Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) The situation in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri August 2019 (COI between 1st January 2018 and 6th August 2019) Commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Division of International Protection. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author. © Asylum Research Centre, 2019 ARC publications are covered by the Create Commons License allowing for limited use of ARC publications provided the work is properly credited to ARC and it is for non-commercial use. ARC does not hold the copyright to the content of third party material included in this report. Reproduction or any use of the images/maps/infographics included in this report is prohibited and permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder(s). Please direct any comments to [email protected] Cover photo: © LN.Vector pattern/shutterstock.com Contents Explanatory Note 6 Sources and databases consulted 7 List of acronyms 11 1. Maps of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri Regions ........................................... 13 2. Political situation in the DRC: An Overview ....................................................... 13 2.1. The December 2018 General Election and the subsequent political landscape . 13 2.2. The March 2019 Senate Election ......................................................................... 19 2.3. Remaining opposition groups/parties ................................................................. 21 3. National Security Forces and the International Peacekeeping Mission ........... 23 3.1. Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) .................... 23 3.2. UN Organzation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) ..................................................................................................................... 25 4. Major Armed Groups in the Region ................................................................... 26 4.1. Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) ...................................... 26 4.2. Conseil nationale du peuple pour la souveraineté du Congo (CNPSC) ................ 30 4.3. Nduma défense du Congo-Rénové (NDC-R) ......................................................... 30 4.4. Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) ........................................................................... 34 4.5. Nyatura Groups ................................................................................................... 41 4.6. Mai Mai Groups ................................................................................................... 44 4.6.1. Mai Mai Charles ................................................................................................... 45 4.6.2. Mai Mai Kifuafua ................................................................................................. 46 4.6.3. Mai Mai Kilalo/Union des patriotes pour la libération du Congo (UPLC) ............ 46 4.6.4. Mai Mai Mazembe ............................................................................................... 47 4.6.5. Mai Mai Ngabito .................................................................................................. 48 4.6.6. Mai Mai Simba ..................................................................................................... 48 4.6.7. Mai Mai Yakutumba ............................................................................................ 49 4.7. M23 - Mouvement du 23 Mars ............................................................................ 50 4.8. Miscellaneous Armed Actors Active in Eastern Congo ........................................ 51 5. Overview of the Security Situation, including conflict-related human rights violations ......................................................................................................................... 57 5.1. North Kivu ............................................................................................................ 57 5.1.1. Beni Territory ....................................................................................................... 67 5.1.2. Masisi Territory .................................................................................................... 73 5.1.3. Lubero Territory................................................................................................... 76 5.2. South Kivu ............................................................................................................ 79 5.2.1. Fizi Territory ......................................................................................................... 87 5.3. Ituri ...................................................................................................................... 90 5.3.1. Hema and Lendu Tribal Conflict .......................................................................... 90 5.3.1.1. History…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 90 5.3.1.2. Renewed Conflict December 2017 – July 2018 .................................................. 92 5.3.1.3. Situation in Djugu territory in the aftermath of the conflict .............................. 98 5.3.2. Other conflict locations in Ituri .......................................................................... 102 3 6. Human Rights Situation – Civil and Political Rights ......................................... 106 6.1. North Kivu .......................................................................................................... 107 6.2. South Kivu .......................................................................................................... 113 6.3. Ituri .................................................................................................................... 115 7. Conflict-related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) .......................... 116 7.1. North Kivu .......................................................................................................... 120 7.1.1. Armed forces ..................................................................................................... 121 7.1.2. Non-state armed groups ................................................................................... 122 7.1.3. Non-conflict related SGBV ................................................................................. 123 7.1.4. State protection availability .............................................................................. 124 7.2. South Kivu .......................................................................................................... 125 7.2.1. Armed forces ..................................................................................................... 126 7.2.2. Non-state armed groups ................................................................................... 126 7.2.3. Non-conflict related SGBV ................................................................................. 127 7.2.4. State protection availability .............................................................................. 128 7.3. Ituri .................................................................................................................... 128 7.3.1. Armed forces ..................................................................................................... 129 7.3.2. Non-state armed groups ................................................................................... 129 7.3.3. Non-conflict related SGBV ................................................................................. 130 7.3.4. State protection availability .............................................................................. 130 8. Conflict-related violence against children ....................................................... 130 8.1. Recruitment and use of child soldiers ............................................................... 130 8.1.1. North Kivu .......................................................................................................... 130 8.1.1.1. Armed forces .................................................................................................... 131 8.1.1.2. Non-state armed groups .................................................................................. 131 8.1.2. South Kivu .......................................................................................................... 136 8.1.2.1. Armed forces .................................................................................................... 136 8.1.2.2. Non-state armed groups .................................................................................. 136 8.1.3. Ituri .................................................................................................................... 138 8.1.3.1. Armed forces .................................................................................................... 138 8.1.3.2. Non-state armed groups .................................................................................. 138 8.2. Other violence directed against children .......................................................... 139 8.2.1. Access to education ........................................................................................... 141 8.2.1.1. North Kivu ......................................................................................................... 142 8.2.1.2. South Kivu ........................................................................................................