MONTHLY REPORT: FEBRUARY 2018

During the month of February 2018, the dynamics of violence in North and provinces can be broken down into a few distinct areas. In Beni territory, Ugandan Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, pursued by the Congolese army (FARDC) in the Mbau- Eringeti-Kamango triangle, increased their attacks against the rear of the FARDC on the Beni- Eringeti road where the army was not expecting them. Further south, the voluntary disarmament of dozens of Nande fighters in Lubero territory contrasted with the involvement by these same groups in ethno-political violence between Nande and Hutu in northwestern Rutshuru territory. In the far south of South Kivu province, the 106 killings (­100% compared to January 2017) scattering of the Mai-Mai Yakutumba in an 80 abductions and 15 kidnappings (¯44%) FARDC offensive has caused an increase in banditry on roads between the Ruzizi Plain 52 clashes between belligerants (¯22%) (in territory) and . In addition to these domestic developments, tensions resurfaced between the FARDC and the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) after clashes in the Virunga National Park in the second half of the month. Major tendencies In Beni, since the launch of Operation Usalama II on January 13, 2018, the FARDC have increased pressure on the Ugandan ADF rebellion, bombing their strongholds in the forests and savannah east of National Route 4 (RN4), especially in Mughalika. The FARDC announced that on February 19, 2018, they had killed a senior ADF officer 3 km east of Mayi-Moya––a claim that we could not confirm. In retaliation for this pressure in the Mbau-Eringeti-Kamango triangle, the ADF counter-attacked the FARDC several times. In Mbau on February 22, ADF troops abushed a convoy of park wardens of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (RFO); in Tungudu on February 17, an attack on the rear of FARDC positions left 5 dead and 7 wounded; and another attack took place in Kisiki on February 25. Meanwhile, there were also clashes between a Mai-Mai group and the FARDC along the Beni-Butembo road.

In Lubero territory, there was a lull in violence compared to past months. About 60 Mai-Mai from the area surrendered to the government. They had been sensitized, initially unsuccessfully, for a year by the National Minister of Rural Development, Fisheries and Agriculture, Kisaka Yereyere, a Nande politician from Beni territory.

Figure 1 February 2018 incidents

In Rutshuru territory, in the northern part of the Bwito chiefdom, interethnic conflicts have intensified as a result of an uptick in violence against civilians by two armed groups: Mai-Mai Mazembe (Nande) and Nyatura John Love (Hutu). These tensions have arisen despite reconciliation efforts by leaders of the Nande and Hutu communities. In the southeast of the territory, a clash took place on February 21 between the Rwandan army (RDF) and the FARDC near the border, in the Virunga National Park between Mikeno and Visoke volcanoes. The well-publicized transfer of the bodies of the Congolese soldiers at the Goma boder post on February 24 heightened the controversy over the exact location of the clashes. The Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) dispatched a team to find out who was responsible for this first major clash between the two countries since the defeat of the M23 in 2013.

In Walikale, Masisi and Kalehe territories, the fragmentation of armed groups has produced complicated rivalries and alliances. Thus, around Pinga (Walikale), Bashali and Banfuna (Masisi), the NDC-R, allied to a dissident wing of the APCLS (led by Mapenzi) and tolerated by the FARDC, fought with NDC-Sheka and the APCLS and succeeded in strengthening their positions in the area (Bukonde and Biriba in Bushimoo locality). In southern Walikale, the Kifuafua Delphin clashed with the Raia Mutomboki Shukuru, while peacefully cohabiting with the FARDC. On the Mweso-Kashuga (Masisi) side, CNRD-Ubwiyunge fighters have also strengthened their positions without being bothered by the FARDC. The only clash they had at the end of the month with the FARDC in Kashuga was perceived locally as a distraction designed to hide this collaboration.

The coastline of saw a rash of crime in population centers. Although no major movement of armed groups took place in the highlands, tensions persisted between armed groups from different ethnic groups. Tembo communities there are increasingly worried about the massive influx of Hutu populations into Ziralo groupement from Burungu (Masisi), where they were chased out of a ranch recently purchased by President .

In , the tactics of criminal gangs have changed: they now operate during daylight hours, often between 4-6 PM, and use grenades to trigger panic in order to operate. One interpretation has pointed to an infiltration of the city by armed groups who are trying to replenish their finances, taking advantage of the weaknesses of the security apparatus. Towards the end of February, this increase in banditry led to a crackdown by police in the city.

In , cases of looting and killings by unidentified gunmen have increased. Attackers targeted health centers, for example in Chamasiga where two health centers and one school were looted on February 21, and Chidodobo where attackers stole drugs and money from a health center on February 25. One possible explanation is that armed groups have been pushed into Walungu territory by FARDC operation in . The numerous search-and-seizure operations organized by the police in Bukavu are also likely to lead to push armed gangs into Walungu and Kabare territories.

In , robberies of vehicles, gold trading houses and health centers have also increased, sometimes accompanied by mass rapes, as was the case at Kabikokole on February 8, where at least 5 women were raped.

In , attacks on buses have increased in the Ruzizi Plain. They have been attributed to the National Liberation Forces (FNL) who can no longer infiltrate Burundi to resupply, due to increased patrols by the Burundian army. There is also speculation that the Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB, ex-FOREBU) and the Resistance for a Rule of Law in Burundi (RED-Tabara)––Burundian groups based in the Congo––have participated in this banditry. They had been in an alliance with the Mai-Mai Yakutumba; since the FARDC operations against that group, they have been scattered and forced to resort to pillaging to survive.

In Fizi territory, violence has been concentrated in the west, where the Ndende mine near Misisi was looted during clashes between the FARDC and the National People's Coalition for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC) on February 16 and 17. Meanwhile, cases of violence against civilians have become routine: various armed groups have been cited in cases of looting, serious injury or rape throughout Fizi.

In Shabunda territory, the FARDC is conducting military operations north of Shabunda town, while rebels are gaining ground in the south. FARDC operations have increased pressure on Donat Ngandu's Raia Mutomboki, killing a commander called Kambanga, and their allies. One of these allied commanders, Koko di Koko, was wounded in an FARDC ambush at Kamulete in Baliga groupement. Meanwhile, in the southern part of the territory, the Raia Mutomboki Jean Musumbu and the Sheikh Malaika (a splinter faction of which remained in Wamaza, province) are working together in Nepanepa, Wakabangu chiefdom, robbing motorcycles and looting villages and mining quarries. These clashes with the FARDC led to tit-for-tat kidnappings: the FARDC captured two members of Jean Musumbu’s group in response to the kidnapping of an FARDC officer.

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