Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Areas occupied by Ugandan forces; current conflict between Ugandan military and guerrilla group of Mai Mai (Mayi Mayi), including treatment by Ugandan military forces of persons who are suspected of supporting Mai Mai and treatment by Mai Mai of persons who are suspected of supporting Ugandan military forces
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 4 December 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | RDC38111.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Areas occupied by Ugandan forces; current conflict between Ugandan military and guerrilla group of Mai Mai (Mayi Mayi), including treatment by Ugandan military forces of persons who are suspected of supporting Mai Mai and treatment by Mai Mai of persons who are suspected of supporting Ugandan military forces, 4 December 2001, RDC38111.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be9a24.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A map from the 23-29 January 2001 Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent newspaper which is attached to RDC36105.F of 3 February 2001 shows areas occupied by each of the different actors involved in the DRC conflict, including Uganda.
According to 12 June 2001 HRW report,
Beni is the administrative capital of parts of northeastern Congo occupied by Uganda and nominally controlled by the Ugandan-backed rebel Front for the Liberation of Congo (FLC).
A 13 November 2001 Addendum Report by the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo noted that:
Since 12 April 2001, the ceasefire has held along the confrontation line among the parties. Uganda began pulling out some troops and Namibia withdrew almost all its troops. Disengagement to new defensive positions, in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, appears to have been completed. Sporadic fighting nonetheless continued, shifting the conflict towards the east along the border with Rwanda and Burundi and the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Much of the fighting has pitted the Rwandan and Burundi armed groups or "negative forces" and the Congolese Mayi-Mayi militias against the Rwandan Patriotic Army, the Burundi Army and the RCD-Goma rebel forces.
[ ...]
While the effect of the Panel's report and the significant withdrawal of UPDF [Uganda People's Defence Forces] troops have given the impression that the exploitation activities have been reduced, they are in fact continuing. The commercial networks put in place by Ugandan army commanders and their civilian counterparts that were described in the report are still functioning on Oriental Province [of the DRC] and Kampala.
Referring to fighting which erupted around Beni and Butembo (Northern Kivu) between two Congolese rebellion factions, a 30 November 2001 New Vision article noted "that the UPDF has largely pulled out and has just 200 soldiers at Bunia airport."
During a 30 November 2001 telephone interview, a senior researcher in the Africa division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that Uganda still has some army forces in the region of Bunia (Province Oriental) and in Beni (Northern Kivu). However, Uganda can, "any time on its wishes", deploy in any region of the Oriental province and of the Northern Kivu (ibid.).
Speaking about Ugandan forces and Mayi Mayi group conflicts, the HRW representative explained that in the past, especially during the year 2000, clashes erupted between the two forces. However, Uganda is, in general, conducting a proxy war in DRC. A March 2001 Human Rights Watch Report noted that
Ugandan authorities in mid-2000 approved an alliance between RCD-ML leader Mbusa Nyamwisi and Mai-Mai, a local militia hostile to foreign occupiers, and even arranged to provide military training for them. Later, Ugandans rejected the arrangement and began fighting the Mai-Mai. In subsequent conflicts, Ugandan troops captured and summarily executed Mai-Mai combatants. They also attacked local people thought to have aided the Mai-Mai, killing civilians and laying waste their villages.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Human Right Watch (HRW). 30 November 2001. Telephone Interview with a Senior Researcher.
_____. 12 June 2001. "Congo: Rebel Fighting Imperils Beni Residents; Uganda, Rebels Urged to Protect Civilians in Eastern DRC."
_____. 28 March 2001. "Uganda Occupation Worsen Congo's Problems."
New Vision [Kampala]. 30 November 2001. "UN Must Help Bunia."
United Nations, Security Council. 13 November 2001. Addendum Report by the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential 1998-2001.
Africa Research Bulletin 1998-2000.
Info-Congo/Kinshasa [Montréal]. 1998-2001.
IRB Databases.
Info-Congo/Kinshasa 1998-2000.
Jeune Afrique 1998-2000.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie 1998-2000.
World News Connection.
Web sites, including:
AllAfrica.
Amnesty International.
ASADHO.
FIDH.
Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Royaume-Uni.
Médias congolais.
Médias congolais.
MISNA.
Observatoire de l'Afrique centrale.
ReliefWeb.
La Voix des Sans Voix (VSV).