Armed groups in the eastern Congo are like brooms in Disney’s (Goethe) Sorcerer’s Apprentice: They just seem to keep multiplying. This is my effort to come up with a decent list of armed groups in the Kivus.
| SAMPLE OF MOST IMPORTANT ARMED GROUPS | ||||
| CNDP | (split) Gen Bosco Taganda Gen Laurent Nkunda Philippe Gafishi Col Sultan Makenga | 3,000-4,000 integrated 1,000-2,000 unitegrated | Control the Masisi highlands between Ngungu and Mweso | Protect Tutsi community Protect interests of local elites (land, cows, businesses) |
| FDLR | Gen Sylvestre Mudacumura | 3,000-4,000 | Deployed in rural areas throughout rural South and North Kivu and Maniema. | Extract resources, maintain ideology overthrowing RPF but little hope |
| ACPLS | Gen Janvier Buingo Comd Innocent Balume Comd Innocent Dunga | 500-2,000 | Centered around Nyabiondo, western Masisi. | Protect local Hunde community, in particular against ex-CNDP troops. |
| Mai-Mai Cheka | Colonel Cheka | 50-200 | Based around Mubi and Njigala, Walikale | Benefit from taxation rackets and put pressure on mining companies workin in the Bisie mine. |
| PARECO | Gen Ntasibanga ? | 300-1,000 | Lubero/Masisi territory | |
| FPLC | “Gen.” Gadi Ngabo | 200-500 | In Rutshuru territory and Uganda | Galvanize former CNDP officers, obtain backing from Uganda. |
| UJPS | Tumai Byamungu, official in ministry of interior | 500-1,000 | No permanently located troops, mostly within FARDC | Mostly kadogo from the AFDL era, multi-ethnic |
| Mai-Mai Mongol | Bigembe Nturinkukiko Felicien Miganda Dieudonne Shobora | 500-1,500 | In southern Masisi | Composed of Hutu Partially integrated into FARDC |
| Mai-Mai Kifuafua | Colonel Delphin Mbaende Didier Bitaki Colonel Akilimali | 300-1,000 | In southern Masisi territory | Partially integrated into FARDC Mostly Hunde and Tembo |
| Mai-Mai Simba | Colonel Marhegane | 100-200 (?) | Around Miti, Kabare territory | A split off from the former Mudundu 40 group |
| FRF | Gen Venant Bisogo Gen Michel Rukunda | 100-300 | In Biabo forest, Fizi territory | |
| Mai Mai Yakutumba | Col Yakutumba | 150-250 | Around Baraka, Fizi territory | Strong anti-Tutsi ideology Collaboration with FDLR Mostly from Bembe community |
| Raia Mutomboki | Political representative: Gilbert Ngongo of South Kivu provincial assembly | 100-1,000 | Shabunda territory | A self-defense group with little capacity that lies dormant most of the time |
| Jeshi la Uma | 100-300 | Shabunda territory | ||
| Mai Mai Zabuloni | Colonel Zabuloni (now in Bukavu, leadership struggle) | 50-150 | Rusizi plains, moyen plateau of Uvira territory | Little coherent ideology Soldier mostly from Fuliro community |
| Mai Mai Kirikicho | Colonel Kirikicho | 50-200 (?) | In high plateau of Kalehe territory, Bunyakiri | Declared over 1,300 combatants but none entered integration process Poorly organized and disciplined |
| Mai Mai Nyakiriba | Colonel Nyakiriba | 100-200 | Around Kasika, Mwenga territory | Not very active |
| Mai Mai Kapopo | Colonel Kapopo | 200-400 | Around Miki, Mwenga territory | Not very active |
| Mai-Mai Kyatende | “General” Kyatende Dittman | 50-200 | Southern Shabunda | Kyatende was the manager of the Muungano soccer team in Bukavu and was married to a German women before he decided to start an armed rebellion in 2010. |