DRC—[Mai-Mai]

MIL

Justification for SCS

The Mai-Mai are one of eastern Congo’s rebel groups. They are a non-state actor that possesses weapons and engages in combat.

Stakeholder size (number of people)

In theory, the Mai-Mai soldiers have been integrated into the FARC. Yet, some groups still operate autonomously. Their size is approximately 1,100 to 2,100 troops.

Area of Influence
a. Geographic area

Northeast Katanga, South Kivu, Maniema provinces, west of Lake Tanganyika:
• General Dunia, based on Ubware peninsula, South Kivu, with 500-1,000 troops;
• Colonel Alunda, based in Mwenga, South Kivu, with 200-300 troops;
• Lieutenant-Colonel Nakiliba, based in Kasika, South Kivu, with 200-400 troops;
• Colonle Zabuloni, based outside of Makobola, South Kivu, with 100-200 troops;
• Major Kave, based in Bunyatenge, North Kivu, with 100-200 troops
b. Population subsets

The Mai-Mai are especially strong among the Bembe and Tembo peoples of South Kivu and northeast Katanga.

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders?
• General Dunia, based on Ubware peninsula, South Kivu, with 500-1,000 troops;
• Colonel Alunda, based in Mwenga, South Kivu, with 200-300 troops;
• Lieutenant-Colonel Nakiliba, based in Kasika, South Kivu, with 200-400 troops;
• Colonle Zabuloni, based outside of Makobola, South Kivu, with 100-200 troops;
• Major Kave, based in Bunyatenge, North Kivu, with 100-200 troops.
b. What does the organizational structure look like?
Mai-Mai units exhibit very little in the way of formal military organisation on a national or strategic level but can be cohesive and well co-ordinated forces at the local level.

Financial Resources (if applicable)
a. List activities that generate cash flow

Probably smuggling and looting, informal funding from Congolese government to strengthen Mai-Mai against Rwandan invasion – this might have stopped after the signing of the accord with Rwanda to stop supporting rebel groups.

b. Income from activities
unkown

Military Resources (if applicable)
a. What arms do they possess
Several 81 mm and 120 mm mortars through raids on RCD and Rwandan army positions. Most of these weapons have either been sold or turned over to the FARDC. The remaining renegade groups usually have less sophisticated weaponry, with some Katangan Mai-Mai still using bows and spears.
They are decidedly low-tech, relying almost wholly on captured weapons and homemade conversions.


Provide a short history of the stakeholder group
a. What is their origin?

Having first appeared as a rebel group in the 60s, with conflicts breaking out in the Kivus in the early 90s, the Mai-Mai militia reappeared as a community self-defense force, designed to defend against the Banyamulenge (Congolese Tutsi). Then during the Congo war, the Mai-Mai stepped up attacks against the Rwandan army in North and South Kivu, claiming to be defending the population against the Tutsi invasion and aligning with the FDLR. Although this alliance broke down after the second Congo war, lately there are reports of joint attacks of the Mai-Mai and the FDLR.

b. How have they changed?
Most troops have been disarmed or integrated into the FARD. Yet, some units still operate independently from each other in the Kivus. They are informally supported by the government to fight Nkunda.

c. What are their future goals?
The Mai-Mai militia are presently in an alliance with the FDLR against Nkunda, claiming to protect Congolese against Tutsi aggression .