Democratic Republic of the Congo: Congolese army regains control of Kipese July 16

Event

The Congolese army announced on Sunday, July 16, that it had successfully regained control of Kipese, a strategic locality in the eastern part of the country, from an invasion the previous day by a local militia, the Maï-Maï Mazembe.

Seven deaths have been reported following clashes between government and militia forces.

Context

Since mid-June 2017, members of the Maï-Maï Mazembe have been trying to take control of strategic areas in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This has led to regular outbursts of violence between militia groups and the Congolese army.

Maï-Maï militias were initially formed by local authorities to defend against Rwandan and Ugandan invasions during the Second Congolese War (1998-2003). Some of these groups have not yet disarmed and continue to perceive themselves as defense forces.

The eastern part of Congo has been plagued by some 20 years of armed conflict, fueled by intra-ethnic differences, control of mineral resources, and regional rivalries. 

Advice

The security situation in the east of the country is extremely volatile. Those present are advised to be extremely vigilant as further violence may flare up without warning.
More generally, individuals in the DRC are advised to exercise caution and maintain a low profile at all times. For various security reasons, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the east and northeast of the country, including South Kivu and North Kivu.