Makobola massacre
| Makobola massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of Second Congo War | |
| Location | Makobola, Fizi Territory, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Date | December 30, 1998 – January 2, 1999 |
Attack type | Massacre, ethnic cleansing, arson, sexual violence |
| Deaths | 800 civilians killed per UN Mapping Report |
| Victim | Bembe people |
| Perpetrators | Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) |
| Motive | Allegations that the local population had provided support to the Mai Mai rebels and the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila. |
The Makobola massacre (French: Massacre de Makobola) occurred from December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, in the small village of Makobola, located approximately 15 kilometers south of Uvira, on the border between Fizi Territory and Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie; RCD), a predominantly Tutsi Rwandan-backed armed group led by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, killed over 800 civilians, largely belonging to the Babembe community.
The Makobola massacre is a somber chapter in the DRC. It stands as a sobering reminder of the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for swift action to address the underlying issues plaguing the eastern region of the DRC. The families of the victims continue to seek justice and accountability.