SUMMARY

The MLC, RCD-N, and UPC killed civilians after their fight for control over the gold-mining town Mongbwalu on 20 November 2002. The town changed hand frequently during the Ituri conflict. In November 2002 UPC had negotiated a deal with MLC to help them take over Mongbwalu from RCD-K-ML. This was the first time MLC and UPC cooperated. MLC brought RCD-N with them. After taking control over the town MLC, RCD-N and UPC followed civilians that had fled into the forest. Some people had hid in the Mungu Samaki church in Saio. MLC, RCD-N and UPC slaughtered at least 50 civilians and RCD-K-ML militiamen that were no longer able to fight.

The MLC, RCD-N, and UPC coalition first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2002, when the one-sided violence resulted in at least 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached on 20 November that year when the coalition attack Mongbwalu village and killed 50 civilians.