Katogota

Katogota
Village
Village Katogota
The production of cassava in Katogota, April 2023
The production of cassava in Katogota, April 2023
Country Democratic Republic of the Congo
ProvinceSouth Kivu
TerritoryUvira
ChiefdomBafuliiru
GroupementItara-Luvungi
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)

Katogota is a village located in the Itara-Luvungi grouping within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Situated approximately 60 km south of Bukavu, Katogota is in close proximity to the Kamonyi and Rusagara villages, near the border regions of Rwanda and Burundi.

Subsistence agriculture is the region's most significant economic activity and mainstay.[1][2][3] The primary agricultural commodities include cassava, corn, paddy rice, tomato, palm oil, bean, banana, and groundnut.[4][5][6] Geologically, the area features lateritic and black soils, particularly along the Ruzizi River, which possess clayey characteristics.[4]

The region is infamous for the massacre that occurred during the Second Congo War in May 2000, claiming more than 300 lives. The widespread ramifications of the massacre have etched its name in the nation's annals.[7][8]

Katogota massacre and security problems

Monument of the Katogota massacre, was erected on the road in the village to commemorate the 375 victims.

On May 14, 2000, members of the ANC (the armed wing of the rebel group Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie) reportedly killed more than 300 civilians in Katogota.[9] According to the United Nations Mapping Report, the attackers were members of the Rwandan and Burundian armies, along with troops aligned with the Banyamulenge ethnic group—Congolese Tutsis based predominantly in the east of the country—who played a key role in the uprising against Laurent-Désiré Kabila.[10][11][12] Arriving in Katogota aboard a truck, the rebels embarked on a sinister rampage, methodically perpetrating massacres in each household. The defenseless and terror-stricken villagers became victims of ruthless gunfire, while others met a gruesome fate as their homes were set ablaze, consuming them in flames. The exact number of casualties remains difficult to estimate as the rebels deliberately obstructed access to the village for several days, disposing of numerous bodies by burning them or callously casting them into the depths of the Ruzizi River.[13][14] Some survivors recount the harrowing tales of their loved ones, whose lives were tragically cut short, their throats brutally slit before being cast into the Ruzizi River to obliterate any traces of their existence.[15] The motive behind the massacre stemmed from the demise of an ANC commander, purportedly ambushed by elements affiliated with CNDD-FDD, which ultimately catalyzed the violent reprisal.[16]

In the aftermath of the massacre, Eric Muvomo, the chief of the Katogota village, erected a monument to commemorate the 375 victims.[17][18] May 14 was chosen to commemorate the date on which 375 people were brutally killed. Many remembered their loved ones, parents, and children, all of whom met a tragic end at the hands of assailants.[19][20]

On May 3, 2020, Bope Yezu, a FARDC soldier of the 341st Rapid Reaction Battalion (Bataillon de Réaction Rapide), shot and killed his company commander for withholding a roadmap from Katogota to Uvira.[21] He was subsequently arrested on May 4, 2020, while fleeing in Kamanyola, near Walungu Territory.[22] The body of the deceased officer was sent to the morgue of the Bukavu General Hospital in anticipation of the funeral ceremonies.[23]

Climate

The Katogota village belongs to the equatorial climate with abundant rains covering the months of September to May with an average annual rainfall varying between 1500 mm and 2000 mm and average temperatures undergoing progressive modifications decreasing as the weather increases. Two main seasons characterize Katogota: the rainy and dry seasons.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ Udomkun, P.; Mutegi, C.; Wossen, T.; Atehnkeng, J.; Nabahungu, N. L.; Njukwe, E.; Vanlauwe, B.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2018). "Occurrence of aflatoxin in agricultural produce from local markets in Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo". Food Science & Nutrition. 6 (8): 2227–2238. doi:10.1002/fsn3.787. PMC 6261206. S2CID 54443639.
  2. ^ "Sud-Kivu : les agriculteurs de Katogota se plaignent du manque des produits phytosanitaires". Radio Okapi (in French). 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. ^ PrunelleRDC, La (2020-08-03). "Plaine de la Ruzizi: baisse du niveau de production agricole à Katogota et le Gouvernement appelé à intervenir". La PrunelleRDC (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  4. ^ a b Udomkun, P.; Mutegi, C.; Wossen, T.; Atehnkeng, J.; Nabahungu, N. L.; Njukwe, E.; Vanlauwe, B.; Bandyopadhyay, R. (2018). "Occurrence of aflatoxin in agricultural produce from local markets in Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo". Food Science & Nutrition. 6 (8): 2227–2238. doi:10.1002/fsn3.787. PMC 6261206. S2CID 54443639.
  5. ^ "Sud-Kivu: les agriculteurs de Katogota se plaignent du manque des produits phytosanitaires" [South Kivu: Katogota farmers complain about lack of plant protection products]. Radio Okapi (in French). 18 February 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Uvira: les vaches ravagent 60 hectares des champs de manioc" [Uvira: Cows ravage 60 hectares of cassava fields]. Radio Okapi (in French). 6 August 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Rampant Human Rights Abuses and Occupation of the DRC by Foreign Armies". Human Rights Watch. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. ^ "REPORT CLAIMS REBELS MASSACRE 300 IN CONGO". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida, United States. 21 May 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ Migabo, Blaise Pascal Zirim (8 May 2020). "Le massacre de Katogota-Makobola au Sud-Kivu: à quand la justice pour les victimes?" [The Katogota-Makobola massacre in South Kivu: when will there be justice for the victims?]. Mediapart (in French). Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  10. ^ Sabuni, Abel Mukunde (2007). "Bilan humain des conflits armés et ses conséquences sur le développement du territoire d'Uvira de 1996 à 2005" (in French). Bukavu, South Kivu Province: Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. ^ "BBC Cover-Up of a Massacre" (PDF). British Broadcasting Corporation. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Report: Congo rebels slaughter 300". United Press International. Boca Raton, Florida, United States. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Katogota: Commémoration du 20 ième anniversaire du massacre de plus de 300 personnes". Kivu Times. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  14. ^ "19 ans déjà après le massacre de Katogota dans le territoire d'uvira au Sud-Kivu" [19 years already after the Katogota massacre in the Uvira territory of South Kivu]. Ongea-Yaga (in French). 14 May 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Sud-Kivu: "Ce jour-là, ils ont tiré sur toute ma famille, sous le lit" Témoignage d'un rescapé du massacre de Katogota". Reporter les infos en toute indépendance et avec professionalisme (in French). 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  16. ^ "15 mai, Katogota dans la province du Sud-Kivu - Commémoration du 22ieme anniversaire de massacre de 350 civils" [15 May, Katogota in South Kivu province – Commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the massacre of 350 civilians]. Ndenga News (in French). 15 May 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Sud-Kivu: Le chef du village de Katogota vient de lancer les travaux de construction de mémorial des victimes du massacre de Katogota". Radio-Congoshare.net (in French). April 17, 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  18. ^ Rodier, Simon; Alimasi, A. (May 16, 2022). "RDC : commémoration pour les 375 victimes du massacre de Katogota". TV5MONDE Afrique (in French). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  19. ^ Wakul'itete, Mazambi M'penge (17 May 2016). "Katogota-RDC: 16e Anniversaire du massacre" [Katogota-RDC: 16th Anniversary of the Massacre]. Uvira Online. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  20. ^ "21 ans du massacre de Katogota: "l'impunité est la plus grande tragédie en RDC" (Denis Mukwege)". Mediacongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Uvira: un officier des FARDC tué par balle à Katogota" [Uvira: FARDC officer shot dead in Katogota]. Radio Okapi (in French). 4 May 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Sud-Kivu : arrestation du soldat auteur du meurtre d'un officier supérieur des FARDC à Katogota". Radio Okapi (in French). 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  23. ^ "Sud-Kivu: arrestation du soldat auteur du meurtre d'un officier supérieur des FARDC à Katogota" [South Kivu: Arrest of the soldier responsible for the murder of a senior FARDC officer in Katogota]. Radio Okapi (in French). 5 May 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  24. ^ Ilunga, L. (2006). "Etude des sites majeurs d'érosion à Uvira (R.D. Congo)" (PDF). Geo-Eco-Trop. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katogota