Lemera

Lemera has a long history of conflict and political instability, which has led to ongoing security concerns for its residents and visitors alike. The region has experienced various periods of violence and unrest, with armed groups and militia factions operating in the area and contributing to a general sense of insecurity.[7][8]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Congo Wars ravaged the region, and the Lemera Hospital, located approximately 85 kilometers north of Uvira, stood as the largest hospital in the region. Operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the medical facility served as a military hospital during the First Congo War, providing treatment to injured soldiers and civilians from all over the region. The hospital was renowned for its skilled medical staff and the provision of top-notch medical care. During the Lemera massacre, which marked the beginning of the First Congo War on October 6, 1996, the Banyamulenge armed groups, supported by Rwanda and Uganda, attacked the town, resulting in the loss of several dozen victims. 37 people were killed in the Lemera Hospital, including two members of the medical staff. The armed elements also vandalized the hospital, leaving in their wake a trail of destruction and devastation.[9][10]

Lemera continues to face a range of challenges, including poverty, violence, limited access to healthcare and education, and political instability. These issues have contributed to a difficult living environment for many of the town's residents, with high levels of poverty and few opportunities for economic growth. Additionally, the ongoing political and security concerns in the region have made it challenging for people in Lemera to access essential services and resources, including medical care and education.[11][12][13][14]

On April 29, 2021, the Ngumino, an armed group composed of members of the Banyamulenge community, stole 75 cows from Kanono village in the highlands of the Bafuliiru chieftaincy, located 44 km northwest of Lemera, in the Uvira territory.[15]

In May 2021, the Twigwaneho (a Banyamulenge rebel group) and their allies led by an army deserter Colonel Michel Rukunda alias Makanika attacked the camp of Mai-Mai Biloze Bishambuke fighters in Masango, in the Bijombo Groupement, chiefdom of Bavira. Meanwhile, northeast of Lemera, clashes between Ngumino militiamen and the Mai-Mai coalition and Burundian FNL left seven people dead.[16] These fights took place in the village Kifuni, northeast of the capital of the chiefdom of Bafuliiru.[17][18]  

In early 2022, the re-emergence of the March 23 Movement, which occupies several localities in the east of the country, created tensions in Lemera. Defeated in 2013, the March 23 Movement, whose fighters had taken refuge in Uganda and Rwanda, resumed military activities in 2022, causing several Congolese to flee to Lemera from other regions.[19][20] According to the coordinator of ACMEJ/Katogota, Eric Muvomo, nearly one hundred new cases of displaced children have been received by another NGO “Espace d'amis d'enfance” (EAE) in Kidote, in the middle plateaux of Lemera.[21]