Mai-Mai

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with the
Mau-Mau Uprising in Kenya (1952–1960) or the Maji Maji Rebellion in German East Africa (1905–1907). For the variety of the Somali language sometimes known as Mai-Mai, see Maay Maay. For other uses of the term maimai, see Maimai (disambiguation)
.

Mai-Mai fighters surrendering their weapons to United Nations personnel in Northern Katanga, 2006.

The term Mai-Mai or Mayi-Mayi refers to any kind of community-based militia group active in the

cattle rustling or banditry
.

Groups that fall under the umbrella term "Mai-Mai" include armed forces led by warlords, traditional tribal elders, village heads and politically motivated resistance fighters. Because Mai Mai have only the most tenuous internal cohesion, different Mai-Mai groups allied themselves with a variety of domestic and foreign government and guerrilla groups at different times. The term Mai-Mai refers not to any particular movement, affiliation or political objective but to a broad variety of groups.

The name comes from the Swahili word for water, "maji". Militia members sprinkle themselves with water to protect themselves from bullets.[1]

Mai-Mai were particularly active in the eastern Congolese provinces bordering Rwanda,

Babembe ethnic groups, the recent wars and conflicts caused large numbers of town dwellers to form Mai-Mai. Although the Mai-Mai, either as a group or as individual groups, were not party to the 1999 Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement
, which was meant to end the Second Congo War, they remained one of the most powerful forces in the conflict, and the lack of co-operation from some groups has been problematic for the peace process.

Mai-Mai in North and South Kivu

The East-central DRC, showing Kivu
Main article: Kivu conflict

According to a 2001 UN report, 20,000 to 30,000 Mai-Mai were active in the two Kivu provinces. The two most powerful and well-organized Mai-Mai groups in the Kivus were led by Generals Padiri and Dunia. Currently most active is a group which is called Mai-Mai Yakutumba, was organized in 2007 by General Yakutumba. They were reported to have received aid from the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and are widely viewed by other Mai Mai groups as the leaders, though not the commanders, of the Kivu Mai-Mai. A number of smaller Mai-Mai groups, such as the Mudundu 40/Front de Résistance et de Défense du Kivu (FRDKI) and Mouvement de Lutte contre l'Agression au Zaïre/Forces Unies de Résistance Nationale contre l'Agression de la Républíque Démocratique du Congo (MLAZ/FURNAC), were reported to cooperate with the Rwandan military and Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma (RCD-Goma).

Walikale and Masisi north of Goma were the centres of Mai-Mai activity in North Kivu. In South Kivu, there have historically been concentrations around

Shabunda
, between the Rwandan border and Kindu.

A Mai-Mai leader, Colonel Mayele, was arrested by UN forces in October 2010, allegedly being the leader behind mass rapes in the Walikale region of North Kivu province.[2]

Mai-Mai in Katanga

Main article: Mai-Mai Kata Katanga

A former leader of the Mai-Mai,

MONUC troops in May 2006. He was found guilty of numerous war crimes between October 2003 and May 2006 and was sentenced to death by the Kipushi Military Tribunal in Katanga Province on 6 March 2009.[3] He escaped from prison in September 2011 and formed the Mai-Mai Kata Katanga ("Secede Katanga").[4]

Other Mai-Mai groups

There was a large Mai-Mai presence in

Province Orientale
also hosts a number of Mai-Mai, but these groups were apparently involved in long-standing ethnic disputes.

Mai-Mai Gedeon is also commanded by Gedeon Kyungu Mutanga and loosely tied to his Mai-Mai Kata Katanga.[4] The Corak Kata Katanga also known as the Co-ordination for a Referendum on Self-determination for Katanga, composed mainly of former Katanga Tigers, a separatist group active in the 1960s.[4] They claim to be behind the attack on the Katanga airport in February 2011. It is unclear to what extent all these groups are co-ordinated.[4]

The

mass rape of at least 387 women, men, and children over a three-day span in Walikale in 2010.[5]

Mai-Mai in Virunga National Park

In May 2007, Mai-Mai killed two

World Wildlife Foundation.[6]

Six Virunga Park Rangers were killed in an ambush and a seventh ranger was injured in the Central section of the reserve on 10 January 2021. Officials suspected the Mai-Mai to be behind the attacks.[7]

In June 2023, 7 Virunga Park Rangers were killed by local Mai-Mai in the span of 10 days. [8]

See also

References

  1. ^ E.F. Kisangani, S.F. Bobb, Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  2. ^ Congo rebel chief arrested over mass rape – The Irish Times – Thu, Oct 07, 2010
  3. ^ "Kipushi : Kyungu Mutanga alias Gédéon condamné à la peine capitale". Radio Okapi. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "Katanga: Fighting for DR Congo's cash cow to secede". bbcnews.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "DR Congo: Wanted Rebel's Troops Instill Fear". Human Rights Watch. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  6. ^ WWF deeply saddened by death of Virunga park protectors (WWF article)
  7. ^ "Statement from Virunga National Park on recent attack". Virunga National Park. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Statement from Virunga National Park on recent attack". Virunga National Park. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.

External links

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