THE SITUATION IN THE KIVUS

The report argues that conflict in the Kivus is rooted in long-term bad governance and disputes over land and ethnicity, rather than solely foreign intervention. It analyzes the fragmentation of the RCD-G and the structure of Mayi-Mayi militias, emphasizing that sustainable peace requires the unification of the army, the resolution of local land disputes, and improved diplomatic and economic cooperation between the DRC and Rwanda.

• The root cause of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is attributed to years of bad governance under colonial rule, the Mobutu regime, and the period following its collapse, rather than just the arrival of Rwandan refugees.
• Early conflicts in North Kivu, specifically in Masisi and Walikale starting in 1993, were driven by disputes over land and customary rights between the Banyarwanda (mainly Hutu) and indigenous groups like the Hunde and Nyanga.
• The Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie – Goma (RCD-G) is not a unified ideological group but a diverse collection of factions, many of whom joined for personal gain or ethnic interests.
• The Mayi-Mayi militias are more organized than commonly perceived, with most commanders reporting to three primary leaders: General Padiri, General Dunia, or General Masunzu.
• Foreign influence in the Kivus persists, with Rwanda maintaining a prominent role through refugees and the FDLR, while Tanzania serves as a supplier of arms and ammunition via the port of Kigoma.
• The repatriation and disarmament of the FDLR (DDRRR process) is hindered by the FDLR's suspicion of the international community and a lack of active presence and repatriation efforts by the UNHCR on the ground.
• Lasting peace in the region requires a shift in focus from infrastructure and military development toward the establishment of sustainable governance institutions and trust-building between the DRC and Rwanda.

APA

Romkema, H. (n.d.). THE SITUATION IN THE KIVUS. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ROMKEMA.PDF

Chicago

Romkema, Hans. THE SITUATION IN THE KIVUS. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ROMKEMA.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Romkema |first1=Hans |title=THE SITUATION IN THE KIVUS |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ROMKEMA.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{romkemandsituation, author = {Romkema, Hans}, title = {{THE SITUATION IN THE KIVUS}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ROMKEMA.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }