Kamanyola is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Ngweshe Chiefdom of the Walungu Territory. It is located in the Ruzizi Plain in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sharing a border with Rwanda and Burundi. Kamanyola stands at a height of 901 meters and is closely situated to the suburb of Mwaro and the village of Mubombo.[2][3][4]
Kamanyola | |
|---|---|
| Groupement de Kamanyola | |
 A farmer harvesting food crops in Kamanyola in the Ruzizi Plain | |
| Country |  DR Congo |
| Province | South Kivu |
| Territory | Walungu |
| Chiefdom | Ngweshe |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 56,040 |
| • Density | 208/km2 (540/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Geographically, the region is surrounded by various natural features: to the north-east lies the Ruzizi River, which separates it from the prefecture of Cyangugu in Rwanda; to the northwest are the Mitumba Mountains; to the south is the Luvinvi River, which acts as a boundary with the Itara-Luvungi groupement in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom; and to the southeast, the Ruzizi River separates it from the commune of Rugombo in the Cibitoki Province of northwestern Burundi.[3][2]
Geography
Kamanyola covers an area of 7.8 km2 and shares its border with Rwanda. The Kamanyola groupement is situated to the south of Bukavu, extending between 20° east longitude and 20° 24' south latitude, with altitudes ranging from 1000 to 1200 meters at its highest point.[2][5] Kamanyola experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by two main seasons. The dry season spans from the beginning of June to August, while the rainy season sees irregular rainfall, with precipitation levels ranging between 800 and 1000 mm per year and temperatures varying between 15°C and 28°C.[6][7]
The vegetation in Kamanyola is predominantly grassy savannah and wooded savannah, but it has suffered from numerous detrimental anthropogenic activities such as excessive afforestation and bushfires, resulting in significant degradation.[6][8][9][10] The soil composition varies across different areas: along the river, there is a recent alluvial type; in depressions and along the river, a clay-sandy type; on hillsides, a gravelly type composed of pebbles; and on uplands and slopes, a red sandy-clay type.[5]
Hydrographically, the Ruzizi River dominates the region, but Kamanyola also boasts several other watercourses, including the Ruvubu River in the south, originating from the high mountains of Dazibao and merging into the Ruzizi River, which itself originates from Lake Kivu and flows into Lake Tanganyika. Additionally, there are seasonal streams that only flow during the rainy season, exemplified by Nyamurabamurbha.[11][5]
History
Pre-colonial and epoch of independence
Historically, Kamanyola was home to the Bashi people, a significant populace of Bantu heterogeneous ethnic group residing in the territories of Walungu, Kabare, Mwenga, Kalehe, and Uvira.[12][13] The region was a border town and historic lieu where the Zairian army (Forces Armées Zaïroises [FAZ]) landed a key victory against the Mulelist insurgency in 1964.[14][15][16]
Massacres of Hutu refugees
During the Rwandan Genocide, which displaced millions of Hutu civilians and provoked retaliatory carnage, Kamanyola housed many surviving Hutu refugees as well as ex-FAR/Interahamwe elements and Burundian CNDD-FDD rebels who fled to Walungu Territory in the eastern part of Zaire, fleeing RPA (Rwandan Patriotic Army)[17][18]
The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated the number of refugees at 307,499 people, divided between 26 camps: Kamanyola, Izirangabo, Karabangira, Nyangezi, Nyantende, Muku and Mushweshwe south of Bukavu, Bideka, Chimanga (Burhale), Bulonge (a camp not recognized by UNHCR), Nyamirangwe and Chabarhabe to the west of the city, Panzi, Nyakavogo, Mudaka/Murhala, INERA [National Institute for Agricultural Studies and Research], ADI-Kivu [Action pour le Integrated Development in Kivu], Kashusha, Katana, Kalehe, Kabira, north of Bukavu and Chondo, Chayo, Bugarula, Maugwere and Karama on the island of Idjwi.[19] In October 1996, AFDL/APR units from Bwegera and the Rwandan town of Bugarama attacked the Kamanyola refugee camp, in Walungu territory, killing an unknown number of Zairian refugees and civilians.[20][21] The soldiers then threw the bodies of the victims into the latrines of camp.[22]
Apart from Walungu and Kabare, lethal abuses against refugees continued in other areas of South Kivu. The DRC Mapping Exercise Report published in August 2010 nevertheless points out that refugee camps located along the border with Rwanda and Burundi have been used as rear bases and military training camps.[23][22]
2017 Incident
On September 15, 2017, 39 Burundians were killed, and a hundred others were injured as a result of clashes with FARDC in Kamanyola in the Walungu Territory, South Kivu.[24] Most of these Burundians left Burundi to take refuge in eastern DRC after the March 12, 2013 incidents in Businde, in the Kayanza Province (North), where clashes between the Burundian national police and the faithful of Eusebie Ngendakumana, left six dead and 40 injured.[25][26] Ngendakumana managed to cross the border into the eastern part of the DRC with her supporters. On 12 and 13 September 2017, four Burundians were detained by the police and brought to the National Intelligence Agency (Agence Nationale de Renseignements; ANR) for conducting such night patrols bearing clubs. Fearing these four would be forcefully repatriated, fellow Burundians marched in front of the Congolese ANR's office in Kamanyola, demanding the release of four Burundian detainees.[27][28] According to Justin Bitakwira, former government Minister and member of the National Assembly, these were not Burundian refugees or asylum seekers, but a group armed with weapons of war who fought with a Congolese army patrol.[29][30]
Bitakwira stated:
"There is no refugee camp in Kamanyola. It was found that for a while, some of these people allowed themselves to patrol at night with edged weapons. We caught four of them and wanted to transfer them to Uvira so that they could go home. Women, children and old people came to attack the intelligence office to destroy it.""The FARDC came to the rescue and they shot our commander again. You can imagine the reaction of a soldier who finds himself in front of a civilian who has already snatched weapons! In self-defense as it was night, they started shooting".[30]
The security services suspected them of making bladed weapons in their residence. They also alleged that an AK-47 rifle was found among the Burundian demonstrators who shot and killed two Congolese soldiers and injured others.[29] The rally deteriorated and resulted in an affront, first with the throwing of stones at the police, then with guns after the intervention of the FARDC.[31] As a result, Congolese security forces repeatedly shot at nearly 2,000 asylum seekers who were demonstrating, killing 37 and wounding others.[24]
Economy
Subsistence agriculture is the largest economic activity in the town, driving development and involving more than 85% of the population.[32] Often geared towards self-consumption, the main food crops are maize, banana, cassava, corn, rice, tomato, and groundnuts. Kamanyola is not a productive hub, although some agricultural activities exist, some local initiatives (agro-food products), small artisanal production units, and informal activities raising small livestock and poultry.[33][34][35] The exchange of goods and services primarily takes place through commercial transactions in local markets. The populace also conducts transactions with neighboring areas such as Bugarama in Rwanda, Rugombo in the prefecture of Cibitoke in Burundi, Itara-Luvungi groupement, Lubarika, Sange, Kiringye, and Bukavu, among others.[5] The region is also known for its extensive mineral reserves with numerous mining firms established operating in the sector.[36][37]