Kitchanga, also known as Kitshanga, is a town and a camp for Congolese Internally Displaced People (IDPs) strategically positioned between Masisi and Rutshuru territories of the North Kivu Province, with a vantage point overlooking Lake Kivu in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1][2] Administratively, the Masisi part of Kitchanga functions as a larger urban center and the capital of the Bashali Chiefdom,[3][4][5][6] while the other part is situated in the Bwito Chiefdom of the Rutshuru Territory.[7] Geographically, Kitchanga is located approximately 90 km northwest of Goma and 10 kilometers north of Burungu, in close proximity to the villages of Kizimba and Budey.[3][8][9] As of 2015, the population of Kitchanga was estimated at 18,927 for the Masisi Territory part and 25,157 for the Rutshuru Territory, excluding the populace within the displaced sites of Kahe and Mungote adjacent to Kitchanga in the Masisi Territory.[10]
During the 1990s, Kitchanga experienced a rapid demographic surge. The region's infrastructure evolved with the construction of wooden, brick, and multi-storey houses, coupled with the development of roads, utilities, and a diversified local economy comprising various commercial enterprises, positioning Kitchanga as one of eastern DRC's burgeoning cities and boomtowns.[11] The predominant economic activity is subsistence agriculture, with local agrarians producing crops such as maize, beans, potatoes, and assorted vegetables.[1][12][13][14]Animal husbandry also constitutes a pivotal component of the local economy. It provides a source of income along with dairy products, meat, and ancillary by-products for local consumption and commerce.[15][16][17] Kitchanga also hosts various service-oriented businesses, including healthcare facilities,[18][19]educational institutions,[20][21] and hospitality establishments.[22][23]
Since the First Congo War, Kitchanga has been affected by the protracted conflict that has engulfed the region, becoming a site of violence and mass displacement.[24][25][26][27] On 20 November 2012, the M23 rebel military group seized control over significant portions of North Kivu Province, eventually capturing the provincial capital of Goma.[28][29] The M23's reign was characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including the conscription of child soldiers, sexual violence against women and girls, and the forced displacement of civilians. Consequently, Kitchanga has become a shelter for those fleeing violence while concurrently functioning as a contested town, a rebel stronghold, and combat zone.[1][30][31][32]
^ abc"Zone autour de Kitchanga"(PDF). Search for Common Ground (in French). Washington, D.C. October 2014. p. 9. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
^"Analyse de Conflit: Zone autour de Kitchanga" [Conflict Analysis: Area around Kitchanga] (PDF). Sfcg.org (in French). Search for Common Ground. October 2014. p. 9. Retrieved June 16, 2024.