Nduma Defense of Congo

The Nduma Defense of Congo (French: Nduma défense du Congo or NDC, also known as Mai-Mai Sheka) is a militia that operates in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the Kivu conflict.[1][2] Mai-Mai groups are militia unique to the eastern DRC, formed ostensibly to defend villages from attacks from Rwandan forces and Rwandan-backed rebel groups. However, Mai-Mai groups have been accused of sexual violence, looting, and fighting all sides including fellow militias, the DRC Army, and the United Nations.[3]

Nduma Defense of Congo
Nduma défense du Congo
Also known asMai-Mai Sheka
LeaderNtabo Ntaberi Sheka (2009-2017)
Mandaima (2017-present)
Foundation2009
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Active regionsNorth Kivu
Major actionsMass rape, murder, sexual slavery, recruitment of child soldiers
Opponents FARDC
MONUSCO
Nduma Defense of Congo-Renovated
Battles and warsKivu conflict

The NDC was formed in 2009 by former minerals trader Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka, an ethnic Nyanga.[1] Sheka claims the group was formed to liberate the mines of Walikale Territory in North Kivu.[1]

According to the United Nations, Sheka commanded a mass rape of at least 387 women, men, and children over a three-day span in Walikale in 2010.[1][4] This was said to be a punishment for the villagers collaborating with Congo government forces.[4] In 2011, Sheka was added to a United Nations Security Council sanctions list and a warrant was issued for his arrest in the DRC.[2] In 2017, Sheka surrendered to the DRC in North Kivu.[4] On 24 November 2020, a military court has sentenced Sheka to life for war crimes including murder, sexual slavery and child soldier recruitment.[5]

On 23 November 2020, the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) announced on its Twitter account that Sheka has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a military operational Court in DRC.[6]

The UN Security Council has documented numerous cases of the NDC recruiting child soldiers. According to a 2014 report, at least 33 children separated from the group.[7] They said their roles included carrying ammunition and acting as talisman, as well as "combatants, cooks, marijuana farmers and tax collectors."[7] The children were held to the group through a mixture of threats to their family or the payment of $10–12 per month.[7]

A 2014 splinter saw the new group NCD-Renouveau created by former NDC deputy Guidon (or Guido).[7][8]

See also

References
  1. "DR Congo: Wanted Rebel's Troops Instill Fear". Human Rights Watch. 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  2. "War crimes fugitive surrenders to UN peacekeepers in DR Congo; UN advocate urges justice for victims". UN News. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  3. Gettleman, Jeffrey (2008-11-20). "Mai Mai Fighters Third Piece in Congo's Violent Puzzle". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  4. "Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka: Rebel leader surrenders to UN". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  6. http://twitter.com/unjhro/status/1330924163297648648. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. "Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
  8. "RDC: le NDC-Rénové du chef Guidon, pointé du doigt dans l'attaque de Buleusa - RFI". RFI Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-08.
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