May-May

The May-May , or sometimes Mayi-Mayi , is a general term describing of the active groups armed during the Second war with Congo in Democratic republic with Congo (DRC). The majority were constituted to resist the invasion of the armed forces of the Rwanda and the Congolese rebellious groups close to Rwanda (of which primarily RCD), or sometimes with an aim of armed robbery. Although Kivus were militarized of long time, in particular among the minorities Batembo and Babembe, instability in the area led the inhabitants to constitute the militia May-May. That they are as a group plain or individual groups, the May-May did not form part of the Accord of Lusaka in 1999 officially ratifying a cease-fire and remained one of principal and the most unverifiable forces in the country. The lack of cooperation of certain May-May groups has several times mortgaged the peace process in the country.

Groups taken again under name " May-May " include armed forces directed by lords of war, tribal chiefs traditional, chiefs of village, and political leaders local. Because the May-May missed cohésision and of visibility with regard to the outside world, the various groups were found allied with various regular governments or armed forces at various times. The majority of the May-May however were active in the provinces of the North-Kivu and the South-Kivu, under control of the rebellious forces close to Rwanda of the Congolese Rassemblement for the Democracy - Goma (RCD-Gummed).

The term May-May comes from May or Maji, water in the languages bantoues of the area. It refers to the Révolte Maji Maji intervened in 1905-1907 with the Tanganyika, from which the combatants were protected by the magic properties from water.

May-May in North and the South-Kivu

According to a report/ratio of the the United Nations of 2001, from 20.000 to 30.000 May-May were active in the two provinces of Kivu. The two more important groups of Kivu, also regarded as best organized, are directed by the generals Bulenda Padiri and Lwengamia Dunia. They accepted from the assistance of the regular government of Kinshasa, and are regarded by the other groups as the head of the movement May-May in Kivu. Other smaller May-May groups, such Mudundu 40/Face of Resistance and Defense of Kivu (FRDKI) and the Movement of Fight against the Aggression in Zaire/Plain Forces of National Resistance against the Aggression of Democratic Républíque of Congo (MLAZ/FURNAC), were regarded as co-operators with the soldiers Rwandan and RCD - Gummed.

Walikale and Masisi in the north of Goma were the centers of the activities of the May-May to the North-Kivu. With the South-Kivu, they concentrated in the areas of Walungu and Bunyakiri in the south of the Lac Kivu, around Uvira and Mwenaga at the septentrional end of the Lac Tanganyika, like with Fizi, and Shabunda, between the Rwandan border and Kindu.

May-May apart from Kivu

There is an important May-May presence with the Maniema, in particular with Kindu and Kalemie. The Eastern province point of disjunction also of many May-May, but these groups concern old ethnic confrontations rather.

See too

Internal bonds

Rebellion of Maji-Maji: a popular movement of rebellion against the German occupant between 1905 and 1907 in southernmost the Tanganyika territory (current Tanzania).

External bonds

http://www.congo-mai-mai.net/
Total Security description
Assessment off armed groups in Congo, 1 April 2002

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