MS Kalashnikov: Female fighters in Congolese rebel groups

[Dotworld]

MS Kalashnikov | Female fighters in Congolese rebel groups..In contemporary African wars women continue to play a variety of crucial roles, and yet they remain invisible to the world.

Colonel Fanette Umuraza is pictured at M23 headquarters in northern Kivu. A 32-year-old with a university degree in political science, she vehemently champions the ideology of M23's military chief Sultani Makenga, having worked her way up to serve as his right-hand woman.

M23 Major Fanette Rwagati, dancing with Local women in Kibumba

M23 Major Fanette Rwagati

Colonel Fanette Umuraza, 32 years old. Fanette joined M23 having previously fought in the CNDP, M23’s predecessor. She says she chose these rebel groups because she shares their ideology. M23 press conference following fighting over internal divisions. Kibumba, (territory controlled by rebel group M23), North Kivu, DRC

Umuraza says she wants to free the women of Congo from their role as victims. The fact that rebel groups have been repeatedly accused of committing rapes seems contradictory, though.​

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Boflo Bujibuji Safari_ni_Safari Preta saudari watu8 Ndibalema Paloma Chimunguru MadameX Kongosho MziziMkavu sakapal donlucchese farkhina Ndahani Erickb52 Baba V Wilbert1974 Kaunga Blaine Elli Arushaone Makanyaga omujubi mwaJ stineriga Bujibuji Heaven on Earth Amavubi mimi49 afrodenzi Sikonge Elizabeth Dominic Mentor King'asti Abdulhalim Bigirita C6 marejesho englibertm Money Stunna Ab-Titchaz Doppelganger

 

[Dotworld]

Since 2012, Major Mathilde Samba has been serving the rebel group M23 alongside her husband.

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At the age of just 31, Major Mathilde Samba (right) already has years of military experience. After serving in the Congolese army for 13 years, she defected in November 2012 and joined M23. Here, she is shown with her husband, Colonel Jean-Marie Labila, 49.

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Major Mathilde Samba, 31 years old, during a M23 police show. Mathilde has been in the Congolese army for 10 years. She defected in November 2012, joining M23 with her husband and sending her daughters to Kinshasa. M23 compound, Rutshuru, (territory controlled by rebel group M23), North Kivu, DRC

Since 2012, Major Mathilde Samba has been serving the rebel group M23 alongside her husband.

Major Mathilde Samba, 31 years old. Mathilde has been in the Congolese army for 10 years. She defected in November 2012, joining M23 with her husband and sending her daughters to Kinshasa. M23 compound, Rutshuru, (territory controlled by rebel group M23), North Kivu, DRC

 

[Dotworld]

Marimakile Kiakimuakisubua has also experienced violent attacks against family members. As a member of Mai Mai Shetani, she hopes to exact revenge.

Female members of the rebel group Mai Mai Shetani are pictured here patrolling fields in Kivu. The group's name, which translates to "Water Water," is a reference to a ritual whereby fighters are doused with "holy" water, making them invincible.

 

[Dotworld]

Major Masika Ngheleza Queen, a 26-year-old with a degree in business and accounting, left rebel group Mai Mai Lafontaine in 2012. She was severely beaten as a result of her decision to join M23.

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In her room, Major Masika Ngheleza Queen has hung a picture of her younger sister Denadine to remind her of home.

 

[Dotworld]

From left to right: Captain Liliane Katiwa (age not declared) Lieutenant Marimakile Kiakimuakisubua (age not declared) Major Francine Kanier (age not declared) Lieutenant Kanieremervè Uivin, 16 years old, Lieutenant Rehema Rahijya (age not declared) Mai Mai Shetani/FPD, Nyamilima, North Kivu, DRC

Mai Mai Shetani/FDP, Buramba military base, Nyamilima, North Kivu, DRC

Though the exact number of female members of the rebel groups in unknown, it is clear that many do not join the militants' ranks of their own free will. Often, women and girls are forced to join the rebel groups after being kidnapped.

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Mai Mai - Shetani

Lieutenant Rehema Rahijya doesn’t know her date of birth. She has got malaria at the moment but she is not taking any drugs. She was born in Nyamilima. She joined Mai Mai Shetani/FDP one year ago after some criminals attacked her family: they raped her sister, the goats and then they stole the animals. She doesn’t want to get married and she thinks in the future she won’t find any job because she has been a fighter. Buramba military base, Nyamilima, North Kivu, DRC

 

[Dotworld]

Kanieremervè Uivin, 16, is the eldest member of her family. Her father was killed by a rival militant group several years ago, and her aunt was raped, prompting Uivin to join the Mai Mai Shetani rebels. She dreams of returning to school to finish her studies.

Liliane Katiwa, who is pictured here at the Buramba military base, dreams about having a normal life and a normal job.

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[Erickb52]

Dah nimestaajabu sana aisee
Wadada wako simple tu aisee lol

 

[Mentor]

Major..Captain..yani wanajiita tu ma vyeo wasiyokuwa nayo wakati wako plain begani! Ni sawa na kina prf jay wetu huku bongo!!!

 

[Obama wa Bongo]

duh! ngoja na mimi niende ninaweza kuitwa brigadea,major general , field marshall obama wa bongo!
hasa hawa waasi wanaojiita MAI MAI SHETANI

 

[JokaKuu]

..kuna watoto wa miaka 16 hapo.

 

[Cheche Mtungi]

Dotworld
===>Na wewe ulikuwepo nini kwenye kundi hili kama M23?
===>Cheo chako kilikuwa nani?Major General?General?
===>Tatizo la majeshi ya msituni kama haya huwa yanakosa ujuzi wa kitaalum wa kivita ila wanakuwa wazoefu sana hasa wa mazingira wanayoishi,
===>Na ni wakatili sana hawa,wanaweza kukuchoma singe ya tumbo bila hata kufikiria
===>Kifupi kwenye zile Gorila Fighting hawa ni wabaya sana.

 

[Ndibalema]

hivi hao wadada wanaweza mtiti?

 

[Determinantor]

sasas huyu unaanzaje kutungoza maana akichomoa hicho ki- "Aden Rage" chake hapo kiunoni ndio mwisho wa tongozo......sipati picha sasa eti ndio umemvua nguo huyo utajiona shujaa kishenzi. Binafsi huwa napenda sana kutembea na Mjeshi wa Traffic wa Kike yaani najiskia ujiko sana kwamba pamoja na mavyeo yake yote hayo nimemchojoa

 

[Ryaro wa Ryaro]

Hii ni Migambo tu hakuna lolote wala chochote. Ndo maana M-23 walivyosikia JWT wanaingia frontline kupambana nao wakajua wamekwisha. Maana hapa kwa akili za kawaida hata za kiraia si rahisi watoto hao wa keke kuwa na ranks za juu kama wanavyojihita. Cheo bila mafuzo ya kijeshi yoyote ni ushenzi tu. Eti major, reutenant, captain;Hakuna kitu hapo, labda hii inaweza kuwashitua raia lakini kwa mtu anayejua mambo ya kijeshi ni ushenzi tu huo; kwa kuwapa vyeo hivyo hao watoto wa kike ni wazi kwamba ni Mademu wa Makamando wa M-23. Labda wangeweza kutumia neno MS Kalashnikov ( Simple Machine gun-SMG) kama nickname maana wameonekana kushika Kalashnikov; Hao wote migambo wa kike wa M-23.Ndg zangu vyeo vya jeshi havipatikani kiurahisi kama hivyo unavyowaona hao watoto wa kike waliokuwa kidnapped na M-23 bila ridhaa yao.

 

[Rugishar]

Major..Captain..yani wanajiita tu ma vyeo wasiyokuwa nayo wakati wako plain begani! Ni sawa na kina prf jay wetu huku bongo!!!

Mkuu nakubali na wewe!! Kanali, Major, Captain, ...... Wote hawa katika JWTZ hakuna angekuwa zaidi ya Privite!! Inaonyesha jinsi hawamajangili walivyokuwa greedy!!

 

[Ndahani]

Thanks Dotworld. Do they know you have impenetrated them? Like all great spies they world have seen in the past,lol! Ndio maana wanakula kichapo sana

 

[englibertm]

Hii kitu inanikumbusha enzi zangu nilifanya kazi jeshini lakini mimi nilikuwa nafanya kazi kama raia.

 

[mde asali]

Duuuu......huruma sana......

 

[IWILL]

Major..Captain..yani wanajiita tu ma vyeo wasiyokuwa nayo wakati wako plain begani! Ni sawa na kina prf jay wetu huku bongo!!!

au sawa na ''Doctor'' Kikwete na Mengi......wewe kaa na kubusubiri mtoto wa mwinyi, na akina le malecela na wajinga wajinga wengine wakuongoze...chukua uamuzi binafsi wa kujikomboa.

sio lazima uchangie jf.

 

[Mr. Samson]

Nasikitika sana kwamba warembo hawa walidanganywa wakaingia kichwakichwa kwenye mapigano wasojua sababu, chanzo wala hatima yake, sasa wakati niandikapo comment hii nahisi wengi wao wameuawa kwa makombora ya jeshi la serikali waloichokoza yakisaidiwa na majeshi ya nchi rafiki na wapenda amani; kama wamenusurika kifo, watakuwa mafichoni wakiomba Mungu serikali na jeshi la DRC wawaonee huruma! Wako wapi walowadanganya, wakawanunulia sare, siraha, chakula, na kuwalipa vijiposho vya uongo na kweli ili tu wao waendelee kuchuma rasilimali za DRC? Nadhani rafiki ya JK, Mr. PK (shame on him) huko aliko haamini kilichowatokea M23, kama ana akili awashauri wavue magwanda rasmi na kurudia maisha ya kiraia, wakaungane na waCongo wenzao kuijenga nchi yao, vita kamwe si suruhisho la matatizo yao! Na kwa upande wake Mr. PK, namshauri aache uroho wa mali za jirani zake, na aache ndoto za kutaka kuwa "superior race in the region"