Bukumu Chiefdom

Bukumu Chiefdom
Chiefdom
Chefferie de Bukumu
MONUSCO in Bukumu Chiefdom
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province	North Kivu
Territory	Nyiragongo
Government
•  Mwami	Bazima Bakungu Lebon (Since 2020)
Area
• Total	333 km2 (129 sq mi)
Population  (2022) [1]
• Total	338,966
Official language	French
National language	Kiswahili

The Bukumu Chiefdom (French: Chefferie de Bukumu) is a chiefdom located in the Nyiragongo Territory of the North Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. ^{[2] [3] [4]} It is bounded to the north by Bwisha Chiefdom in Rutshuru Territory, to the south by Goma, to the east by Rwanda, and to the west by Masisi Territory. ^[5] The population is estimated at 338,966 as per the 2022 census. ^[5]

Geography

Virunga National Park

Bukumu Chiefdom features a distinctive and dynamic landscape carved by its altitude and volcanic activity. ^[5] Spanning an area of 333 km², it ranges in elevation from 1,500 to 2,700 meters above sea level, featuring an expansive plain that gradually descends toward Lake Kivu in the western periphery. ^{[6] [5]} Within this area, 170 km² are occupied by the Virunga National Park, while 163 km² are allocated for anthropogenic activities, including the construction of shelters for internally displaced persons due to the volcanic eruption of 2022. ^[6] Despite being nearby water bodies, Bukumu is devoid of rivers or significant watercourses due to the area's active volcanic mountains. ^[5]

Volcanic Influence

An aerial view of the towering volcanic peak of Mount Nyiragongo

The Chiefdom's topography is mainly shaped by the Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira volcanoes, whose numerous eruptions have formed vast lava plains. ^[5] These eruptions have deposited layers of volcanic rock, radically altering the terrain and obliterating much of the existing natural landscape. ^[5] More than 80% of Bukumu's land surface is covered by volcanic soil, which provides challenges and opportunities for agriculture and habitation. ^[5]

Vegetation

Prior to the onset of overpopulation, the predominant vegetation within the Bukumu Chiefdom was characterized by grassy savannah. ^[5] However, due to the volcanic nature of the soil and the ongoing environmental ramifications, identifying the specific composition of the current vegetation has become challenging. ^[5] The chiefdom no longer retains its original phytogeographical cover, and the extant vegetation remains largely unclassified. ^[5]

Climate

Bukumu Chiefdom experiences a temperate climate. The region is generally partitioned into two principal seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. ^[5] However, these seasons exhibit variability between the northern and southern parts of the chiefdom. In the northern region, precipitation is nearly incessant throughout the year, with the sole arid period occurring briefly in June and July. This extended rainy season supports agriculture but can also lead to challenges such as flooding. ^[5] Conversely, the southern region, positioned at an altitude analogous to that of Goma (1,493 meters), encounters a more heterogeneous climate characterized by four distinct seasons. ^[5] A major rainy season takes place in November, followed by a long dry season in May and June. There is also a shorter dry season in January and February, and a brief rainy period in March and April. ^[5]

Administrative division

Agricultural fields in the Kibumba groupement

The Bukumu Chiefdom functions as a semi-autonomous rural division of Nyiragongo Territory. The customary leader, known as the "mwami", plays a vital part in law enforcement and wields both traditional and territorial power. ^{[7] [8]} The appointment of the mwami is determined by ethnic customs and is recognized or formalized by the state following the application of traditional protocols. ^[7] The chiefdom is partitioned into groupements (groupings), which extend traditional authority at the level of consolidated villages (localités), each supervised by village chiefs. ^[7] The heads of groupements provide essential support to the chiefdom's leadership, while the village leaders assist the groupement leaders within their respective domains. ^[7]

As of 2018, the Bukumu Chiefdom is administratively subdivided into seven groupements, encompassing a total of 58 villages. ^{[9] [10]}

Groupements

• Buvira
• Kibumba
• Kibati
• Mudja
• Munigi
• Rusayo
• Buhumba

History

Early history

A group of Batwa residing in Nkuringo, Uganda.

Bakumu people are believed to be the region's earliest inhabitants. ^[10] A 1920 investigative report (PV n°58) on indigenous chiefdoms in the Kivu District notes that the Bakumu migrated from Bunyoro in Uganda into Bwito Chiefdom, located in Rutshuru Territory, under the leadership of Nyangavu. ^[10] Gradually, a segment of the Bakumu populace progressed deeper into what is now known as Bukumu Chiefdom. ^[10] Nyangavu established his residence in Kibumba, while Bihemu, an ancestor of Mukumu, continued to Kibati and Munigi, where he set up his headquarters. ^[10] Their influence extended as far as the Sebea River, on the border with present-day Rwanda, where Bihemu met a Muhutu chief, Kadjugiri. ^[10]

While the Bakumu are typically recognized as the primary inhabitants of the chiefdom, alternative narratives propose that the Batwa, an indigenous and historically marginalized group, predated them in the Bukumu region. ^[10] Batwa communities were dispersed across several locations, including Hehu near the Rwandan frontier, Kibare to the north of the Karisimbi volcano, southeast of Mudja, and south of Kibumba. ^[10]

Territorial delimitation and formation of Bukumu Chiefdom

In 1910, the borders of the region were formally defined, and territories like Goma, Bihai, and Kibati, previously claimed by Ruanda-Urundi, were integrated into the Belgian colonial administration following the defeat of Ruanda-Urundi emissaries and chiefs who had historically controlled these areas. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} The advent of World War I had profound ramifications on the region, with Belgian forces losing control of Goma to German troops in 1915, backed by local Rwandan chiefs. ^[10] The German occupation devastated the local population and the territory. ^[10] Bukumu Chiefdom was officially founded in 1920 by Kahembe, a key figure who played a crucial role in stabilizing the region. ^[14] With the approval of the Belgian colonial administration, Kahembe was appointed mwami and named the chiefdom "Bukumu" after his ethnic group. ^{[14] [10]} Under his leadership, the region gradually recuperated from the scourges of famine and warfare. Kahembe's authority helped restore prosperity to the region, bringing people back to the fertile lands that had suffered from years of conflict and natural disasters. ^[10]

Two separate wives gave birth to Kahembe's sons, Démplé Bigaruka Kahembe and Bénoit Butsitsi Kahembe — the latter being the son of a Tutsi wife. ^{[14] [10]} Upon Kahembe's retirement, Bigaruka was appointed interim chief while Butsitsi served in the military. ^[14] In 1962, Butsitsi died in a car accident, leaving behind two minors, Godefroid Butsitsi Kahembe and Jean-Bosco Butsitsi Bigirwa. ^{[14] [10]} A commission of inquiry later restored the chiefdom to Démplé Bigaruka Kahembe, who ruled until 1975. ^[10] He designated his son, Bakungu Bigaruka, as his successor. Bakungu governed from 1975 until his assassination on 8 October 1995 in Munigi. ^[10] His death marked the beginning of heightened succession conflicts within Bukumu Chiefdom, as Bakungu left no heirs. ^[14]

The conflict escalated during the First Congo War when the Rwandophone-dominated AFDL rebellion supported the Butsitsi clan's claim to chieftaincy. ^[14] Godefroid Butsitsi Kahembe, one of Butsitsi's sons, was appointed as the mwami by the AFDL. However, the region remained embroiled in violence, and in December 1997, Godefroid was assassinated alongside Mwami Ndeze Ndabishoboye of Bwisha Chiefdom in Rutshuru Territory. ^[14] While the AFDL attributed the killings to Rwandan Interahamwe militias, some factions within Bukumu suspected the rival Bigaruka clan of orchestrating the killings. ^[14] Following Godefroid's assassination, his brother Jean-Bosco Butsitsi Bigirwa was installed as chief by the AFDL. ^[14] Jean-Bosco also received the backing of the Tutsi-led rebel group, Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma (RCD), during the Second Congo War. ^[14] Despite this endorsement, the succession crisis continued to fracture the Bukumu Chiefdom. In mid-November 2001, Jean-Bosco narrowly survived an assassination attempt, though it remains unclear whether the attack was connected to the ongoing succession conflict. ^[14]

Jean-Bosco abdicated the throne on 29 March 2016 following a suspension he deemed politically and tribally motivated. ^[15] On 12 October 2020, Bazima Bakungu Lebon was acknowledged as the legitimate chief and rightful heir to the Bukumu throne among the three claimants: Jean Bosco, Isaac Butsitsi, and Lebon Bakungu, following a decree from the Provincial Consultative Commission for the Settlement of Customary Conflicts (Commission Consultative Provinciale de Règlements des Conflits Coutumiers; CCPRCC). ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} This verdict came after a comprehensive survey conducted over four weeks among the twelve ruling families of the Bukumu Chiefdom at the behest of the governor of North Kivu and the national Ministry of the Interior and Security, under the ministerial order No. 025/CAB/VPM/MININTERSEC/ERS/037/2018 of 19 February 2018, which recognizes a chief of chiefdom. ^{[16] [15]}

References

1. "Etude de la dysfonction erectile chez les hommes et la consommation des boissons aphrodisiaques vendues dans la chefferie de Bukumu". Université de Goma.
2. "Goma: Bazima Bakungu Lebon reconnu chef de la chefferie de Bukumu" [Goma: Bazima Bakungu Lebon recognized as head of the Bukumu chiefdom]. Radio Okapi (in French). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
3. "Bukumu, Nord-Kivu: le comité local de sécurité outillé pour une approche participative dans la gestion de la sécurité" [Bukumu, North Kivu: the local security committee equipped for a participatory approach in security management]. Nations Unies Maintien de la paix (in French). Manhattan, New York, New York, United States. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
4. Bulonfu, Joshua (2 July 2022). "Nyiragongo: fin des suspens sur la gestion de la chefferie de Bukumu" [Nyiragongo: end of suspense on the management of the Bukumu chiefdom]. Le Renouveau (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
5. Ndacho, Éric Kitalyaboshi (2021). "Etude de la dysfonction erectile chez les hommes et la consommation des boissons aphrodisiaques vendues dans la chefferie de Bukumu" [Study of erectile dysfunction in men and the consumption of aphrodisiac drinks sold in the chiefdom of Bukumu] (in French). Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: University of Goma . Retrieved 12 October 2024.
6. "Plan local de sécurité, outils contribuant au rétablissement de la sécurité et de la stabilité dans la chefferie de Bukumu, dans la province du Nord-Kivu à l'est de la RDC" [Local security plan, tools contributing to the restoration of security and stability in the chieftainship of Bukumu, in the province of North Kivu in the east of the DRC]. Scc-rdc.org (in French). Retrieved 12 October 2024.
7. Mushi, Ferdinand Mugumo (1 January 2013). "Insecurity and Local Governance in Congo's South Kivu" (PDF). Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom: Institute of Development Studies. p. 17. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
8. Verweijen, Judith (2016). McGuiness, Kate (ed.). A Microcosm of Militarization: Conflict, governance and armed mobilization in Uvira, South Kivu (PDF). Nairobi, Kenya: Rift Valley Institute. p. 14. ISBN   978-1-907431-40-1 . Retrieved 3 November 2024.
9. "Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI): Cartographie des bureaux de vote" (PDF) (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendante. December 2018. pp. 1361–1363. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
10. Hemura, David Batahwa (2013). "Fonctionnalité des entités territoriales décentralisées en RDC. Analyse appliquée à la chefferie de Bukumu au Nord- Kivu" [Functionality of decentralized territorial entities in the DRC. Analysis applied to the Bukumu chiefdom in North Kivu] (in French). Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: University of Goma . Retrieved 13 October 2024.
11. Northrup, David (1988). Beyond the Bend in the River: African Labor in Eastern Zaire, 1865-1940. Athens, Ohio, United States: Ohio University Center for International Studies. p. 82. ISBN   978-0-89680-151-6.
12. Turner, Thomas (April 2007). The Congo Wars: Conflict, Myth and Reality. London, England, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 109–110. ISBN   978-1-84277-689-6.
13. Melkebeke, Sven Van (22 June 2020). Dissimilar Coffee Frontiers: Mobilizing Labor and Land in the Lake Kivu Region, Congo and Rwanda (1918-1960/62). Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands: BRILL. pp. 115–116. ISBN   978-90-04-42849-2.
14. Tull, Denis (2005). The Reconfiguration of Political Order in Africa: A Case Study of North Kivu (DR Congo). Hamburg, Germany: Institute of African Affairs. p. 148. ISBN   978-3-928049-90-0.
15. Feruzi, Frederic (18 October 2020). "Conflit de pouvoir coutumier à Bukumu: Lebon Bakungu au trône, Butsitsi au palais royal, quel avenir pour le Nyiragongo ?" [Customary power conflict in Bukumu: Lebon Bakungu on the throne, Butsitsi at the royal palace, what future for Nyiragongo?]. Les Volcans News (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
16. "Goma: Bazima Bakungu Lebon reconnu chef de la chefferie de Bukumu" [Goma: Bazima Bakungu Lebon recognized as head of the Bukumu chiefdom]. Radio Okapi (in French). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
17. "Nord-Kivu: Bazima Bakungu Le Bon confirmé chef de la chefferie de Bukumu à Nyiragongo" [North Kivu: Bazima Bakungu Le Bon confirmed head of the Bukumu chiefdom in Nyiragongo]. ACP (in French). 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
18. "Nyiragongo: La reconnaissance de Lebon Bakungu en qualité de Mwami de la chefferie de Bukumu, contestée par Jean Bosco Butsitsi (Nord-Kivu)" [Nyiragongo: The recognition of Lebon Bakungu as Mwami of the Bukumu chiefdom, contested by Jean Bosco Butsitsi (North Kivu)]. Groupe de presse la République (in French). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
19. Tsongo, Magloire (12 October 2020). "Nyiragongo: "Lebon Bakungu", le vrai Mwami de la chefferie de Bukumu" [Nyiragongo: "Lebon Bakungu", the real Mwami of the Bukumu chiefdom]. Ouragan.cd (in French). Retrieved 13 October 2024.