached by the end of September of that year when attacks by the coalition had resulted in more than 200 civilian deaths.