Walikale
Encyclopedia
Walikale Territory is a territory
located within the Congolese province of North Kivu
, in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. The locality is situated between Bukavu
and Lubutu (Maniema
Province) on DR Congo National Road No. 2 in the valley of the river Lowa, 135 km to the west of Goma
.
Walikale is rich in cassiterite
, which is refined elsewhere into tin
. As of 2008, Walikale's cassiterite resources were largely controlled by warlord
s empowered by the ongoing Kivu conflict
. Specifically, the renegade FARDC 85th Brigade, under Colonel Samy Matumo, controlled the mine at Bisie
, up to early 2009, when it was replaced by 'accelerated integration' FARDC elements.
The FDLR is continuing its activities in the territory, with May 2009 attacks in Busurungi, in the area bordering South Kivu. Busurungi has around 7,000 inhabitants, spread between the villages of Busurungi, Moka, Nyamimba, Kichanga, Katokoro, Kifuruka, Bunyamisimbwa, Kilambo, Ndaboye, Kahunju,
Tuonane, Kamanyola, Kamaito, Kasebunga and Kitemera.
, with 39.46 % of its surface.
Many armed groupings, often former Interahamwe
or the militias of Laurent Nkunda
, control the forests and have forced a significant proportion of the population into urban settlements. These armed groups often inflict robbery and violence on the local people, as well as engage in hunting and poaching of nominally-protected species.
The territory is composed of various terrestrial and fresh water eco-regions. There are transition forests in the north-east, and wet tropical forests and farmed land in the south-east and from Gilbertiodendron
and Uapaca
to the western edge of the province.
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...
located within the Congolese province of North Kivu
Nord-Kivu
Nord-Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Goma....
, in the eastern regions of the 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...
. The locality is situated between Bukavu
Bukavu
Bukavu is a city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo , lying at the extreme south-eastern extent of Lake Kivu, west of Cyangugu in Rwanda, and separated from it by the outlet of the Ruzizi River. It is the capital of the Sud-Kivu province and as of 2009 it had an estimated population of...
and Lubutu (Maniema
Maniema
Maniema is a province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Kindu.Following the 2005 Constitution , 25 new provinces were to be created from the 10 current provinces within 36 months . As of October 2010, this had not taken place...
Province) on DR Congo National Road No. 2 in the valley of the river Lowa, 135 km to the west 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...
.
Walikale is rich in cassiterite
Cassiterite
Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral, SnO2. It is generally opaque, but it is translucent in thin crystals. Its luster and multiple crystal faces produce a desirable gem...
, which is refined elsewhere into tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
. As of 2008, Walikale's cassiterite resources were largely controlled by warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s empowered by the ongoing 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...
. Specifically, the renegade FARDC 85th Brigade, under Colonel Samy Matumo, controlled the mine at Bisie
Bisie, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Bisie is a township of 10,000 in the Walikale territory, province of North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , an illegal source of an estimated 15,000 tons of tin, or 4% of global production. Bisie was established following the discovery of cassiterite by a hunter, and led to a frenzy...
, up to early 2009, when it was replaced by 'accelerated integration' FARDC elements.
The FDLR is continuing its activities in the territory, with May 2009 attacks in Busurungi, in the area bordering South Kivu. Busurungi has around 7,000 inhabitants, spread between the villages of Busurungi, Moka, Nyamimba, Kichanga, Katokoro, Kifuruka, Bunyamisimbwa, Kilambo, Ndaboye, Kahunju,
Tuonane, Kamanyola, Kamaito, Kasebunga and Kitemera.
Territory
The territory is divided into 2 collectivities: Bakano (4238 km²) and Wanianga (19,237 km²), and comprises 15 'groupements' totalling 90 localites. Walikale is the largest territory in the province of Nord-KivuNord-Kivu
Nord-Kivu is a province bordering Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Goma....
, with 39.46 % of its surface.
Many armed groupings, often former 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...
or the militias of 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...
, control the forests and have forced a significant proportion of the population into urban settlements. These armed groups often inflict robbery and violence on the local people, as well as engage in hunting and poaching of nominally-protected species.
The territory is composed of various terrestrial and fresh water eco-regions. There are transition forests in the north-east, and wet tropical forests and farmed land in the south-east and from Gilbertiodendron
Gilbertiodendron
Gilbertiodendron is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family.It contains the following species:* Gilbertiodendron bilineatum* Gilbertiodendron klainei* Gilbertiodendron pachyanthum* Gilbertiodendron robynsianum...
and Uapaca
Uapaca
Uapaca is a genus of plant, in the family Phyllanthaceae and is the only genus comprised in the subtribe Uapacinae. It comprises about 60 species, of which 49 are confined to continental Africa.-Synonyms:This genus is also known as:...
to the western edge of the province.
Population
The principal peoples of the territory are:- Kano
- Kumu
- Kusu
- HundeHundeThe Hunde are an ethnolinguistic group of about 200,000 people located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Hunde live in the province of Nord-Kivu and the regions of Masisi and Rutshuru. The language of the Hunde is Kihunde, and alternate names are Kobi and Rukobi...
- Tembo
- MbutiMbutiMbuti or Bambuti are one of several indigenous pygmy groups in the Congo region of Africa. Their languages belong to the Central Sudanic and also to Bantu languages.-Overview:...
(PygmiesPygmyPygmy is a term used for various ethnic groups worldwide whose average height is unusually short; anthropologists define pygmy as any group whose adult men grow to less than 150 cm in average height. A member of a slightly taller group is termed "pygmoid." The best known pygmies are the Aka,...
) - Nyanga