Rutshuru Territory
Encyclopedia
Rutshuru Territory is a territory
in the North Kivu province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC), with headquarters is the town of Rutshuru
.
The territory is mountainous, including a large portion of the Virunga National Park
, famous for its mountain gorillas.
The people of the territory are extremely poor. Since 1992 they have suffered from ongoing violent conflict between different rebel groups and government troops. At its peak in November 2008 an estimated 250,000 people were made homeless. The violence has caused health issues, including the need for treatment after rape, which is common. Children have stayed away from those schools that are open for fear of being kidnapped by armed groups and made to fight.
between Lakes Edward
and Kivu
.
It is bounded on the north by Luberi Territory and Lake Edward. The eastern boundary is the international border with Uganda
, and further south with Rwanda
. To the south is the Nyiragongo Territory, beyond which is the provincial capital of Goma
. To the east is Masisi Territory and Walikale Territory.
The strategically important town of Kanyabayonga
is just north of the territory on the road from Goma
to Butembo
.
The territory includes a large part of the Virunga Mountains
and Virunga National Park
, which includes Mount Mikeno
, an extinct volcano that rises to 14557 feet (4,437 m).
The territory includes Bwito Chiefdom in the mountainous western section and Bwisha Chiefdom in the lower-lying eastern section.
Some parts are forested, others are mostly savanna with occasional trees.
The soil in the south is generally rich and fertile.
The climate is temperate and wet in the mountains, with temperatures between 3 °C (37.4 °F) and 18 °C (64.4 °F).
Average annual rainfall in the south is about 1800 millimetres (70.9 in), with two rainy seasons.
Further north it is drier, warmer and less fertile.
Other economic activities include small-scale trading, brewing of banana beer and logging.
Before the conflicts that started in 1992, most households raised livestock and measured their wealth in terms of heads of cattle.
However, almost all the herds were wiped out during the fighting.
The population is extremely poor, and due to the continued insecurity their farming methods minimize risk rather than maximizing profit. Many of the households are headed by a widow.
There have been incidents where elephants from the Virunga National Park have invaded farmlands in the territory, often causing considerable damage.
Villagers typically retaliate by killing the animals, or getting soldiers to do the job.
The tusks immediately disappear and the elephant is cut up for its meat.
As internally displaced people return, land conflicts have grown to alarming levels.
Conflicts, often between ethnic groups, have always existed.
A number of factors have made the problem worse. At a basic level, there is not enough land to go around.
Also, influential people have obtained large landholdings during the period of conflict, and some of these are members of the military or the government. Many people rely on customary law for their land titles, while the government only recognizes formal land certificates. Some of the better-informed have obtained such certificates, displacing the former users of the land.
The Rwandan Civil War
(1990-1993) followed by the Rwandan Genocide
of 1994 caused many Hutu
refugees to enter the region, while the Congolese Tutsi
population left for Rwanda.
This led to the First Congo War
(1996-1997), followed by the Second Congo War
(1998-2003).
In these wars Rwanda took an active role in supporting rebels opposed to the government, including supplying troops. Rwanda accused the DRC government of supporting the Interahamwe
militia, Hutu
s who had been involved in the genocide.
An interlude of peace began in 2002.
In 2005 violence flared up again when Laurent Nkunda
, an officer in the RCD-Goma rebel group, rejected the authority of the government and retreated with some of the RCD-Goma troops to the Masisi
forests to the west.
This was the start of the long-running Kivu conflict
.
A warrant for Nkunda's arrest on charges of war crimes was issued in September 2005.
In January 2006 his forces attacked and occupied several towns in Rutshuru Territory including Tongo, Bunagana and Rutshuru. The troops looted the towns and raped or killed civilians who were unable to escape.
In October and November 2008 there was severe conflict in the region between government troops and rebels led by Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 250,000 people made homeless.
Nkunda claimed his CNDP
forces were protecting his Tutsi
community from attacks by Hutu
rebels of the FDLR who fled to the DRC after the Rwandan Genocide.
Throughout 2010 there were repeated security incidents.
As of September 2010, camps dotted throughout Rutshuru territory held 77,000 internally displaced people.
On 2 June 2011 the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) launched Operation "Restore Hope" in Rutshuru territory, a concerted drive to suppress violence through 24 hour patrols.
In addition to physical and emotional trauma, the women are at risk of unwanted pregnancies, miscarriages and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Many of the health risks can be reduced if medical treatment is available within 72 hours of an attack.
USAID has funded a number of health centers in the region, providing treatment for various common health problems so that rape victims can obtain local treatment anonymously and at no cost.
Many schools in the region have been closed due to the insecurity. School children avoid going to school for fear of being attacked and forcibly recruited into one of the armed groups. Thirty-seven children were recruited in Rutshuru in October 2008. Boys have to fight while girls become "wives" for the soldiers. Some children have been released and then recruited again more than once.
By November 2008, 85% of the 310 schools in Rutshuru territory were closed. An estimated 150,000 children were out of school.
Territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The provinces and districts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are divided into 192 territories and communes...
in the North Kivu province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC), with headquarters is the town of Rutshuru
Rutshuru
Rutshuru, sometimes called Rushuru, is a town located in the North Kivu province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is headquarters of an administrative district, the Rutshuru Territory. The town lies in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley between Lakes Edward and Kivu...
.
The territory is mountainous, including a large portion of the Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
, famous for its mountain gorillas.
The people of the territory are extremely poor. Since 1992 they have suffered from ongoing violent conflict between different rebel groups and government troops. At its peak in November 2008 an estimated 250,000 people were made homeless. The violence has caused health issues, including the need for treatment after rape, which is common. Children have stayed away from those schools that are open for fear of being kidnapped by armed groups and made to fight.
Location
The territory lies in the western branch of the Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley
The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by British explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trench, approximately in length, that runs from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in South East Africa...
between Lakes Edward
Lake Edward
Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
and Kivu
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika...
.
It is bounded on the north by Luberi Territory and Lake Edward. The eastern boundary is the international border with Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and further south with Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. To the south is the Nyiragongo Territory, beyond which is the provincial capital of Goma
Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
. To the east is Masisi Territory and Walikale Territory.
The strategically important town of Kanyabayonga
Kanyabayonga
Kanyabayonga is a community in Lubero Territory, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The town has suffered from continued violence between the army and rival militias since 1993.-Location:...
is just north of the territory on the road from Goma
Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
to Butembo
Butembo
Butembo is a city in North Kivu, in the north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, lying west of the Virunga National Park. Until the Congo Civil War, it was an important commercial centre with a large market, a cathedral, a small hospital, and an airport, lying in an area known for tea and...
.
The territory includes a large part of the Virunga Mountains
Virunga Mountains
The Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu...
and Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
, which includes Mount Mikeno
Mount Mikeno
Mount Mikeno is a volcanic mountain located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo section of the Virunga Mountains along with Mount Nyiragongo, Mount Nyamuragira, Mount Karisimbi, and Mount Bisoke...
, an extinct volcano that rises to 14557 feet (4,437 m).
The territory includes Bwito Chiefdom in the mountainous western section and Bwisha Chiefdom in the lower-lying eastern section.
Climate
The territory is mountainous, with significant variations in climate from one part to another.Some parts are forested, others are mostly savanna with occasional trees.
The soil in the south is generally rich and fertile.
The climate is temperate and wet in the mountains, with temperatures between 3 °C (37.4 °F) and 18 °C (64.4 °F).
Average annual rainfall in the south is about 1800 millimetres (70.9 in), with two rainy seasons.
Further north it is drier, warmer and less fertile.
Economy
A study of the Bwito district of Rutshuru Territory found that almost all the people lived by agriculture, with most households owning or renting between a half hectare and five hectares of land.Other economic activities include small-scale trading, brewing of banana beer and logging.
Before the conflicts that started in 1992, most households raised livestock and measured their wealth in terms of heads of cattle.
However, almost all the herds were wiped out during the fighting.
The population is extremely poor, and due to the continued insecurity their farming methods minimize risk rather than maximizing profit. Many of the households are headed by a widow.
There have been incidents where elephants from the Virunga National Park have invaded farmlands in the territory, often causing considerable damage.
Villagers typically retaliate by killing the animals, or getting soldiers to do the job.
The tusks immediately disappear and the elephant is cut up for its meat.
As internally displaced people return, land conflicts have grown to alarming levels.
Conflicts, often between ethnic groups, have always existed.
A number of factors have made the problem worse. At a basic level, there is not enough land to go around.
Also, influential people have obtained large landholdings during the period of conflict, and some of these are members of the military or the government. Many people rely on customary law for their land titles, while the government only recognizes formal land certificates. Some of the better-informed have obtained such certificates, displacing the former users of the land.
Security problems
Conflict has afflicted Rutshuru territory since inter-ethnic fighting broke out in 1992-1993.The Rwandan Civil War
Rwandan Civil War
The Rwandan Civil War was a conflict within the Central African nation of Rwanda between the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front...
(1990-1993) followed by the Rwandan Genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
of 1994 caused many Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
refugees to enter the region, while the Congolese Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
population left for Rwanda.
This led to the First Congo War
First Congo War
The First Congo War was a revolution in Zaire that replaced President Mobutu Sésé Seko, a decades-long dictator, with rebel leader Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Destabilization in eastern Zaire that resulted from the Rwandan genocide was the final factor that caused numerous internal and external actors...
(1996-1997), followed by the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
(1998-2003).
In these wars Rwanda took an active role in supporting rebels opposed to the government, including supplying troops. Rwanda accused the DRC government of supporting the Interahamwe
Interahamwe
The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization. The militia enjoyed the backing of the Hutu-led government leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Since the genocide, they have been forced out of Rwanda, and have sought asylum in Congo...
militia, Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
s who had been involved in the genocide.
An interlude of peace began in 2002.
In 2005 violence flared up again when Laurent Nkunda
Laurent Nkunda
Laurent Nkunda or Laurent Nkundabatware, or Laurent Nkunda Batware, or as he prefers to be called The Chairman — is a former General in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is the former warlord operating in the province of Nord-Kivu, sympathetic to Congolese Tutsis and the...
, an officer in the RCD-Goma rebel group, rejected the authority of the government and retreated with some of the RCD-Goma troops to the Masisi
Masisi
Masisi Territory is a territory in the Nord-Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of the places subject to the conflict between the Congolese army and militias, which has plagued the eastern Congo since the ending of the Second Congo War...
forests to the west.
This was the start of the long-running Kivu conflict
Kivu conflict
The Kivu conflict is an armed conflict between the military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Hutu Power group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda . The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo also became involved in the conflict...
.
A warrant for Nkunda's arrest on charges of war crimes was issued in September 2005.
In January 2006 his forces attacked and occupied several towns in Rutshuru Territory including Tongo, Bunagana and Rutshuru. The troops looted the towns and raped or killed civilians who were unable to escape.
In October and November 2008 there was severe conflict in the region between government troops and rebels led by Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 250,000 people made homeless.
Nkunda claimed his CNDP
National Congress for the Defence of the People
The National Congress for the Defence of the People is a political armed militia established by Laurent Nkunda in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2006. The CNDP was engaged in the Kivu conflict, an armed conflict against the military of the Democratic Republic...
forces were protecting his Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
community from attacks by Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
rebels of the FDLR who fled to the DRC after the Rwandan Genocide.
Throughout 2010 there were repeated security incidents.
As of September 2010, camps dotted throughout Rutshuru territory held 77,000 internally displaced people.
On 2 June 2011 the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) launched Operation "Restore Hope" in Rutshuru territory, a concerted drive to suppress violence through 24 hour patrols.
Health and education
Members of the armed groups involved in the conflict frequently rape women and girls as a means of intimidation.In addition to physical and emotional trauma, the women are at risk of unwanted pregnancies, miscarriages and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Many of the health risks can be reduced if medical treatment is available within 72 hours of an attack.
USAID has funded a number of health centers in the region, providing treatment for various common health problems so that rape victims can obtain local treatment anonymously and at no cost.
Many schools in the region have been closed due to the insecurity. School children avoid going to school for fear of being attacked and forcibly recruited into one of the armed groups. Thirty-seven children were recruited in Rutshuru in October 2008. Boys have to fight while girls become "wives" for the soldiers. Some children have been released and then recruited again more than once.
By November 2008, 85% of the 310 schools in Rutshuru territory were closed. An estimated 150,000 children were out of school.