South Kivu (Jimbo la Kivu Kusini; Sud-Kivu) is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[
] Its capital city is Bukavu.
Situated within the Great Rift Valley, South Kivu is bordered by Lake Kivu, Burundi, and Tanzania to the east; Maniema to the west; North Kivu Province to the north; and Tanganyika Province to the south. Covering an extensive area of approximately 65,070 square kilometers (25,120 square miles), it is administratively divided into eight territories and boasts a population of roughly 7,066,400 in 2020.
The province's topography is an amalgamation of geographical features comprising , , , and .
South Kivu is a melting pot of various ethnic groups, including the Shi, Furiiru people, Bembe people, Vira people, Lega people, Nyindu people, Holoholo people, Kabwari language, Hunde people, Nyanga people, Amba people, Swaga, Shu, and Mbuti people. The region is also home to a small fraction of Hutu and Tutsi agro-pastoralists who were transplanted by Belgian colonial authorities in the mid-20th century.
Since the First Congo War, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and civil unrest. During the First and Second Congo Wars, it became a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD).
History
South Kivu Province was created from Sud-Kivu District in 1989, when the existing
Kivu Province was divided into three parts (South Kivu,
North Kivu and
Maniema).
Conflict and insecurity
First Congo War
For three decades, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and violence. Various armed groups and militias have operated in the area, leading to displacement, human rights abuses, and the disruption of essential services.
At the outset of the First Congo War, South Kivu played a key role as a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Its and served as strategic Fortification for the advancing AFDL forces, who aimed to pursue Hutu , particularly the ex-FAR/Interahamwe, while simultaneously seeking to overthrow Mobutu's government. This response was prompted by the mistreatment of Tutsi civilians under Mobutu's regime, which subjected them to arbitrary arrests and detentions conducted by Zairian police and soldiers.
Second Congo War
From late 1997 onwards, the relationship between President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Rwanda and the Tutsi soldiers present in the AFDL deteriorated. Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government faced multiple accusations of marginalizing Tutsi political factions, excluding them from his administration, and displaying preferential treatment toward his
Katanga Province clan.
In July 1998, driven by fears of a coup d'état, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila relieved Rwandan General
James Kabarebe of his position as Chief of Staff of the AFDL, while also issuing an order for the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers to withdraw from Congolese territory.
In response, on 2 August 1998, a faction of Tutsi soldiers mutinied and, with the assistance of the AFDL, the
Banyamulenge militias, the Ugandan army (Ugandan People's Defence Force; UPDF), and the Burundi army (
Forces Armées Burundaises; FAB), launched a rebellion aimed at overthrowing President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.
Within a few weeks, this coalition formed the
Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD) and gained control over major urban centers in
North Kivu and South Kivu, Orientale Province, North Katanga, and even managed to penetrate into the Équateur Province. The war resulted in wide-scale displacement, famine, and a staggering loss of lives. Numerous rebel groups and militias emerged, further intensifying the violence and leading to pervasive
Human rights, including large-scale
and incidents of
sexual violence.
On August 6, 1998, factions of the ANC/RPA/FAB perpetrated a massacre, claiming the lives of numerous civilians in
Uvira, in South Kivu.
As civilians sought shelter or attempted to flee the combat zone, they fell victim to the FAC in confrontations, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. Moreover, on the same day, members of the ANC, the armed wing of the RCD rebel, killed 13 people, including the chief of the
Kiringye area, in the village of
Lwiburule in South Kivu.
Another massacre unfolded as elements of the ANC/RPA claimed the lives of 15 individuals in the vicinity of Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe, all situated in South Kivu. The victims suffered from
Stab wound or were shot near the primary port in Kalundu and at the facilities of SEP Congo.
On August 24, 1998, RCD forces and Rwandan soldiers unleashed a massacre in Kasika and neighboring villages in South Kivu, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 people, as reported by the United Nations Mapping Report.
The majority of the recovered bodies, predominantly
Woman and
, were discovered on the 60-kilometer journey from Kilungutwe village to Kasika.
Prior to their murders, the women were subjected to
rape followed by brutal
disembowelment using
.
From December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, RCD forces committed another massacre, claiming the lives of over 800 civilians, primarily belonging to the
Bembe people, in the small village of Makobola in South Kivu. Many victims endured
machete attacks or were shot at close range, while others met their demise through burning or drowning in nearby rivers.
and young children were callously thrown into deep pit latrines, left to perish, while adults who dared to disobey orders and attempted to escape were met with
.
On May 14, 2000, members of the ANC conducted a massacre resulting in 300 deaths in the village of
Katogota in South Kivu.
The war officially ended in 2003 with the signing of the Sun City Agreement, which aimed to establish a transitional government and promote Peacebuilding in the DRC. However, sporadic violence and conflicts in the region persisted even after the official end of the war.
War and human rights
The
Banyamulenge, who actively aligned themselves with the AFDL and RCD factions throughout the duration of the Second Congo War, have been subject to widespread
Contempt among many Congolese due to their alleged involvement in a range of nefarious activities. These accusations include launching assaults on
and densely populated villages, engaging in civilian executions, and orchestrating acts of
terrorism targeting Zairian civilians across various regions of South and North Kivu. Consequently, a considerable number of Congolese view the Banyamulenge as unwelcome intruders encroaching upon their native territories, thereby intensifying the deep-rooted animosity directed towards them.
The UN estimates that in 2005, approximately 45,000 women were raped in South Kivu.
It forms various armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed armed groups, Banyamulenge armed groups,
Raia Mutomboki,
Mai-Mai, ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) and FDLR. There have been numerous accounts and allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of the Congolese army (
Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo; FARDC) in eastern Congo. The 10th Military Region of the newly established Congolese military, led by General Pacifique Masunzu, whose undisciplined former factional soldiers are responsible for human rights violations due to a continuing culture of impunity for military personnel, compounded by challenging living conditions, inadequate remuneration, and insufficient training.
Masunzu is
Banyamulenge (South Kivu Banyamulenge Tutsi) who broke with the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) back in 2003. He was formerly commander of the 122nd Brigade in the
Minembwe area, who in 2005 rebelled against the authorities in defence of the Congolese Banyamulenge, against harassment and physical abuse. Also previously former second in command of 4th Military Region in
Kasai-Occidental. Africa Confidential said in 2011 that he 'clearly remains implacably opposed to the Rwandan government.'
His deputy Colonel Baudouin Nakabaka is a former
Mai-Mai fighter with close links to the
FDLR. In July 2007, United Nations human rights expert Yakin Erturk called the situation in South Kivu the worst she has ever seen in four years as the global body's special investigator for violence against women. Sexual violence throughout Congo is "rampant," she said, blaming rebel groups, the armed forces and national police. Her statement included that "Frequently women are shot or stabbed in their genital organs, after they are raped. Women, who survived months of enslavement, told me that their tormentors had forced them to eat excrement or the human flesh of murdered relatives."
In June 2014, around 35 people were killed in an attack in the South Kivu village of Mutarule. The attack was apparently part of dispute over cattle.
On 7 August 2015 the 2015 South Kivu earthquake, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, struck north-northeast of Kabare at a depth of .
On July 16, 2020, the Ngumino and Twiganeho militias of the Banyamulenge community perpetrated the Kipupu massacre, which claimed the lives of 220 people in South Kivu village of Kipupu, as reported by provincial lawmakers.
Geography
South Kivu borders the provinces of
North Kivu to the north,
Maniema to the west, and Tanganyika to the south. To the east, it shares borders with
Rwanda,
Burundi and
Tanzania, forming part of the African Great Lakes region.
The province is predominantly
, with the western side of the
Albertine Rift running through its territory.
This creates a series of peaks and valleys, including the Mitumba Mountains and the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, which is home to endangered
and lush
Bamboo.
South Kivu also boasts several notable lakes, including
Lake Kivu and
Lake Tanganyika.
In addition to its mountains and lakes, the province also features a network of
and dense tropical rainforests. The major rivers in the province include the
Ruzizi River, which forms part of the border with
Burundi, and the
Ulindi River, which flows into
Lake Tanganyika.
The rainforests of South Kivu are part of the
Congo Basin, one of the world's largest tropical rainforest systems. These forests are teeming with biodiversity, housing a wide variety of
plant and
Species. They provide habitat for endangered wildlife, including
, forest elephants, and various species of
.
The region is also rich in
, including minerals like
gold,
coltan,
tin, and
tungsten.
Hydrology
South Kivu Province is characterized by numerous
,
, and
that crisscross through its landscapes. The region lies in the center of the African Great Lakes, encompassed by
Lake Kivu towards the west and sharing its border with the Virunga National Park on the east. The
Ruzizi River, one of the longest rivers in the world, flows along the province's eastern edge. Meanwhile, its tributaries—the
Sange River, Kavinvira, Kavimvira, Luvimvi, Luvungi, Luvubu, Luberizi, Runingu, Mulongwe, Kiliba, Kalimabenge, and Lugulu Rivers—run through the verdant terrains, nurturing the surrounding ecosystems and supporting
Agriculture.
The province is home to several lakes, including Lake Tanganyika which serve as critical sources of Fresh water and for diverse Aquatic animal.
Similarly, other areas in South Kivu Province also faced the wrath of floods, including Nyambasha, Bushushu, Rambira, and Nyamukubi in Kalehe Territory. These communities, situated in low-lying areas near rivers and water bodies, are particularly susceptible to the destructive impact of flooding. Heavy rains and rising overwhelm local infrastructure and defenses, causing homes to collapse and forcing residents to flee for safety.
Geology
The province houses many
, including
Mount Kahuzi, Mount Muhi and
Kabobo Massif.
These volcanoes are part of the larger Virunga Mountains, which stretches from
Uganda through
Rwanda and into the DRC. The province also includes parts of the
Albertine Rift, a branch of the larger East African Rift System. This rift valley is characterized by
Plate tectonics that led to the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust, resulting in the formation of deep
and
Escarpment. The rift valley is associated with the presence of lakes, including
Lake Kivu and
Lake Tanganyika, which are major features of the landscape in South Kivu Province.
In addition to volcanic and rift valley formations, the province also contains sedimentary basins. These basins, such as the Lake Kivu Basin, are areas where layers of sediment have accumulated over time. They are important for their mineral resources, including deposits of
,
gold,
copper,
cobalt,
tin,
tantalum and
lithium.
Climate
The province's eastern mountainous region experiences a mild mountain climate with a 3 to 4-month dry season from June to September.
Cities like
Bukavu and
Uvira maintain an average annual temperature of 19 °C, while higher plateaus and mountains, such as
Minembwe and Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, are even cooler, fostering layered and
Grass mountain vegetation.
Conversely, the central and western parts, including territories like Shabunda and Mwenga Territory, feature an equatorial climate dominated by dense equatorial forests, with abundant rainfall throughout the year.
Administrative divisions
Approximate correspondence between historical and current province
| +Approximate correspondence between historical and current province
! colspan=4 | Belgian Congo
! colspan=2 | Republic of the Congo
! colspan=2 | Zaire
! colspan=2 | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|
|
| Bas-Uele | Orientale | Stanleyville | Orientale | Uele | Orientale | Haut-Zaïre | Orientale | Bas-Uele |
| Haut-Uele | Haut-Uele |
| Ituri | Kibali-Ituri | Ituri Province |
| Stanleyville | Haut-Congo | Tshopo |
| Aruwimi |
| Maniema | Costermansville | Kivu | Maniema | Kivu | Maniema |
| Lowa |
| Kivu | Nord-Kivu | Nord-Kivu |
| Kivu-Central | Sud-Kivu |
Administratively, the South Kivu Province is divided into territories, chiefdoms or sectors,
groupements (groupings), and villages:
Territories
Territories serve as the extensive arms of state administration, functioning as representatives of the central government. Each territory within the province is led by a Territorial Administrator and two Assistant Territorial Administrators.
Recognizing the vastness of the territories, administrative management positions are established, headed by resident assistant territorial administrators or administrative management position leaders, aiming to bridge the gap between governance and the governed.
Appointed by the Ministry of the Interior, territorial officials are included in the state's budgetary provisions. While they directly report to the Ministry of the Interior, they are also accountable to the governor, who acts as the representative of both the President in the province and the Ministry of the Interior. The primary role of territorial administrators is to represent the state at the local level and oversee chiefdoms (
collectivités).
South Kivu Province is divided into eight territories:
-
Fizi Territory (15,788 km²), capital Fizi town;
-
Idjwi Territory (281 km²), this is an island in Lake Kivu;
-
Kabare Territory (1,960 km²),
-
Kalehe Territory (5,126 km²),
-
Mwenga Territory (11,172 km²),
-
Shabunda (25,116 km²),
-
Uvira Territory (3,148 km²), capital Uvira town;
-
Walungu (1,800 km²),
Cities
In the legal view, the province has three major cities of importance: Baraka (
Fizi Territory),
Bukavu (Provincial Capital) and
Uvira (
Uvira Territory).
The northern city of
Minova grew exponentially from 1994 through 2012 with a steady influx of refugees as a result of the disruption of the
Rwandan genocide and the First and Second Congo Wars, and continued fighting in the area.
The city of Bukavu has experienced an exponential urban growth since colonial times. Sadiki et al. (2010) report about 620,000 inhabitants for 2008. The population growth rate increased incredibly in 2002 due to the entry of massive population from Goma after the Nyiragongo eruption of 17 January 2002.
Chiefdoms and sectors
Traditional authority is vested in chieftaincies, also known as collectivities (
collectivités) or sectors. The selection of the powerholder within a chiefdom or sector is determined by ethnic traditions and later recognized or formalized by the state, following traditional rules. The leader of a chiefdom carries the honored title of "
mwami" (king). The chiefdom is further subdivided into
Groupements (groupings), which extend the reach of traditional authority to regrouped villages. The village chiefs are responsible for overseeing the administration and governance within their respective areas.
Some of the notable chiefdoms and sectors in South Kivu Province:
Groupements and villages
Health districts
South Kivu is divided into 34 health zones (
zones de santé). These are grouped into five health districts (
districts de santé). These districts do not match the geography of the territories.
Further reading
External links
