2017 CNPSC offensive

Last updated
2017 CNPSC offensive
Part of the Kivu Conflict
Date1 June 2017 – 26 December 2017
(6 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Location
South Kivu, DRC
Result

Military stalemate

  • Some towns remain under CNPSC control
  • FARDC counter-offensive starting in December [1]
Belligerents
CNPSC logo.png CNPSC Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flag of the United Nations.svg MONUSCO [2]
Ngumino [3]
Commanders and leaders
William Yakutumba (CNPSC chairman)
Ebu Ela Kitungano (Mai-Mai Ebu Ela commander)
Sheh Assani Mitende (Mai-Mai Malaika commander)
René Itongwa (Mai-Mai René commander)
Réunion Warusasa (Mai-Mai Réunion commander)
Christophe Mukua Aigle (Mai-Mai Aigle commander) [1] 		Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Didier Etumba (FARDC chief) [4]
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Gaetan Kakudji Bobo (33rd Military Region commander)
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Maoro Ruterera (FARDC unit commander) [5]
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Samy Matumo (FARDC unit commander) [1]
Casualties and losses
6+ killed [6] 80+ killed [2]
80,000+ displaced

The 2017 CNPSC offensive was a military offensive launched by rebels of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC) on 30 June 2017 against security forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO. The goal of the offensive was to capture major settlements, mainly in South Kivu province in order to raise support for a popular uprising against then-president Joseph Kabila, who the coalition had deemed as an illegitimate president. [5]

Contents

The offensive culminated in the Battle of Uvira in which rebels attempted to capture the major city, but were eventually pushed out by state security forces. [7] The offensive continued after the battle, but then ended as a counter offensive by the FARDC began in December. [1]

Background

The CNPSC coalition was brokered by William Yakutumba, a prominent Mai-Mai commander involved in armed rebellion since the 1990s. [8] It unified around 12 Mai-Mai groups into a coalition, aimed at removing the government of Joseph Kabila, who had delayed scheduled elections in late 2016. The idea of the coalition had been around since about 2013, but only became in existence after Kabila's electoral delay. Several armed groups came to be prominent in the group, notably Yakutumba's PARC-FAAL, the Mai-Mai Malaika, and the Uvira hills-based Mai-Mai groups of René Itongwa, Réunion Warusasa, and several others. [9]

The Offensive

June

1 June

The offensive began with rebel forces of Yakutumba's group attacking Force Bendera, the site of a hydroelectric dam in Tanganyika Province. [1] CNPSC forces stormed the area, which was protected by elements of the FARDC, in an attempt to secure weapons. Two FARDC soldiers were killed in the attack, and the rebel forces made off with a large stash of arms and ammunition. [10]

30 June

On June 30, Congolese Independence Day, the coalition was announced by Yakutumba, who stated his intention to overthrow Joseph Kabila's government, which he called illegitimate. [5] The same day, the coalition attacked and captured the localities of Lulimba, Misisi, Lubondja, and Iseke. [11]

July

1 July

Heavy fighting erupted south of Fizi town, with the CNPSC occupying several localities. [12] The FARDC claimed that they had the situation under control, and locals stated that they had seen an increased presence of FARDC troops in Fizi town.

3 July

The FARDC reported that they had recaptured some localities under CNPSC control south of the mining town of Misisi in Fizi Territory. [13]

4 July

The CNPSC announced their intention to take the city of Kindu, the capital of Maniema province. In response, the Canadian mining company Banro Corporation announced an evacuation of all personnel from the province, citing security issues and harassment by CNPSC-affiliated militias. [11]

12 July

On July 12, the United Nations estimated that 80,000 people were internally displaced as a result of the fighting between the coalition and government in Fizi Territory. [14] The same day, CNPSC forces ambushed a FARDC convoy from Namoya to Wamaza. [5]

26 July

Armed men likely belonging to a CNPSC militia ambushed a group of FARDC reinforcements travelling from Maniema to Fizi. Three soldiers were killed in the ambush. [15]

August

7 August

Fighting erupted between the CNPSC and the FARDC in the localities of Kikonde and Kasandjala in Uvira Territory. According to local sources, thirteen FARDC were wounded in the clashes, which continued through August 10. [16]

9 August

FARDC positions in Kabambare were attacked by forces of the Mai-Mai Malaika group of the coalition on August 9. [2]

10 August

It was reported that several waves of displaced people from Uvira Territory had fled to neighboring Burundi. [16]

13 August

Fighting was reported between CNPSC forces and elements of a Banyamulenge militia called the Ngumino. Three civilians were reportedly killed in the crossfire. [3]

September

9 September

CNPSC naval forces attacked a FARDC naval base in Baraka. No one was reported killed or injured. [17]

11 September

The rebels attacked the locality of Kilembwe in Fizi and captured it from the FARDC. [5]

13 September

FARDC forces under Colonel Maoro Ruterera recaptured Kilembwe after two days of heavy fighting with CNPSC forces. [5]

20 September

In Maniema, CNPSC forces attacked a FARDC position in Pende-Mende. After heavy clashes, the position was captured by the rebels. [2]

22 September

CNPSC forces fired on a MONUSCO helicopter. The helicopter was hit in a tire and its fuel tank, but safely made it to Baraka for repairs. [2]

23 September

The CNPSC attacked the city of Wamaza on September 23. The town was captured after a series of clashes, continuing the coalition's advance towards Kindu. It was also reported that some from the Barega community of Shabunda reportedly joined the CNPSC after this development. [5]

24 September

Fighting erupted between the FARDC, under the command of Colonel Samy Matumo, and CNPSC in and around the town of Mboko as rebel forces under René Itongwa, supported by Ebu Ela Kitungano, attacked the town. [5] After several skirmishes, the rebels, to their own surprise, captured the town. [1]

27 September

After progressing through the towns of Swima and Makobola, CNPSC forces reached the hills about 5 km away from Uvira town. [18] The rebels advanced towards the town and fighting began at around 5 am local time. FARDC forces defending the city were quickly overran by the rebels, who captured parts of the city and took its port. [2] [19] Eventually, the initial incursion was repelled by joint FARDC-MONUSCO forces.

28 September

A second attack was launched on Uvira the next day, mainly led by CNPSC naval forces. Land forces attacked at 5 am, alongside four boats of the CNPSC's naval wing. [7] MONUSCO helicopters attacked the boats, destroying several, ending the second attack. [2] The same day, CNPSC forces clashed with the FARDC in Kasongo. [7]

October

3 October

After heavy fighting, newly arrived FARDC reinforcements pushed CNPSC forces around 35 km from Uvira, and recaptured Mboko from the militia. [20] In a Twitter statement, the CNPSC claimed they had withdrawn from Mboko voluntarily, "to prioritize peace". [21]

11 October

The village of Mukera was recaptured by FARDC forces after a series of skirmishes with CNPSC troops. [22] CNPSC spokesman Dalton Waubwela Mwila claimed that a FARDC soldier was captured in the fighting.

November

19 November

CNPSC forces attacked the town of Kilembwe, in Fizi Territory. Forces of the Malaika and Yakutumba groups attacked the city and killed one FARDC soldier before the rest of the garrison pulled out. [23] According to the FARDC, the withdrawal was to "avoid the bloodbath".

28 November

The FARDC recaptured Kilembwe from CNPSC forces. It was reported that the FARDC encountered no resistance when capturing the town. [24]

December

23 December

Militiamen of the CNPSC shot and killed a FARDC soldier in the village of Kikwena. [25]

26 December

General Philemon Yav was selected to become the commander of the Sukola II operation, and would lead military operations against the CNPSC. [2] This date is generally accepted as when the offensive ended, as a large-scale FARDC counter-offensive launched by Yav would begin in the following weeks.

Aftermath

Following Philemon Yav's appointment as overall commander of Sukola II, the FARDC began a major offensive against the CNPSC rebels which was intended to destroy the group. [1] Heavy losses were inflicted against the group, mainly against Yakutumba's Mai-Mai militia, and the group was falsely labeled as "annihilated" by the army. [26] In late 2018, another CNPSC offensive would be launched.

Towards the end of the offensive, FARDC forces targeted Bembe civilians, who they believed to be CNPSC rebels. [2] Arbitrary arrests of Bembes, specifically young adults, were carried out in Baraka and Uvira. This harassment led to a recruitment spike for the coalition. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Kivu</span> Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Bukavu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kivu conflict</span> Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Kivu conflict is an umbrella term for a series of protracted armed conflicts in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo which have occurred since the end of the Second Congo War. Including neighboring Ituri province, there are more than 120 different armed groups active in the eastern DRC. Currently, some of the most active rebel groups include the Allied Democratic Forces, the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, the March 23 Movement, and many local Mai Mai militias. In addition to rebel groups and the governmental FARDC troops, a number of national and international organizations have intervened militarily in the conflict, including the United Nations force known as MONUSCO, and recently an East African Community regional force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 23 Movement</span> Rebel military group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The March 23 Movement, often abbreviated as M23 and also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, is a rebel military group that is for the most part formed of ethnic Tutsi. Based in eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it operates mainly in the province of North Kivu. The M23 rebellion of 2012 to 2013 against the DRC government led to the displacement of large numbers of people. On 20 November 2012, M23 took control of Goma, a provincial capital with a population of a million people, but it was requested to evacuate it by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region because the DRC government had finally agreed to negotiate. In late 2012, Congolese troops, along with UN troops, retook control of Goma, and M23 announced a ceasefire and said that it wanted to resume peace talks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bunyakiri</span> Town in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Bunyakiri is a town located in the high plateau of Kalehe Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Bunyakiri is nearby the Bulehe and Mulamba villages. It is mainly inhabited by Tembo, Havu, Twa and Hunde ethnic groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mai-Mai Kata Katanga</span>

Mai-Mai Kata Katanga, also called Mai-Mai Bakata Katanga, is a mai-mai rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which advocates the independence of the Congo's Katanga Province. It was formed shortly after the group's leader, Gédéon Kyungu Mutanga, escaped from prison in September 2011 where he was serving a sentence for crimes against humanity committed by his supporters between 2002 and 2006 in central Katanga. Kata Katanga means "cut [e.g. secede] Katanga" in Swahili. It has been estimated that, at its height in 2013, the Kata Katanga rebels numbered approximately 3,000 of whom most were based in Mitwaba Territory.

The Land Forces, also called the Congolese Army, are the land warfare component and the largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lubero</span> Place in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lubero is a town in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the administrative center of the Lubero Territory. Following the surrender of the Mai-Mai fighters in 2021, construction of a new market began in 2022, involving the mayor, ex-soldiers, "young people at risk and the vulnerable women". As of March 2014, the population of Lubero is not publicly known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katanga insurgency</span> Ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Katanga insurgency is an ongoing rebellion by a number of rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, some of which aim for the creation of a separate state within Katanga. While the insurgency has been active in various forms since 1963, insurgent groups have recently redoubled their efforts after the 2011 jail break that freed Gédéon Kyungu Mutanga, who commanded the majority of the Katangese separatist groups until his surrender to Congolese authorities in October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo</span> Congolese rebel coalition in South Kivu

The National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo, and also known as the Alliance of Article 64, is an armed rebel coalition in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group is a coalition of around 12 different Mai-Mai groups in and around South Kivu province. It was formed on 30 June 2017, symbolically Congolese Independence Day.

The 2017 Uvira clashes were a series of skirmishes between the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) supported by United Nations MONUSCO peacekeepers in and around the city of Uvira, in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The clashes were a result of the CNPSC coalition's rebellion that began several months earlier, in which the coalition declared its intent to capture the city.

William Amuri Yakutumba is the leader of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo, an anti-government rebel coalition fighting in the Kivu Conflict. Yakutumba has been involved in armed mobilization since 1996, fighting for the Mai-Mai before eventually leading his own group. Yakutumba claims to fight for democracy and against the purported invasion of Rwandophone populations in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kipupu massacre occurred on 16 July 2020 in the South Kivu village of Kipupu in the Mwenga Territory in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Gunmen belonging to the Ngumino and Twiganeho militias of the Banyamulenge community attacked the village and reportedly killed 220 people according to provincial lawmakers, while independent analysts state only 18 people were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mamadou Ndala</span> Congolese soldier (1978–2014)

Mamadou Mustafa Ndala was a colonel in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M23 offensive (2022–2023)</span> Conflict in the DR Congo

In late March 2022, the March 23 Movement (M23) launched an offensive in North Kivu, clashing with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and MONUSCO. The fighting displaced tens of thousands of civilians and caused renewed tensions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, as the latter was accused of supporting the rebel offensive.

Yusufu Eric Mboneza, more commonly called Yusuf Mboneza, is or was a Congolese military officer and rebel. During his career he served in the Rally for Congolese Democracy, the National Congress for the Defence of the People, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and finally the March 23 Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemera</span> Locality in Democratic Republic of Congo

Lemera is one of the groupements within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the northwestern part of the Uvira Territory, approximately 60 kilometers north of Bukavu and 90 kilometers southwest of the border with Rwanda and Burundi. Lemera is in close proximity to several villages, including Kasheke, Nyambasha, Luzira, Lukayo, Kajuju, Lushasha, and Ihusi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lulenge</span> Sector in the DRC

Lulenge is one of the four sectors in the Fizi Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated near the Kiloba and Makena villages, at an altitude of 943 meters. Its capital is Kilembwe. Lulenge is bordered to the north by the Itombwe sector and Mwenga Territory. In the east, it is bordered by Lake Tanganyika and the Mutambala sector. In the south, it is bordered by the N’gangya sector, and in the west by Shabunda Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katogota</span> Village in the DRC

Katogota is a village located in the Luvungi grouping, which is part of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory, South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 60 km south of Bukavu, Katogota is in close proximity to the Kamonyi and Rusagara villages, near the border shared with Rwanda and Burundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutambala</span> Sector in the DRC

Mutambala is a sector that constitutes one of the four sectors in the Fizi Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutambala is situated near Lake Tanganyika, in the west by the Lulenge sector, in the north by the Tangani'a sector, and in the south by the Ngandja sector. It has a surface area of 777 km 2. The sector consists of five groupings (groupements), including the Basimukindja groupings, the Batombwe groupings, and the Babwari groupings.

Bibogobogo, also known as Bibokoboko in Kibembe, is a village in the middle plateaus of the Mutambala Sector in the Fizi Territory in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the forested mountains and middle plateaus, overlooking Baraka in the south-west, near Kisombe and Bibokoboko II villages. Bibogobogo shares the borders with Uvira Territory in the North, the Mwenga Territory and Shabunda Territory in the West, the Kalemie Territory in the South, and Lake Tanganyika in the East. The regional soil is composed of metals, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, aluminium and mercury, making it suitable for gold plating, mercury pollution, pollution index and agriculture.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The CNPSC Rebellion" (PDF). Congo Research Group. February 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Letter dated 20 May 2018 from the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations Digital Library System. June 4, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Sud-Kivu : 3 civils tués dans des combats entre miliciens à Uvira". Radio Okapi. August 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Rebellion fears grow in eastern Congo". Refworld.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Taking Uvira? The remarkable tenacity of the CNPSC coalition". September 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Fizi : 6 morts dans des combats entre militaires et Maï-Maï Yakutumba". Radio Okapi. September 25, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Congo naval boats battle rebels on Lake Tanganyika". Reuters. September 28, 2017 – via www.reuters.com.
  8. ↑ "Eastern Congo rebels aim to march on Kinshasa: spokesman". Reuters. September 29, 2017 – via www.reuters.com.
  9. ↑ "Armed group biographies". May 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Tanganyika : quatre morts dans l'attaque de Bendera par les Yakutumba". Radio Okapi. June 2, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "RDC : Evacuation à la mine d'or de Namoya". La Libre Afrique. July 4, 2017.
  12. ↑ "RDC: plusieurs localités de Fizi occupées par les Maï-Maï Yakutumba". Radio Okapi. July 1, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Sud-Kivu : les FARDC reprennent le contrôle de quelques localités à Fizi". Radio Okapi. July 3, 2017.
  14. ↑ "80.000 déplacés en six jours de combats à Fizi, dans l'est de la RDC". VOA.
  15. ↑ "RDC: trois militaires tués dans une embuscade dans l'est". La Libre Afrique. July 26, 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Insécurité à Fizi: des Congolais affluent vers le Burundi". Radio Okapi. August 10, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Incident Summary for GTDID: 201709030026". www.start.umd.edu.
  18. ↑ "Rebels close in on east Congo city amid gunfire". Reuters. September 27, 2017 – via www.reuters.com.
  19. ↑ "RDC: des rebelles Maï Maï aux abords de la ville d'Uvira". RFI. September 27, 2017.
  20. ↑ "RDC: l'armée reprend Mboko aux Maï Maï Yakutumba". La Libre Afrique. October 3, 2017.
  21. ↑ @CNPSCongo (October 1, 2017). "Nos forces ont fait un retrait statégique à Mboko pr privilegier la paix" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ↑ "Uvira : les FARDC contrôlent le village Mukera après des affrontements avec la milice Yakutumba". Radio Okapi. October 11, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Sud-Kivu : les miliciens de Yakutumba contrôlent la cité de Kilembwe". Radio Okapi. November 20, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Sud-Kivu : l'armée récupère la cité de Kilembwe". Radio Okapi. November 28, 2017.
  25. ↑ "RDC : persistance de l'insécurité à Fizi". Radio Okapi. December 26, 2017.
  26. ↑ "DR Congo army says rebel group 'annihilated' in restive east". Arab News. February 10, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.