Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Mayi-Mayi attack new area of Katanga

LUBUMBASHI, 23 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Relief workers say that fighting between the Congolese army and Mayi-Mayi militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province has spread to a new area south of the town of Mitwaba in recent days, with militiamen there becoming increasingly dangerous and destructive.

"We never saw them this aggressive before," said Phillip Havet, a Medècines Sans Frontiéres (MSF) logistics expert who was in the area last week.

He said the Mayi-Mayi had "completely wiped out" the town of Kyubo, 160 km south of Mitwaba, on 16 January.

"Previously, it was the army that attacked the Mayi-Mayi, but now the Mayi-Mayi are attacking the army first," he said. "Their old strategy when they took a town or village was to kill the soldiers and leave. This time they destroyed everything."

Around 5,000 residents of Kyubo fled in different directions. "Some took the road south; others north. Still others just went into hiding in the bush," Havet added.

The Congolese army in the region launched an offensive in November 2005 to kill or capture one of the main Mayi-Mayi leaders in Katanga, Kyungu Mutanga, who goes by the alias Gedeon.

However, Havet said he did not think the fighters who destroyed Kyubo were under Gedeon's command. "They appear to be a Mayi-Mayi group made up of civilians who have taken up arms against the army to stop them stealing and raping," he said.

The Mayi-Mayi could be moving north, he said, and MSF was prepared to quickly evacuate its team in Mitwaba, where it is assisting more than 25,000 people who were displaced recently.

"We already evacuated our team there in March 2005 for three weeks, and that could very well happen again soon," he said.


Related articles


  1. Moise Katumbi blocked from entering DR Congo (August 3, 2018)
  2. At least 60 killed as train derails in Katanga province (April 23, 2014)
  3. Opposition Supporters Step Up Attacks on Congolese Officials Abroad (February 28, 2012)
  4. Kabila's Senior Advisor Katumba Mwanke Dies in Plane Crash (February 12, 2012)
  5. Supreme Court Rules Joseph Kabila Won Presidential Election (December 16, 2011)
  6. Kabila Leads Partial Election Results (December 3, 2011)
  7. Vote Counting Underway after Mostly Peaceful Elections (November 29, 2011)
  8. Candidates to Make Last Stand in Kinshasa before Monday's Election (November 26, 2011)
  9. Tshisekedi: UDPS Has Never Been for a Joint Opposition Candidacy (November 19, 2011)
  10. On the Campaign Trail, Kabila, Tshisekedi Cross Paths in Eastern Congo (November 15, 2011)
  11. UN advises prudent use of abundant resources to spur development (October 10, 2011)
  12. The Government Will Ensure Peaceful Elections, Says Spokesman (October 6, 2011)
  13. 19,497 Candidates to Run for 500 Seats in Parliament (September 26, 2011)
  14. Kabila's Election Speech Leads to Judges' Strike (September 20, 2011)
  15. Tshisekedi Draws Huge Crowds in Kinshasa (August 10, 2011)
  16. Global Witness welcomes DR Congo's decision to publish resource contracts (June 3, 2011)
  17. Militiamen Sent to Testify in Warlords Trials at ICC (March 28, 2011)
  18. ICC Dismisses Jean-Pierre Bemba's Appeal on Admissibility of His Case (October 19, 2010)
  19. FDLR leader Callixte Mbarushimana arrested in France on ICC warrant (October 11, 2010)
  20. TP Mazembe boss fumes over ban (September 14, 2010)
  21. TP Mazembe boss oozes confidence (September 9, 2010)
  22. ICC orders the release of Thomas Lubanga (July 15, 2010)
  23. ICC rejects Germain Katanga's motion to suspend trial (July 12, 2010)
  24. Lumumba's Family Seeks Justice in Former Congo Prime Minister's Killing (June 22, 2010)
  25. Congo's Resources: Who Benefits? (June 5, 2010)
  26. The ICC signs enforcement agreements with Belgium, Denmark, and Finland (June 1, 2010)
  27. 54 FDLR Rebels Relocated from North Kivu to Katanga (May 4, 2010)
  28. DR Congo bans export of concentrated mineral products from Katanga (April 12, 2010)
  29. Katanga Governor Says Not Running for 2011 Presidential Elections (March 30, 2010)
  30. Brussels Airlines to form a new airline company in DR Congo (December 16, 2009)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.