Mapping Report > Section I. Most serious violations > CHAPTER III. The Second War > A. Attacks directed at Tutsi civilians > North Kivu & Orientale Province

North Kivu

When the second war broke out, in August 1998, the troops in the 10th brigade of the FAC mutinied and the town of Goma fell into the hands of the RCD without any real fighting. On 14 September, however, the Mayi-Mayi and ex-FAR/Interahamwe launched an attack on several neighbourhoods in the town.

• On 14 September 1998, a number of ex-FAR/Interahamwe allegedly killed over 100 civilians in Goma, including numerous Tutsis, primarily women and children. In particular, the ex-FAR/Interahamwe killed around ten minors and an unknown number of women, all of Tutsi ethnicity, in an orphanage in the Katindo neighbourhood. They also killed civilians in the same neighbourhood, in whose homes Tutsis displaced by the war had been staying shortly before the attack. The victims were either shot or beaten to death with a studded baton. Their bodies were buried in the cemetery in Goma by the Red Cross.⁴⁹¹

Orientale Province

Between 31 July and 1 August 1998, following the decision taken by President Kabila to send the APR troops back home, the Rwandan troops stationed in Kisangani were sent to Bangboka airport. Some of the soldiers refused to get on the planes, however, and remained at the airport where there were also soldiers from the ex-FAZ waiting to leave for the retraining centre at the Kamina base in Katanga. After the outbreak of the second war, on 2 August 1998, fighting broke out over control of Bangboka airport by the APR troops and the FAC who had remained loyal to President Kabila (the Tigres Katangais and the Mayi-Mayi incorporated into the FAC). As a result of the ex-FAZ rallying to the cause of President Kabila, the FAC managed to retain control of the town and the airport and prevent the APR from sending in reinforcements by plane. On 21 August, however, ANC/APR/UPDF soldiers launched a land-based operation along the Lubutu highway. Following intense fighting, the FAC were forced to leave Kisangani and on 23 August, the town passed into the hands of the ANC/APR/UPDF troops.

• Between 2 and 23 August 1998, the security services, the Police nationale congolaise (PNC) and FAC loyal to President Kabila and civilians recruited into the self-defence militias allegedly killed at least several tens of Tutsis and people of Rwandan origin or with a physical resemblance to them. Some victims were stoned or killed with edged weapons, particularly in the working-class municipalities of Mangobo and Kabondo. In some cases, the police intervened to protect victims in danger. In other cases, the victims were taken to private homes to be tortured and executed. Their bodies were either thrown into the River Congo or buried in mass graves around Simi-Simi airport, close to the Governor’s residence. At the time of the arrests, the security forces and militias also systematically pillaged the victims’ property.⁴⁹⁸

Persecution of Tutsis and Rwandans in general took place in several other towns in Orientale Province. As an example, the Mapping Team was able to document the following case.

• On the night of 28 to 29 August 1998, the FAC allegedly killed six Tutsi civilians, 13 kilometres south of Isiro at the bridge over the River Neva, in the Rungu region. The victims had been accused of colluding with the APR. Their bodies were then thrown into the river.⁴⁹⁹