Kilungutwe River

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Kilungutwe River
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Country Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Kilungutwe River is a watercourse located in the Mwenga Territory of the South Kivu Province, situated in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). [1] With an elevation of 882 meters, it functions as a tributary to the Ulindi River. Following the confluence with the Ulindi River approximately 30 km northwest, the Ulindi River proceeds on its course, eventually joining the Congo River. [2] [3] [4] The Kilungutwe River was historically known as the gateway to the jungle from the highlands to the northeast. [3] [5]

Contents

The river is a habitat for various species, including catfish, tilapia, and Clarias anguillaris . Further downstream, the Kilungutwe village is rich in biodiversity, with luxuriant vegetation and a diverse range of flora and fauna. The river is also a regional economic component and a substantial water source for irrigation and fishing. [6] [7] [8]

History

The Kilungutwe River has been traditionally occupied by several Bantu ethnicities, including the Lega, Bembe, Shi, Fuliiru, Nyindu, and Vira people. [9] [10]

Kasika massacre

The Kilungutwe River was a strategic site for Kasika massacre survivors who were subsequently accosted and murdered by the Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie; RCD), a Rwandan-backed armed group. Many victims were hacked to death with machetes or other sharp objects, with a smaller fraction being shot. [11] Parenthetically, some women were raped before being disemboweled with daggers from their vaginas, with their children being banged on walls and thrown into toilets or along the river. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilungutwe village</span> Village in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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.

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The Luindi Chiefdom, also known as Lwindi Chiefdom, is a traditional administrative unit located in the Mwenga Territory of 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, which is known for its rich biodiversity and unique wildlife.

The Kasika massacre 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.

References

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