THE COMPLEXITY OF ETHNIC CONFLICT Hema and Lendu Case Study Nelson Tusiime 960816-1411 International migration and Ethnic Relations Bachelor Thesis Course code: IM245L 15 Credits Spring 2019 Supervisor: Beint Magnus Aamodt Bentsen Word Count: 12,141 2 Nelson Tusiime IMER Bachelor Thesis 2019 Spring Abstract This research paper investigated the Hema and Lendu conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 1999-2003. Five significant theories; Primordialism, constructivism, instrumen- talism, greed and grievances were applied to explain the causes of this conflict and to find out the role ethnicity played in triggering the conflict. Using secondary data, a single-case study was conducted, and results show that colonialism, inequality, poor government policies, greed from local and external forces are the primary causes of this conflict. Based on the results, one theory on its own is not substantial enough to explain the cause of this conflict since it was triggered by a combination of different factors. However, the Hema and Lendu did not fight because of their ethnic differences. Ethnicity was used by militia leaders as a tool for mobili- sation thus ethnicity being a secondary factor and not a driving force. Therefore, ethnicity did not play a significant role in triggering this conflict. Keywords: Ethnicity, Ethnic Conflict, Hema, Lendu, DR. Congo, 3 Nelson Tusiime IMER Bachelor Thesis 2019 Spring Table of Contents List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... 4 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.1. Introduction to the Topic ................................................................................................. 5 1.2 Research Problem and Aim .............................................................................................. 6 1.3 Research question ............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Terminology ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.5. Relevance to IMER-International Migration and Ethnic Relations ................................ 7 1.6. Delimitation ..................................................................................................................... 7 2. Previous Research ................................................................................................................ 8 3. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework ......................................................................... 10 3.1 Primordialism ................................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Constructivism ................................................................................................................ 12 3.3 Greed .............................................................................................................................. 13 3.4 Instrumentalism .............................................................................................................. 14 3.5 Grievances ...................................................................................................................... 14 3.6 Theory interconnectivity................................................................................................. 15 4. Operationalization .............................................................................................................. 16 5. Method and Design............................................................................................................. 18 5.1 Case Study ...................................................................................................................... 18 5.1.1 The weakness of the Case study .................................................................................. 19 5.1.2 Strength of Case Study ................................................................................................ 19 5.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 19 6. Data and Material .............................................................................................................. 20 7. Background History ........................................................................................................... 21 8. Analysis/Discussion ............................................................................................................ 24 8.1. Colonialism .................................................................................................................... 24 8.2 Mobutu, Bakajika Law “Post-colonial Period” .............................................................. 26 8.3. External and Local Forces Dynamics 1999-2003.......................................................... 30 8.4. The Role of Ethnicity in the Conflict ............................................................................ 34 9. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 35 10. Further Research.............................................................................................................. 36 References ............................................................................................................................... 37 4 Nelson Tusiime IMER Bachelor Thesis 2019 Spring List of Acronyms FNI- Nationalist and Integration Front UPC- Union of Congolese Patriot UPDF- Uganda’s Peoples Defence Force FRPI- Revolutionary Front for Ituri RCD/ML- Congolese Rally for Democracy/ Liberation Movement PUSIC- Party for Unity and Safeguard of the Integrity of Congo APC- Alliance Patriotique Congolese 5 Nelson Tusiime IMER Bachelor Thesis 2019 Spring 1.0 Introduction As a Hema from Bunia, the capital city of Ituri province. To be called a Mulendu was the big- gest insult in town. I grew up being told a Mulendu was a sub-human, the most uncivilised and a terrible being that one could ever be. After experiencing the Hema and Lendu conflict between 1999-2003, I left DR. Congo believing a Lendu was an enemy of the “Bahema”. However, today I perceive things differently. And, this is one of the biggest motivations behind this research. 1.1. Introduction to the Topic Ituri district is in Orientale province in the north-eastern corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Great Lakes region bordering Uganda to the east and Sudan to the North. Djungu, Mahagi, Irumu, Aru and Mombasa are five territories found in Ituri (Dan, 2011). Ituri is a resource-rich province, with gold, diamond, coltan and Timber (Pfefferle, 2013). Ituri has a population of between 3.5 to 6.5 million. There are approximately ten ethnic groups in Ituri with the Hema and the Lendu being the dominant ones. However, the Lendu are more numer- ous than Hema. Both Hema and Lendu did not originate from Ituri (Camm, 2012). Although the Hema and the Lendu once coexisted, tensions between them have arisen for the past 50 years. Reports show that the conflict in Ituri led to more than 50, 000 deaths and 500, 000 dis- placed civilians, however, there has been continuing unacceptably high mortality since 1999 (L, et al., 2006). Armed conflict continues to the present day with the most recent attack in 2018 was in Djungu territory driving 100,000 people out of their homes. Many became inter- nally displaced or refugees in neighbouring Uganda (Sungura, et al., 2019). However, this pa- per will focus on the conflict from 1999 to 2003 because it was the most violent period (Human Rights Watch, 2003). Nevertheless, the findings of this research paper could contrib- ute to understanding the recent attacks since it is the same ethnic groups that are still involved. 6 Nelson Tusiime IMER Bachelor Thesis 2019 Spring 1.2. Research Problem and Aim Ethnic strife has been the biggest challenge many countries in Africa have faced since the end of the cold war (Sundberg, et al., 2012). One of the most notorious ethnic conflict was the one that erupted in Rwanda in 1994 (Njogu, et al., 2010). Following the tremendous impact of the Rwandan genocide, tensions started to rise between the two groups the “Hema and Lendu”. They had once co-existed but now became hostile to the extent of killing one another (Human Rights Watch, 2003). The conflict took place in the north-eastern region of Congo in the dis- trict of Ituri. It was reported that the conflict in Ituri led to more than 50, 000 deaths and 500, 000 displaced civilians (L, et al., 2006). Moreover, up to date, there is still low-level animos- ity between the two ethnic groups (Blakeley, 2014). Ethnic conflict is a worldwide phenome- non and, there is still scope for analysis on the issue of multi-ethnic society and conflict erup- tion especially when it comes to explaining the causes and the role ethnicity plays in such conflict (Wimmer, et al., 2004). There are two contesting arguments from different scholars when it comes to explaining the role of ethnicity in triggering ethnic strife. Some scholars ar- gue that difference in ethnicity is the cause of conflict while others argue that differences in ethnicity are not the cause of ethnic conflict (Horowitz, 1985). Therefore, using Hema and Lendu conflict as my case, I will