Bafuliiru Chiefdom | |
---|---|
Chefferie de Bafuliiru | |
Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Province | South Kivu |
Territory | Uvira |
Government | |
• Mwami | Ndare III Simba Kalingishi Adams |
Area | |
• Total | 1,514.270 km2 (584.663 sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Official language | French |
National language | Kiswahili |
The Bafuliiru Chiefdom (French: Chefferie de Bafuliiru), formerly known as Chefferie des Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the Uvira Territory, which is part of the South Kivu Province in eastern DRC. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The Fuliru people constitute the predominant ethnic group in the region, and the chiefdom serves as a local governance structure for their community. The chiefdom system is represented by traditional leadership, customs, and cultural practices specific to the Bafuliiru. [5]
The Bafuliiru Chiefdom is situated in the eastern part of the DRC, specifically within the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province. With an area of 1,514.270 km2, it is the largest among all the chiefdoms in Uvira Territory and appears to constitute a separate territory. The region boasts a diverse range of terrains. It includes parts of the eastern section of the Albertine Rift, which is a branch of the East African Rift System. The area is predominantly mountainous, with the Mitumba Mountains forming a significant part of the landscape. The chiefdom extends to the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of the African Great Lakes. In addition, the Bafuliiru Chiefdom is surrounded by lush forests, including portions of the Itombwe Massif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vegetation in the area is primarily characterized by tropical rainforests and savannah grasslands. [5] [6] [7]
The Bafuliru Chiefdom exhibits diverse hydrographic features, including plains, plateaus, and lakes. [2] The easternmost part of the community is primarily characterized by expansive plains that encompass regions such as Luvungi, Lubarika, Katogota, Kiliba, Runingu, and Kawizi. These areas form an integral part of the Ruzizi Plain, situated between Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. The elevation in this area ranges from 773 to 1000 meters above sea level. The Ruzizi Plain spans from 2°42' to 3°24' south latitude and from 29° to 29°22' east longitude, covering a total area of 3,031 km2. Within this expanse, approximately 800 km2 lies within the DRC, while the remaining portion is divided between Burundi and Rwanda. [8] [9] [5]
The chiefdom is further characterized by two distinct plateaus: the Middle Plateau and the High Plateau. The Middle Plateau extends between Luvungi and Mulenge, with a gradual variation in elevation from 100 meters to 1800 meters. Within this plateau, notable villages include Namutiri, Ndolera, Bulaga, Langala, Bushokw, Bushuju, Butole, Bwesho, Katala and Mulenge. The Middle Plateau provides a favorable environment for cultivating crops such as cassava, coffee, bananas, beans, and maize in various locations. The High Plateau, which forms part of the Mitumba chain, boasts the highest peaks, surpassing 3,000 meters above sea level. The High Plateau serves as a watershed between the tributaries of the Ulindi and Elila rivers, as well as numerous torrents that flow into the Ruzizi River and Lake Tanganyika. [10] [11] [5]
The Bafuliru Chiefdom is characterized by a tropical climate, specifically a tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate. Situated in the eastern part of the DRC, the chiefdom experiences warm temperatures throughout the year with minimal fluctuations. Average temperatures range from 30.5 to 35.5 degrees Celsius (86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit), providing a consistently warm environment. Precipitation is abundant in the Bafuliru Chiefdom, as it receives a substantial amount of rainfall annually. Rainfall is evenly distributed across the seasons, and there is no distinct dry period. The average annual precipitation ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 millimeters (59 to 79 inches). [12] [5]
The area includes sections of the Mitumba Mountains, characterized by ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks have undergone significant changes due to high temperatures and pressure, while igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of molten material. The Bafuliru Chiefdom also encompasses regions near Lake Tanganyika. The lake resides in a East African Rift Valley, indicating the geological processes of continental rift involved in the region. Throughout the region, sedimentary deposits may be found, particularly in areas influenced by water bodies and ancient lake systems. [12] [5]
Bafuliiru Chiefdom emerged as a small dominion created by the colonial administration in response to its sparsely populated region in 1921 in Luvungi. It was officially established in 1928 through an edict promulgated on August 18 under the aegis of the C.D.D. (Chef de Division des Districts) of the Kivu Region. Nevertheless, determining the precise boundaries of the chiefdom posed several challenges due to its expansive size. According to records from the Belgian Congo colonial administration, the geographical limits of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom were defined on March 19, 1933: [13] [12] [14]
These delineations helped establish the territorial extent of the Bafuliru Chiefdom within the region. [12]
The Bafuliru Chiefdom is divided into groupements (groupings), each governed by a customary chief (chef de groupement). The groupements are established to facilitate local governance, service delivery, and community organization. These groupements are further subdivided into villages, each of which is also governed by a customary chief. [15] [16]
The Muhungugroupement consists of the following villages: [5] [16]
The Kigoma groupement consists of the following villages: [16] [5]
The Runingugroupement consists of the following villages: [16] [5]
The Itara/Luvungi groupement consists of the following villages:
The Lemera groupement consists of the following villages:
Over the last three decades, the Bafuliiru Chiefdom has encountered security challenges. Like many other parts of the DRC, the region has been affected by various security issues that have impacted the lives of its inhabitants. [17] [18]
The eastern part of the DRC has been a volatile region with a history of armed conflicts, often fueled by political, ethnic, and resource-related tensions. These conflicts have led to violence and displacement of civilians in the affected areas, including the Bafuliiru Chiefdom. The presence of armed groups has generated insecurity, human rights violations and instability within the region. [2] [19] [20]
The chiefdom has been affected by spillover effects from conflicts in neighboring countries during the First and Second Congo Wars. These conflicts turned the area into a major battleground for various armed groups, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and immense suffering for the local population. The region witnessed the presence of formidable forces such as the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB), Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), and numerous Mai-Mai groups, each pursuing their own agendas and alliances. [17] [21] [22]
During the First Congo War, rival factions clashed for control. The AFDL, supported by Rwanda and Uganda, challenged the government forces of Mobutu Sese Seko. These forces committed numerous human rights violations. On October 6, 1996, a massacre occurred at Lemera Hospital in Bafuliiru Chiefdom, South Kivu Province, where the AFDL and operatives of the Banyamulenge-led armed group killed 37 people. The victims included Hutu refugees, Zairian soldiers, and Fuliiru civilians. According to the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1993-2003 UN Mapping Report , approximately 37 individuals were killed in their beds with bayonets or gunshots. [23] [24]
In subsequent days and weeks, the violence continued to escalate. On October 13 to 14, 1996, the AFDL and Banyamulenge armed units killed refugees in the Runingu camp within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom. [23] Similarly, on October 20, 1996, AFDL/RPA/FAB units targeted Burundian and Rwandan Hutu refugees in the Luvungi groupement of the chiefdom, resulting in significant casualties. In Katala village, located in the Middle Plateau of Bafuliiru Chiefdom, they captured and killed refugees who were attempting to flee at close range. Local people were then forced to bury the bodies in mass graves. [23]
On the same day, October 20, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed an unidentified number of Hutu refugees, including approximately twenty in the camp's hospital in Kanganiro camp in Luvungi groupement, Bafuliiru Chiefdom. [23] Parenthetically, on October 20, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians who were fleeing towards Burundi in Rubenga village, Uvira Territory. In Kakumbukumbu village, located five kilometers from Lubarika camp in Bafuliiru Chiefdom, soldiers burned thirty refugees alive in a house. [23] Furthermore, on October 21, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units butchered around 370 refugees in Luberizi and Mutarule. [23]
Ultimately, by May 1997, the conflict resulted in the ousting of Mobutu and marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for the region. Laurent-Désiré Kabila declared himself the President of the DRC and renamed the country the "Democratic Republic of the Congo". [22]
In the Second Congo War, which began in 1998, the Bafuliru Chiefdom once again became a battleground for rival factions and armed groups vying for power and control. The conflict witnessed various armed groups, including the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma (RCD-Goma) and multiple Mai-Mai groups, clashing in the region. [25] [26]
Numerous areas within the Bafuliru Chiefdom experienced targeted attacks on civilians. On August 6, 1998, members of RCD-Goma killed 13 people, including the chief of the Kiringye area, in the village of Lwiburule. Concurrently, and in the proximate vicinity of Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe villages, RCD-Goma and RPA operatives killed 15 civilians. [27] In the village of Katogota in Bafuliiru Chiefdom on May 14, 2000, RCD-Goma carried out a massacre that claimed the lives of over 300 people. [28] [29] [30] [31]
The conflict came to an end with the signing of the Global and Inclusive Agreement in 2002, followed by the establishment of a transitional government. However, the effects of the wars continue to linger, with communities grappling with the long-lasting consequences of violence, displacement, and trauma. [32] [26] [33] [34]
South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.
Uvira is the capital city of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated between Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains and covers an area of approximately 16km.
Mulenge is a village encircled by hills in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated on the high plateaus of the Itombwe massif, overlooking the locality of Uvira. The area has conventionally been inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the remnants of the autochthonous population of African Pygmies, as well as Bantu ethnic groups such as the Mbuti, Fuliiru, and Nyindu. The region boasts high agricultural productivity, with two harvests typically achievable each year.
Butaho is a village situated in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, within the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is located in close proximity to the border with Burundi, along National Highway 5.
Runingo, commonly known as Runingu, is one of the groupements (groupings) that constitutes the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated near the border with Burundi, along National Highway 5, to the north of Butaho.
The Fuliiru people are a Bantu ethnic group predominantly inhabiting the east-central highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They reside in the South Kivu Province, situated south of Lake Kivu and to the north and northwest of Uvira Territory, along the Ruzizi Plain near the border with Rwanda and Burundi, where a contingent of Fuliiru also resides. According to the 2009 census, their population estimate exceeded 250,000, while a 1999 estimate of Kifuliiru-language speakers placed the number at 300,000. The Fuliiru are renowned for their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in the production of pottery and basketry. Their handcrafted baskets are highly coveted for their intricate designs and exceptional quality, and are frequently employed for storage, decoration, and even as musical instruments.
Uvira Territory is a territory in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, Fizi Territory to the south, and Burundi and Lake Tanganyika to the east. Its capital is Uvira.
Luvungi, also known as Itara-Luvungi, is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated on the Ruzizi Plain, it lies at the borders of Uvira Territory and Walungu Territory, in close proximity to the frontiers of Rwanda and Burundi. Luvungi is home to a population of approximately 85,000 individuals, predominantly consisting of Fuliru agriculturalists who play a vital role in the local community. There's also has a small population of Vira, Bembe, Lega, Shi, Burundians and Banyamulenge. Its economy is founded mainly on subsistence agriculture and the artisanal mining of cassiterite, an ore of tin.
Luberizi is a village located in the Luvungi groupement within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, which is part of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). At an elevation of 957 meters, it has a local population of about 25,462. It sits astride the N5 road where it crosses the Luberizi River, nearly midway between Uvira to the south and Bukavu to the north. The village of Mutarule, the scene of the 2014 South Kivu attack, is located nearby.
Lemera is one of the groupements (groupings) 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.
Sange is a village located in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is situated 24 km from the Burundian border, at 1,021 meters altitude.
Katogota is a village located in the Itara-Luvungi grouping within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the 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 regions of Rwanda and Burundi.
Kamanyola is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Ngweshe Chiefdom of the Walungu Territory. It is located in the Ruzizi Plain in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sharing a border with Rwanda and Burundi. Kamanyola stands at a height of 901 meters and is closely situated to the suburb of Mwaro and the village of Mubombo.
Bwegera is a village in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bwegera has an elevation of 952 meters and is situated in the vicinity of the Kakamba and Nyaruhuhuma villages. The region It's crossed by Lake Tanganyika, providing a vital source of water and transportation for the local inhabitants. Bwegera is rich in building materials such as rubble, sand, and baked bricks, making it an ideal location for construction and development. The region also encompasses a vast rural area where agriculture, animal breeding, and fishing are the primary means of livelihood.
Lubarika is a village situated in the hills and high plateaus of Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory, located in the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It sits at an elevation of 969 meters above sea level and is near the villages of Murunga and Nyakagobe II. Lubarika is a predominantly agricultural region with large hectares used for subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is practiced by an extensive segment of the population. The products grown are mainly intended for domestic consumption and commercialization. Moreover, fishing is carried out artisanally in Lake Tanganyika by the local population.
The Ruzizi Plain is a valley situated between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. It serves as a natural border, separating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Burundi and Rwanda on the other side. The Ruzizi Plain is an integral part of the larger Western Rift Valley, which stretches across several African countries. It is traversed by the Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu through the plain and into Lake Tanganyika. It covers an area of 175,000 hectares divided between Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC. In Burundi, the plain extends to the northern sector of Imbo. It is bounded by parallels 2°36′ and 3°26′ south latitude and by meridians 29°00′ and 29°26 east longitude—an area of 1025 km2. The Congolese side is bounded to the north by the plain of Bugarama (Rwanda), to the east by the plain of Imbo (Burundi), to the West by the chain of Mitumba and to the South by Lake Tanganyika. The region covers thus about 80,000 hectares with 80 kilometers in length.
Kiringye is a village situated in the Lemera groupement within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, which is part of Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The village is located at an elevation of 928 meters and is in close proximity to the localities of Luburule and Karenzu.
The Sange River is a tributary of the Ruzizi River in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It serves as a reliable source of water for domestic and commercial use, and families living along its banks rely on its pristine waters for drinking, cooking, and household chores. Local businesses depend on the river's abundant supply to meet the needs of visitors and tourists. Moreover, the river's flow sustains an ecosystem of services.
The Ngweshe Chiefdom is a traditional administrative unit located in Walungu Territory, within the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Rwanda and Burundi to the northeast, Mwenga Territory and Shabunda Territory to the south, and Kaziba Chiefdom to the east. According to the territory's 2018 annual report, the chiefdom has an estimated population of 672,436.
The Kaziba Chiefdom is a traditional administrative unit located in the Walungu Territory of South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Lwanguku, situated approximately 55 km south of Bukavu City. The chiefdom is bordered to the east by the Luvubu River and the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, to the south by the Lulimbohwe River, Kashandja River, and Magaja River, which separate it from the Luhwindja Chiefdom. To the north, it is bordered by the Mugaba River and Luzinzi River, which constitute its limits with the Ngweshe Chiefdom, and to the west by the Itombwe Mountains and Lake Lungwa, separating it from the Luindi Chiefdom and Burhinyi Chiefdom. Covering an area of 195 km2, it has a population of 44,235, the majority of whom are Shi people.
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