Luvungi | |
---|---|
Groupement d'Itara-Luvungi | |
![]() Luvungi, February 2013 | |
Country | ![]() |
Province | South Kivu |
Territory | Uvira |
Chiefdom | Bafuliiru |
Population (2017) [1] | |
• Total | 85,000 |
Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
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. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The precise meaning or origin of the name "Luvungi" is not explicitly specified in the colonial records. According to a report conducted by SERACOB for Uvira Territory, the name "Luvungi" could potentially be a regional adaptation or modification of another name. The name might have derived from the river "Luvubu," while the local farmers referred to it as "Iyombe." The historical and cultural importance of the name likely stems from the indigenous customs and heritage of the Fuliru community. [6]
Until 1904, the Itara-Luvungi groupement was under the administration of Uvira, which was governed by the Congo Free State. [7] [8] In the 1910s, the region served as a major battleground for various European powers vying for control. On September 29, 1913, the Germans initiated an attack against the Belgians. Following a fierce conflict enduring fourteen hours, the fighting remained inconclusive, leading the Germans to retreat. The aftermath of the battle left behind abandoned equipment and the loss of over 60 lives. [9] In the midst of World War I, specifically on January 12, 1915, Luvungi experienced a raid by German forces originating from Ruanda-Urundi in present-day Burundi. The incursion occurred within the broader context of the East African Campaign. Despite being a relatively small-scale operation, the raid resulted in German defeat, and their commander, Karl Schimmer, was killed. [10]
In 1920, a post station was officially established under the leadership of J. Cunds. Thereupon, negotiations took place between Chief Kabwika and the territorial authorities to address the administrative challenges encountered in Luvungi. The newly established post witnessed rapid stability and progress. Infrastructure development, including road construction, attracted settlers from the middle and high plateaus to the Ruzizi Plain. [11] [12] [13] [14]
Prior to the arrival of the Belgians, the Bafuliiru Chiefdom was under the reign of Mwami Kalingishi, a member of the Bahamba clan of Fulliru people. As the king, Kalingishi held significant authority, and all power was concentrated within the ruling family. This consolidation of power extended to the various groups known as "Baluzi". During the colonial period, the Belgian administration established chiefdoms as a part of their governance system. Luvungi became a part of the Bafuliru Chiefdom, which was created in 1921. The chiefdoms served as local administrative units representing the central government. [6]
Luvungi lies within the Ruzizi Plain, a vast low-lying area extending between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. The plain is renowned for its fertile soils, making it an agriculturally productive region. The village is crossed by the Ruvubu River, which flows into the larger Ruzizi River. The Ruvubu River serves as a key waterway, contributing to the agricultural and economic activities of the area. Additionally, the Munyovwe River, a tributary of the Ruvubu, traverses through Luvungi, providing a water source for the local inhabitants. [15] [14]
Luvungi, similar to many areas in the South Kivu Province, encounters a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons all year round. The rainy season spans for about nine months, starting from September and stretching until May, with frequent rainfall. Conversely, Luvungi experiences a three-month dry season from June to August, significantly reducing the precipitation levels. The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 940 millimeters (Pmm), which contributes to its fertile soil and agricultural productivity. [15]
Luvungi is an area with a diverse range of soil types, including sandy, gravelly, black alluvial, and clayey soils, each with unique characteristics that impact agricultural practices and land use. Notably, the area is home to various water bodies, including the Ruvubu River that flows into the Ruzizi River, which contributes to the formation of alluvial deposits along their banks and influences the landscape. This diversity allows for the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including maize, bush beans, cowpea, cassava, cabbage, potatoes, paddy rice, carrots, soybeans, amaranth, onions, bananas, and spring onions, rendering Luvungi and its environs renowned as one of the country's best-stocked granaries. [15] [16] [17] [18]
The Luvungi groupement (grouping) is divided into several smaller units commonly known as villages within the groupement. Each village is led by its own local leadership or representatives who work collaboratively with the overall administration of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom. [19]
Luvungi groupement is subdivided into 10 villages:
The Luvungi groupement, like many other regions in the Ruzizi Plain, has been confronted with various conflicts and security challenges. It has been significantly affected by the presence of various armed groups, encompassing both local militias and foreign factions. On October 20, 1996, during the First Congo War, Luvungi experienced a massacre when the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB) units targeted the refugee camps in Bafuliiru Chiefdom. Approximately 100 Burundian and Rwandan Hutu refugees were killed in Luvungi refugee camps. On the same day, the AFDL/APR/FAB units also killed an unknown number of refugees, including around twenty in the camp's hospital in Kanganiro camp in Bafuliiru Chiefdom. Additionally, they targeted and killed an unknown number of refugees who sought shelter in the homes of Zairian civilians in Luvingi. [20] [21]
Moving forward to October 21, 1996, the AFDL/RPA/FAB units resumed their violence, killing an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, as well as Zairian civilians who were attempting to flee the village after the departure of the Zairian Armed Forces (FAZ) in Lubarika village, located in the Luvungi groupement of Bafuliiru Chiefdom. The soldiers forced local residents to bury the bodies in four large mass graves. Incidentally, on the same day, around 370 refugees were killed in Luberizi and Mutarule by the AFDL/RPA/FAB units. The victims' bodies were disposed of in pit latrines, while others were discovered in houses in the two towns. [20]
In the Second Congo War, with the emergence of the Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie; RCD), conflicts in the Ruzizi Plain escalated following the power shift and the coalition formed by the Banyamulenge and Barundi against the Bafuliiru, particularly in Luvungi and Sange. [21] The RCD forces took control of certain provincial mineral resources, leading to a swift military operation to plagued regions in the Ruzizi Plain as well as in Walungu Territory, Kabare Territory, Kalehe Territory, and Shabunda Territory. Luvungi and its surrounding areas experienced numerous casualties, displacement of locals, and a large-scale exodus of people seeking refuge in the middle plateaus of the Itara-Luvungi groupement. [21]
During times of conflict and insecurity in various parts of the DRC, sexual violence has been wielded as a weapon to instill fear, exert control, and inflict deep trauma upon individuals and communities. Women, girls, and occasionally even men have endured sexual assault, rape, and other manifestations of gender-based violence. [22] [23] [24] [25] In 2010, approximately 200 women were reportedly victims of mass rape within the Luvungi groupement of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, despite the presence of United Nations peacekeepers nearby. [26] [27] [28] Margot Wallstrom, addressing the United Nations Security Council, expressed her shock and condemnation, deeming these acts as "unimaginable and unacceptable" upon discovering the possible involvement of Congolese government soldiers as perpetrators. [29]
South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.
Uvira is a city in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It serves as the capital of the Uvira Territory and acts as an economic and transportation hub within the region. Uvira is home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Uvira, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bukavu. The city boasts a diverse population and is well known for its vibrant trade, flourishing fishing industry, and cultural heritage.
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. Principal food crops include bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, rice, sorghum, beans, soybean and tomato.
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.
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 some Fuliiru also live. 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.
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 and has an altitude of 1,021 meters. The region is sandy, with sandy loam and sandy clay covering most of the village, making it one of the most fertile lands in Uvira Territory. The northwest basin of Lake Tanganyika, which encompasses Uvira Territory, is characterized by outcrops of very ancient (Precambrian) and very recent (Quaternary) rocks. A rapid morphological study of the Sange suggests that the region possesses black soils of the Chernozem group, soils of the Solonchak type, and Alkali soils.
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.
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 sits at an elevation of 901 meters and is in close proximity 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. The fertile land and favorable climate provide ideal conditions for growing a variety of crops, including maize, beans, cassava, and sorghum. Furthermore, the region's proximity to the lake makes fishing a crucial economic activity, providing a source of food and income for many families.
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.
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.
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.
Kidote, also known as Kidoti, is a small village situated in the middle plateaux of Lemera, within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It also serves as a camp for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from various regions of Bwegera, as well as many nearby villages encompassing the vicinity of Lemera.
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 Bafuliiru Chiefdom, formerly known as Chefferie des Bafulero, is a traditional administrative unit 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.
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.
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