Mai Mai Kata Katanga

Mai Mai Kata Katanga, also called Mai Mai Bakata Katanga,[1] is a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that claims to fight for the independence of Katanga Province.[2] "Kata Katanga" means "secede Katanga" in Swahili.[2] It is led by Gédéon Kyungu Mutanga, who founded it when he escaped from prison in September 2011.[2] On 23 March 2013, more than 200 Kata Katanga rebels entered Lubumbashi, the capital of the province of Katanga.[3] At least 35 people died before they surrendered to the UN.[3] As a result of the conflict, nearly 400,000 people from Katanga live in camps for displaced persons.[2]

In August 2013, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, rescued 82 children, some as young as eight, who had been forcibly recruited to the militia as child soldiers.[4] MONUSCO states a total of 163, including 22 girls, have been freed since the beginning of the year.[4] The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a March 8 report that the humanitarian effects have spread to half of Katanga’s 22 territories.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "82 child soldiers rescued in southeastern Congo, UN says". presstv.com. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Katanga: Fighting for DR Congo's cash cow to secede". bbcnews.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Congo Rebel Attack in Katanga Province Leaves 35 Dead, UN Says". bloomberg.com. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  4. 1 2 "DR Congo unrest: Children freed from militia, says UN". bbcnews.com. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
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