In 1977, following allegations of poor leadership and disloyalty towards the Mobutist regime, the then mwami, Simba Nyamugira Henri, laid down his administrative functions, which were taken over by his eldest son, Ndare Simba. However, Ndare was not customarily designated by the banjoga (the Fuliiru ‘guardians of custom’) because a new chief cannot be enthroned when his predecessor is still alive. In this respect, it is important to note that in the Congo, chiefs have a dual function, recognized by law: they hold both a customary and an administrative position. Hence, at least formally, their authority does not run parallel to the state but has been made an integral part of it. MORE >

In the course of 2015, recruitment for certain factions of the Raia Mutomboki armed group intensified in the area of Bunyakiri, located in Kalehe territory in the province of South Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo). In this blog, Lebon Mulimbi suggests that the reasons for this recent upsurge in recruitment are primarily to be found in the current political context shaped by the upcoming national elections. The ensuing fierce political competition reinforces the use of radical ethnic discourses, which in turn have spread fears among local communities and notably among the Batembo. They worry about the potential ‘invasion’ of Bunyakiri by members of other ethnic groups or neighbouring countries. Such discourses should be understood in... MORE >