MWALA, Democratic Republic Of Congo – Armed militias in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are exploiting the conflict between government forces and the M23 rebel group to secure weapons, collect payments and profit from mining operations, raising fears that the violence could spread even after the main fighting ends.
In the small mining village of Mwala in Tanganyika province, around 100 heavily armed militiamen, many originally from neighbouring South Kivu, have established a presence around an artisanal gold mine operated by a Chinese company.
Some of the fighters are teenagers carrying Kalashnikov rifles, while others wield machine guns and rocket launchers, according to local and security sources cited in the report.
The militiamen identify themselves as “wazalendo”, a Swahili term meaning “patriots” used for local fighters supporting government forces against M23.
But residents have a different account of their role, saying the fighters are known mainly for extorting money from villagers rather than protecting them.
M23 Offensive Fuels Spread Of Armed Groups
The M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda according to the report, controls large areas of eastern DRC and has contributed to years of violence and instability in the mineral-rich region.
In December, the group launched an offensive against Uvira in South Kivu, prompting a chaotic withdrawal by government forces and sending weapons and fighters into neighbouring Tanganyika province.
The movement of armed men came as Tanganyika was still recovering from a brutal communal conflict between Pygmy and Bantu communities that killed thousands of people between 2013 and 2019.
Since then, militias have regained influence, with some officially integrated as auxiliaries of the Congolese army and undergoing military training. Others, including the group operating in Mwala, have declared themselves “wazalendo” without formal integration.
Claude, the head of the Mwala militia, said he joined to defend the country and had fought at the front on several occasions.
He said his men were paid between $100 and $150 a month to provide security at the gold mine, but complained that they lacked adequate support.
“We’re hungry, we sleep badly, we buy the weapons and ammunition ourselves, all these efforts are ignored by our authorities,” Claude said.
Abandoned Army Weapons Strengthen Militias
The retreat from Uvira created further opportunities for local militias to acquire weapons.
According to the report, retreating government soldiers left behind weapons, uniforms and ammunition along roads, while some were forcibly disarmed by militias claiming they were prepared to fight in their place.
Village fighters who once relied on bows and arrows are now armed with Cold War-era machine guns and, in some cases, rocket launchers, according to local and security sources.
Tresor Ngabo, a representative of the national disarmament and reintegration programme in Tanganyika, warned that the proliferation of weapons could undermine efforts to restore lasting peace.
He said significant resources had been invested in efforts to end the province’s earlier conflict, but the renewed fighting against M23 had given armed groups fresh momentum.
Although the communal violence ended years ago, Ngabo warned that the groups were now better armed and that any new clashes could be more chaotic.
Militias Impose Road Tolls And Demand Payments
The militias’ influence extends beyond the gold mine, with fighters reportedly collecting tolls from companies travelling through areas they control.
A local mining operator said the Bishambuke militia, to which the Mwala group is affiliated, demands about $1,500 a month from companies passing through its territory.
The group is also known for involvement in the kidnapping of Chinese nationals for ransom, according to the report.
The activities raise concerns for foreign businesses operating in southeastern DRC, where Chinese companies have invested heavily in mining in recent decades.
The discovery of lithium in Tanganyika has also raised hopes of economic growth, given the mineral’s importance in electric vehicle batteries and the expected increase in global demand.
However, persistent insecurity could discourage investors and limit the economic benefits of the province’s mineral resources.
Kalemie Struggles With Displacement And Insecurity
The provincial capital, Kalemie, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, continues to grapple with the effects of earlier communal violence and the arrival of tens of thousands of people fleeing fighting in South Kivu.
Despite recent security operations that local authorities and civil society representatives say have brought a relative lull, reports of armed attacks and robberies persist.
Some armed deserters reportedly break into homes and rob residents at gunpoint after nightfall.
Chirac Issa, a civil society representative, said public confidence in government security forces had eroded and warned that the proliferation of armed groups posed a serious long-term threat.
He questioned whether the government would be able to recover the weapons circulating among militias, even if the war ended.
“Even if the war ends, would the government be able to collect all the weapons? The answer is ‘no’,” Issa said.
His warning reflects a wider concern in Tanganyika: ending the fighting between government forces and M23 may not be enough to restore security if local militias remain heavily armed, financially entrenched and beyond effective state control.
