Briefing note for HDP actors in Uvira (August 2025)

The territory of Uvira, located in South Kivu Province in the DRC, is marked by chronic instability fueled by a complex combination of historical, political, ethnic, and security factors. Today, it faces a variety of recurring conflicts—including land disputes, intercommunal conflicts, political conflicts, power struggles, and those related to local governance—which undermine social cohesion, stability, and development.
Intercommunal land disputes persist in the Ruzizi Plain between Barundi and Banyamulenge herders and Bafuliiru farmers. As for intercommunal armed conflicts, they are particularly evident in the groupings located in the high and middle plateaus of Uvira, Fizi, and Itombwe. This area is characterized by intercommunal violence orchestrated by Banyamulenge self-defense militias and Mai-Mai factions belonging to various communities.
Other, more visible conflicts are associated with access to and control of power, as well as with identity-based mobilization. These conflicts are particularly active in the Luberizi, Kakamba, Bijombo, and Kigoma communities.