Briefing note for HDP actors in Shabunda (July 2025)

The Shabunda territory, located in a landlocked area of South Kivu, faces persistent insecurity fueled by the absence of functioning local authorities, the presence of armed groups, and the lack of passable roads. The state’s limited presence encourages criminal activity and exposes the population to extreme vulnerability. This territory is experiencing a complex conflict situation characterized by armed violence, intercommunal tensions, disputes over the administration of local entities, and conflicts related to the control and exploitation of natural resources—particularly gold—with severe humanitarian consequences for the population. This territory is also marked by the presence of several armed groups, particularly the Raïa Mutomboki, who create insecurity and commit abuses against civilians.

Intercommunal tensions between the Bashi mutual aid society (COMUSHI) based in Shabunda and a group of individuals from the Lega community affiliated with the Kimbilikiti movement are ongoing in this territory. As for the conflict over the status of administrative entities, it pits the Wakabango I chiefdom against supporters of the creation of an autonomous sector within the Batali group. This conflict is complex and dates back several years.