Walungu Territory

Walungu Territory 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.

It was the site of a plane crash on May 25, 2005 when a chartered Maniema Union Antonov An-28 aircraft, owned by Victoria Air, crashed into a mountain near Walungu, about 30 minutes after takeoff. All of the 22 passengers and 5 crew members were killed (see 2005 in aviation). United Nations Peacekeeping Force has also been employed to counter foreign armed groups and local militias which are committing HRVs (Human Rights Violations) while exploring minerals from the area.

Geography
Walungu Territory is located between 28.44 and 28.758° E (longitude) and 2.692 and 2.625° S (latitude). It sits at an elevation between 1000 meters (at Kamanyola) and 3000 meters above sea level. Covering a surface area of 1800 km2, it is a large region that encompasses a diverse range of natural features, such as mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, and fertile plains. Roughly half of its terrain is situated within the Ruzizi Plain, a vast lowland area known for its fertile soils and favorable agricultural conditions. With its flat topography and favorable climate, the territory is ideal for various agricultural activities, supporting the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including maize, beans, cassava, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, coffee, bananas, tomatoes, onions, and other cash crops. Notable mountain ranges in the territory include Mount Kahuzi and the Mitumba Mountains, which provide habitats for various flora and fauna, including the endangered Eastern lowland gorillas. The territory is also crossed by expansive forests and lush vegetation, forming part of the larger Congo Basin rainforest—the largest rainforest in Africa and second in size only to the Amazon rainforest. These forests support a vast array of plant and animal species, including rare and endemic species, and play a vital role in climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and the preservation of biodiversity.

Hydrology
The region boasts a rich hydrological network, with numerous major rivers coursing through its landscape. Among these rivers, the Ruzizi River, Luvinvi River, Ulindi River, and Ludubo River are significant waterways in the territory that support diverse aquatic life, provide water resources for local communities, and contribute to the overall water balance of the region. The Ruzizi River serves as a natural border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. It originates from Lake Kivu and flows northward, passing through the Ruzizi Plain within the territory. Additionally, the territory is home to several smaller rivers, such as Nshesha, Mugaba, Lunzinzi, and Mayi-Mingi. These rivers may change names as they traverse different plains or marshes. Although less extensively documented, these smaller rivers likely contribute to the local water supply and play a role in maintaining the ecological balance within their respective regions.

Vegetation
Walungu Territory is a diverse landscape consisting of grassy savannahs, state woodlots, and forest reserves. The savannahs are home to a range of wildlife such as antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, and cheetahs. These grassy plains play a key role in natural processes such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water infiltration. The state woodlots and forest reserves are crucial for the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. They provide timber, firewood, and non-timber forest products for local communities while also harboring various flora and fauna. However, the forest reserves and woodlots face significant challenges from human activities. The population surrounding these areas relies heavily on natural resources for their daily needs, leading to frequent deforestation and degradation. The relentless quest for firewood and construction materials has resulted in the destruction of these forested areas.

Geology
The region is characterized by clay-sandy soil that has undergone considerable weathering over time. Lateritic soil, known for its ferruginous crust and acidic nature, leads to limited fertility, particularly for crop cultivation. However, the low-lying marshy areas boast fertile soil attributed to sediment deposition from local organisms, enriched by rivers, and water erosion during the rainy season. Nonetheless, the slopes of the territory are prone to erosion, leading to a rapid decrease in agricultural productivity. The foothills and mountains of the territory exhibit an accumulation of mineral deposits, harboring subsoil resources such as gold, iron, tantalum, wolfram, and tin, which hold significant economic potential. The lateritic soils are a result of long-term weathering and leaching processes that have altered the original composition of the parent rocks. Consequently, the soil becomes impoverished in essential nutrients, affecting its ability to support robust plant growth. As a result, farmers in the region face challenges in maximizing agricultural yields due to the limitations of the soil's fertility.

Climate
Walungu Territory experiences a humid subtropical climate. The territory has a significant rainy season, which typically extends from September 15 to May 15, making it the longest season throughout the year. It is characterized by relatively mild temperatures, with the hottest month recording an average temperature of around 25°C. Conversely, the coldest month experiences an average temperature of approximately 18°C, contributing to a relatively comfortable year-round climate. Throughout the year, monthly temperatures within the territory exhibit variations ranging between 15°C and 25°C, indicating moderate temperature fluctuations. This moderate climate supports various outdoor activities and agricultural practices. Annual rainfall in Walungu Territory typically varies between 900 and 1,500 millimeters, illustrating a considerable range of precipitation levels.

History
Walungu Territory was officially created by Presidential Decree No. 65-221 on May 3, 1967, and it was further amended by Decree No. 82-006 on February 25, 1982.

Kwilu Rebellion and First Congo War
Walungu Territory has a tumultuous history marked by conflict and insecurity, stemming from a combination of internal and external factors. In the late 1960s, the region played a significant role during the Mulelist insurgency, where the Zairian army achieved a key victory against the insurgency. During the First Congo War from 1996 to 1997, the region became a battleground due to its strategic location and access to valuable resources. The conflict involved multiple armed groups, including the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB). The AFDL, led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, emerged as a rebel movement aiming to overthrow the regime of President Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire. The AFDL received significant support from RPA, led by Paul Kagame, due to concerns about the presence of Rwandan Hutu militias in eastern Zaire.

The counter-offensive led to massacres of millions of Hutu génocidaires, Hutu refugees, and Zairean civilians in the eastern part of DRC, as documented by the United Nations Mapping Report. The AFDL/RPA units committed numerous human rights violations, deliberately attacking civilian populations, resulting in massacres, summary executions, and mass displacements. Civilians often found themselves caught in the crossfire between rival factions or targeted deliberately to exert control over local communities.

Throughout October and November 1996, the AFDL/RPA units launched brutal attacks on refugees, killing hundreds of people in various locations, including the Kamanyola grouping of Ngweshe Chiefdom, Nyarubale in the Kalunga hills, and the routes between Nyantende and Walungu-Centre and Nyantende and Bukavu. Most of the victims were women, children, and the elderly. The soldiers resorted to firearms, bayonets, and shrapnel, causing immense suffering and loss of life. Additionally, on 28 October 1996, the AFDL/RPA units killed five refugees in the village of Lwakabiri and, in January 1997, killed at least thirty Rwandan and Burundian Hutu refugees on the Bukavu to Walungu Territory road. Before killing the victims, the soldiers often subjected them to torture and mutilation.

Second Congo War
The Second Congo War further plunged the region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo into a devastating conflict. After ousting President Mobutu in 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila assumed power. However, tensions escalated as former allies from AFDL and RPA felt sidelined and excluded from the new government. This led to a quest to topple Kabila's administration. The Rwandan-backed rebels were known as the Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie; RCD). The RCD made up various factions with the common goal of challenging Kabila's government and gaining political influence.

As a major faction opposing Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government, the RCD engaged in acts of violence, committing grave atrocities against civilians. These human rights abuses included deliberate attacks on civilian populations. In Walungu and surrounding areas, civilians endured massacres, summary executions, and widespread displacement due to the conflict. RCD forces often resorted to brutal tactics to assert control over local communities and weaken perceived adversaries. Women and girls faced brutal acts of rape, sexual assault, and forced marriage. These nefarious acts were intended to instill fear, degrade communities, and exert dominance over the civilian population. In addition to sexual violence, the RCD was known for recruiting child soldiers. Young boys, and in some cases girls, were forcibly conscripted into their ranks, exposing them to violence, abuse, and manipulation.

Ongoing conflict
Since the Sun City Agreement in 2003, the region has been plagued by persistent insecurity and conflict due to armed groups like the FDLR (Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda) and Rasta militia (les Rasta), remnants of Interahamwe, perpetuating violence and instability. The Rasta militia, an ultra-violent armed group composed of approximately fifteen Congolese dissidents, emerged in the region and has been responsible for several brutal massacres, most notably in the Nindja Chiefdom and Kaniola Groupement between 2004 and 2007.

Another source of ongoing conflict is the traditional power struggle and the presence of vigilance committees; armed groups formed to protect local communities. Nonetheless, their presence has also generated internal tensions and conflicts. The head of the Ngweshe Chiefdom in Walungu Territory's decision to depose the leader of the Kaniola Groupement without providing a justifiable reason fueled tensions. This expulsion, coupled with the existence of armed vigilance committees and the popularity of Foka Mike, a local figure, further aggravated the power struggle and accusations of militancy. Civil society in Kaniola and other parts of the region has voiced grievances against the chieftaincy chief, accusing him of lacking transparency and disregarding the demands and expectations of local populations. Parenthetically, the issue of access to land has become a severe source of insecurity. The competition between customary land practices and formal land law has created conflicts over land management and access. Customary land rights, often precarious and unprotected, leave many farmers susceptible to dispossession and exploitation by influential private individuals who convert large portions of land into private plantations. This plight has exacerbated land inequalities, as small-scale producers are constrained to rent land from large landowners under insecure oral agreements.

Administrative subdivisions
Walungu Territory is administratively divided into two chiefdoms (chefferies), each further subdivided into groupements (groups) and localités (villages). The territory is governed by a territorial administrator and two assistant administrators, aiming to establish closer connections between the rulers and the ruled. Each chiefdom is headed by a chieftaincy commonly known as "Mwami" or "Bami", responsible for upholding customs and overseeing succession, which is traditionally passed down from father to son. The customary chiefs work in coordination with the administrative authority but maintain some level of independence. Each groupement is led by a groupement head, often from the royal family directly or indirectly. The village chiefs (chefs de village) within each groupement are appointed and dismissed by the paramount groupement leader after consulting the community.