Kasika massacre | |
---|---|
Part of Kivu conflict | |
Location | Luindi Chiefdom, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Date | August 24, 1998 |
Attack type | Massacre, ethnic cleansing, arson, sexual violence |
Deaths | 1,000 civilians killed per DRC Mapping Exercise Report |
Victim | Nyindu people |
Perpetrators | Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) |
Motive | Allegations that the local population had offered support to the Mai-Mai rebels and the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila |
The Kasika massacre (French: Massacre de Kasika) took place on August 24, 1998, in the villages of Kasika, Kilungutwe, Kalama, and Zokwe, located in the Luindi Chiefdom of the Mwenga Territory in the South Kivu Province, situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Troops from the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) and Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), primarily composed of Tutsi armed forces, killed over 1,000 civilians, predominantly belonging to the Nyindu community. [1] [2]
The massacre's memory is deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the Congolese populace and affected prominent politicians, human rights activists, and organizations dedicated to human rights. [3] [4] [5]
In July 1994, following the assassination of then-President General Juvénal Habyarimana, whose 21-year-long reign had collapsed into genocide, Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) seized power in Rwanda. [6] [7] Subsequently, a significant number of Hutu rebels, colloquially known as the ' Interahamwe ,' along with Hutu refugees, sought refuge in the eastern Zaire forested enclaves encircling Uvira, Walungu, Kabare, Kalehe, Shabunda, Goma, Rutchuru, Mugunga, Lac Vert, Masisi, Walikale, Tingi-Tingi, Amisi, Pangi, Kasongo, and Kindu. [8]
During the First Congo War, Kagame's Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and Laurent-Désiré Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) alongside Zairean Tutsi army defectors launched military operations to locate and incapacitate Hutu militias and refugees. They also aimed to overthrow Mobutu's government, which they accused of excluding Tutsis from political influence. [9] [10] [11] They swiftly occupied strategic positions in the South Kivu Province and used it as a staging ground to take over other regions. [12] The military campaign resulted in numerous deaths of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, Zairean civilians, and even assimilated refugee populations. [12] By mid-1996, territorial gains transformed the ostensibly localized rebellion in eastern Zaire into a formidable challenge for Mobutu. [13] [14] In 1997, rebels advanced to Kinshasa, driving out Mobutu and leading to Laurent-Désiré Kabila proclaiming himself president on May 17, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). [15]
In July 1998, tensions escalated shortly after Kabila's ascendancy. [16] He mandated the withdrawal of Rwandan, Ugandan, and Angolan troops. [17] Despite the directive, the Rwandan army obstinately refused, prompting Kabila to sever ties, accusing Rwanda and Uganda of interference. [18] Subsequently, disenchanted Rwandan Tutsi factions coalesced to form the Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie: RCD), aiming to depose Kabila due to his reluctance to share authority. [15] [19] [18] [20] RCD forces gained control over substantial territories in the South Kivu Province, displacing civilians and eventually seizing a significant segment of Mwenga Territory. [21]
In retaliation, local defense groups, including the Maï-Maï, emerged to shield communities from RCD and RPA incursions. On August 23, 1998, a Maï-Maï orchestrated an ambush on the route between Bukavu and Kindu, which killed approximately 20 RCD and RPA forces, averting them from gaining control over Mwenga Territory. [1] [22]
The initial attack took place at a Catholic church parish in Kasika village, located in the Lwindi Chiefdom, approximately 108 kilometers from Bukavu in the Mwenga Territory of the South Kivu Province. The Missionary International Service News Agency (MISNA), a Rome-based Roman Catholic humanitarian news agency operating in the area, was the first to report the massacre in December 1999. [23] [24] [25]
According to MISNA, the RCD forces retaliated for casualties endured in an ambush by elements of Mai-Mai in the Lwindi Chiefdom on August 23. Infuriated by the loss of their members during the ambush, the RCD forces launched an attack on the Catholic Church parish in Kasika the following day, resulting in the deaths of thirty-seven civilians, including the parish priest (Abbé Stanislas), three nuns, and parishioners. Additionally, other civilians were killed in the surrounding communities. The RCD forces also murdered Mwami Mubeza III, born Naluindi Francis, the chief of the Lwindi Chiefdom. He was bound, killed with a machete, his heart was extracted from his chest, and his head was severed. In addition, 26 other individuals were killed in his residence. [25] [26] [27] [28]
While attempting to flee, 385 people who had not been killed in the church were callously massacred. [27] [29] During their journey to Kilungutwe, the attackers ruthlessly killed 43 people and burned 50 others in a village called Zokwe. In the vicinity of Zokwe, on the way to Kilungutwe, in the locality of Kalama, RCD and RPA soldiers burned alive 95 people in their houses. [27] [29] In Kilungutwe, which was situated 15 miles away from Kasika and served as a hub for other villagers to acquire supplies, soldiers identified as RPA, allied with the RCD according to survivors' accounts, opened fire on the unarmed population gathered in the central market square, resulting in the deaths of at least 173 civilians. [27] Subsequently, the soldiers instructed the villagers to gather in huts in groups of 50 people of all ages, where they massacred them. [27] Some survivors reported these atrocities to Amnesty International investigators. In another house, 54 people were forcibly assembled. They were compelled to undress, after which the soldiers tied them up with their clothes before killing them. The soldiers followed the same method to kill over 200 more people. [27]
During the 37-mile (60 km) journey from Kasika to Kilungutwe, passing through Kalama on August 23 and 24, over 1,000 civilians, including men, women, children, and the elderly, were brutally massacred, as reported by the United Nations Mapping Report. [30] The exact extent of the destruction of houses and other infrastructure could not be verified due to poor security conditions and uncertainty regarding the protection of witnesses. [27]
The aftermath of the massacre reverberated throughout the nation, evoking thoroughgoing shock and disgust among the Congolese population, as well as garnering condemnation from prominent opposition politicians. The massacre was widely condemned by internationally recognized human rights organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. [31] Kofi Annan expressed deep concern for the victims and pledged ongoing support for regional initiatives aimed at facilitating a ceasefire, withdrawing foreign troops, and fostering democratic peace in the country. He also expressed regret that the findings of the massacre investigation had not yet been made public. [32] In response to the crisis, Laurent-Désiré Kabila ordered the complete evacuation of the rebels as a precondition for a ceasefire. [33]
Different perspectives emerged regarding the involvement of foreign troops. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe claimed that Zimbabwean and Angolan troops were deployed to support Kabila's regime under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, Nelson Mandela disagreed with Mugabe's decision, asserting that Mugabe had no authority to deploy troops under the SADC umbrella. Mandela advocated for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. [33]
Kabila's government attributed blame to the Rwandan government and declared its unwillingness to participate in ceasefire talks until Rwandan and Ugandan troops were withdrawn from the DRC. Andre Kapanga, the DRC's ambassador to the United Nations, emphasized the importance of troop withdrawal as a prerequisite for meaningful dialogue on a ceasefire. [33]
It was a dark night which changed the history of our land and our people. We lost our hope upon seeing the ‘Mwami’ (traditional leader) killed together with the members of the royal court. Nothing like that happened before in our tribe. The heart of the land was grieved. That night the Banyamulenge soldiers became our number one enemies…. With the passing of time, we have learned to forget. But we still wait to see if some representatives of Banyamulenge will come one day to ask forgiveness to the members of our tribe who are willing to forgive them.
The United States, through the U.S. State Department, expressed its support for the Southern African Development Community's efforts to resolve the crisis in the DRC. The United States aligned itself with the regional initiative, endorsing the endeavor to bring an end to the conflict. [33]
The massacre deeply impacted the Nyindu community, leaving them overwhelmed by grief and trauma as they grappled with the loss of their loved ones and the devastation inflicted upon their homes. The Nyindu community initiated legal proceedings to hold the perpetrators accountable for their crimes. They urged the Congolese authorities to confront the root causes that fueled such violence. [27]
The community also forged partnerships with local and international advocacy groups to establish support networks, counseling services, and empowerment initiatives to provide assistance to survivors and assist them in rebuilding their shattered lives. [27] [35]
The earliest known human settlements in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been dated back to the Middle Stone Age, approximately 90,000 years ago. The first real states, such as the Kongo, the Lunda, the Luba and Kuba, appeared south of the equatorial forest on the savannah from the 14th century onwards.
North Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital city is Goma. Spanning approximately 59,483 square kilometers with a population estimate of 8,147,400 as of 2020, it is bordered by Ituri Province to the north, Tshopo Province to the northwest, Maniema Province to the southwest, and South Kivu Province to the south, as well as Uganda and Rwanda to the east.
South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.
Banyamulenge is a community that lives mainly in South Kivu province. The Banyamulenge are culturally and socially distinct from the Tutsi of South Kivu, with most speaking Kinyamulenge, a mix of Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Ha language, and Swahili. Banyamulenge their role in Mobutu's war against and victory over the Simba Rebellion, which was supported by the majority of other tribes in South Kivu, their role during the First Congo War and subsequent regional conflicts (Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma, Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, National Congress for the Defence of the People, and more importantly for the fact that two of the most influential presidents of their country declared them as enemy of the State both in 1996 and 1998.
The First Congo War, also known as Africa's First World War, was a civil and international military conflict that lasted from 24 October 1996 to 16 May 1997, primarily taking place in Zaire. The war resulted in the overthrow of Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko, who was replaced by rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. This conflict, which also involved multiple neighboring countries, set the stage for the Second Congo War (1998–2003) due to tensions between Kabila and his former allies.
Congolese history in the 2000s has primarily revolved around the Second Congo War (1998–2003) and the empowerment of a transitional government.
Masisi Territory is a territory which is located within the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its political headquarters are located in the town of Masisi.
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 Democratic Republic of Congo. 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 an East African Community regional force.
Laurent Nkunda is a former General in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is the former warlord operating in the province of North-Kivu, and a officer of the Tutsi-dominated government of neighbouring Rwanda. Nkunda, who is himself a Congolese born Tutsi, commanded the former DRC troops of the 81st and 83rd Brigades of the DRC Army. He speaks English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Lingala and Kinande. On January 22, 2009, he was put under house arrest in Gisenyi when he was called for a meeting to plan a joint operation between the Congolese and Rwandan militaries.
WalunguTerritory is a territory located within the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 40 km from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, it shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the south, Uvira Territory and the Ruzizi River, as well as the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi to the east, and Shabunda Territory and part of Kabare Territory to the west. According to the 2018 national census, the region has a population of 716,671, with 672,436 residing in the Ngweshe Chiefdom and 44,235 in the Kaziba Chiefdom. Spanning an area of 1,800 km2, Walungu Territory has a population density of 398 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Kanyabayonga is a town straddling the Lubero and Rutshuru territories of North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Administratively, the part which is in Lubero is the commune of Kanyabayonga and, the part in Rutshuru belongs to the Kanyabayonga groupement (grouping) which extends well south of the town and is within the Bwito chiefdom. The region as a whole has seen much armed conflict since 1993.
The Congolese Rally for Democracy–Goma was a faction of the Congolese Rally for Democracy, a rebel movement based in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the Second Congo War (1998–2003). After the war, some members of the group continued sporadic fighting in North Kivu. The movement also entered mainstream politics, participating in democratic elections with little success.
Uvira Territory is a territory located in South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Encompassing an area of roughly 3,146 kilometers and with a population estimate of 1,165,092 as of 2020, it is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, and Fizi Territory to the south. The territory's southeastern boundary is defined by the city of Uvira, which attained city status on 13 June 2019, while the eastern perimeter adjoins the Republic of Burundi and Lake Tanganyika. Within the territory, Kiliba and Sange serve as significant towns.
Kasika is a village located in the Luindi Chiefdom within the Mwenga Territory of the South Kivu Province, situated in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Geographically positioned at 965 meters above sea level, Kasika strategically lies near Kihovu and Kahulile, approximately 108 kilometers from Bukavu, near the Rwandan border. The region is more than clusters of mud huts built around a Catholic parish on a hill overlooking a valley. It was the headquarters of the customary chief of the Nyindu ethnic community, whose house and office sat on a hill opposite the parish, a series of large, red-brick structures with cracked ceramic shingles as roofing, laced with vines.
Kilungutwe is a small village in the Luindi Chiefdom, located in the valley of the Kilungutwe River in the Mwenga Territory of the South Kivu Province. Situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kilungutwe is positioned nearby neighboring villages of Kirukungutu and Chowe. The region is a melting pot for many ethnic groups, boasting a diverse ethnocultural landscape. It is also a point of confluence for numerous ethnic groups, including the Lega, Nyindu, Shi, Fuliiru, Holoholo, Bwari, Vira, Hunde, Nyanga, Bembe, and Amba people.
The Makobola massacre occurred from December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, in the small village of Makobola, located approximately 15 kilometers south of Uvira, on the border between Fizi Territory and Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rally for Congolese Democracy, a predominantly Tutsi Rwandan-backed armed group led by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, killed over 800 civilians, largely belonging to the Babembe community.
The Luindi Chiefdom, also known as the Lwindi Chiefdom, is a chiefdom located in the Mwenga Territory, within the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the mountainous area of the Itombwe Massif.
The Bafuliiru Chiefdom, also spelled as Chefferie de Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in Uvira Territory, South Kivu Province, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Ngweshe Chiefdom is a chiefdom 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.
Modern relations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have origins that date back to the European colonial era. Sharing a border that is 221 km in length, the two countries were both colonial possessions of Belgium between 1919 and 1960, and were impacted by the two world wars. Both Rwanda and the Congo experienced violent upheavals during their first years of independence, with the Congo being left with a weak central authority, and Rwanda dealing with periodic raids and incursions from expelled Tutsi rebels in the east of the Congo.
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