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32-756: Luberizi is a village located in the Luvungi groupement within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom of Uvira Territory , South Kivu Province , in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo . At an elevation of 957 meters, it has a local population of about 25,462. It sits astride the N5 road where it crosses the Luberizi River, nearly midway between Uvira to the south and Bukavu to

64-620: A swift military operation to plagued regions in the Ruzizi Plain as well as in Walungu Territory , Kabare Territory , Kalehe Territory , and Shabunda Territory . Luvungi and its surrounding areas experienced numerous casualties, displacement of locals, and a large-scale exodus of people seeking refuge in the middle plateaus of the Itara-Luvungi groupement . During times of conflict and insecurity in various parts of

96-471: Is a river, 117 kilometres (73 mi) long, that flows from Lake Kivu to Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa , descending from about 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) to about 770 metres (2,530 ft) above sea level over its length. The steepest gradients occur over the first 40 kilometres (25 mi), where hydroelectric dams have been built. Further downstream, the Ruzizi Plain , the floor of

128-533: Is an area with a diverse range of soil types , including sandy , gravelly , black alluvial , and clayey soils, each with unique characteristics that impact agricultural practices and land use . Notably, the area is home to various water bodies , including the Ruvubu River that flows into the Ruzizi River , which contributes to the formation of alluvial deposits along their banks and influences

160-528: Is renowned for its fertile soils , making it an agriculturally productive region. The village is crossed by the Ruvubu River, which flows into the larger Ruzizi River . The Ruvubu River serves as a key waterway , contributing to the agricultural and economic activities of the area. Additionally, the Munyovwe River, a tributary of the Ruvubu, traverses through Luvungi, providing a water source for

192-777: The Lualaba River , a major tributary of the Congo. Rifting, the slow pulling apart of a tectonic plate, has produced the East African Rift system and its many basins and lakes. The system, on the boundary between the African Plate (Nubian Plate) and the Somali Plate , has two branches, both oriented north–south. Rifting in the western branch, called the Albertine Rift , began between 25 and 10 million years ago. The Ruzizi River lies along

224-570: The Virungas , which rose between Lake Kivu and Lake Edward, to the north. Water from Lake Kivu was then forced south down the Ruzizi. This, in turn, raised the level of Lake Tanganyika, which overflowed down the Lukuga River. Variations in uplift and climate have caused the Ruzizi and Lukuga to open and close multiple times since then. The Ruzizi I Hydroelectric Power Station was built at

256-615: The Western Rift Valley , has gentle hills, and the river flows into Lake Tanganyika through a delta , with one or two small channels splitting off from the main channel. The Ruzizi is a young river, formed about 10,000 years ago when volcanism associated with continental rifting created the Virunga Mountains . The mountains blocked Lake Kivu's former outlet to the drainage basin of the Nile and instead forced

288-600: The colonial period , the Belgian administration established chiefdoms as a part of their governance system . Luvungi became a part of the Bafuliru Chiefdom , which was created in 1921. The chiefdoms served as local administrative units representing the central government . Luvungi lies within the Ruzizi Plain , a vast low-lying area extending between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River . The plain

320-407: The groupement . Each village is led by its own local leadership or representatives who work collaboratively with the overall administration of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom . Luvungi groupement is subdivided into 10 villages: The Luvungi groupement , like many other regions in the Ruzizi Plain , has been confronted with various conflicts and security challenges. It has been significantly affected by

352-532: The DRC, sexual violence has been wielded as a weapon to instill fear, exert control, and inflict deep trauma upon individuals and communities. Women , girls , and occasionally even men have endured sexual assault , rape , and other manifestations of gender-based violence . In 2010, approximately 200 women were reportedly victims of mass rape within the Luvungi groupement of the Bafuliiru Chiefdom , despite

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384-654: The Ruzizi IV hydroelectric project. It is expected to provide 287 MW to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Reed swamps are common along the lower main stem of the river and its tributaries. Near the mouth, the riparian swamps are up to 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide. The swamps' total area in Burundi has been estimated at 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) with reeds varying in height from 2 to 4 metres (6.6 to 13.1 ft), depending on

416-743: The Ruzizi River outlet from Lake Kivu in 1958. The Ruzizi II Hydroelectric Power Station was added in 1989. Ruzizi I and II are operated by a tri-national company (Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo) owned by the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries . The consortium is planning two more dams, Ruzizi III and Ruzizi IV . Ruzizi I has a generating capacity of about 30 megawatts (MW) and Ruzizi II about 44 MW. Ruzizi III, to be built downstream of

448-442: The degree of inundation. Residents use the reeds for thatching and other domestic purposes. Further from the river, much of the lower river valley consists of grassland, heavily grazed by cattle. A widely publicized man-eating crocodile, Gustave , roams the banks of the Ruzizi River and the northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. Gustave, estimated to be about 6 metres (20 ft) long and to weigh about 900 kilograms (2,000 lb),

480-518: The direction of flow of the Ruzizi, thought that it might flow north out of the lake toward the White Nile . Their research and follow-up explorations by David Livingstone and Henry Morton Stanley established that this was not the case. The Ruzizi flows into Lake Tanganyika, which overflows into the Lukuga River about 120 kilometres (75 mi) south of Ujiji . The Lukuga flows west into

512-535: The lake overflow south down the Ruzizi and the drainage basin of the Congo . Along its upstream reaches, the river forms part of the border between Rwanda on the east with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on the west. Further downstream, it forms part of the border between the DRC and Burundi , and its lowermost reach lies entirely within Burundi. To the west, the Fizi Baraka mountains tower over

544-461: The landscape. This diversity allows for the cultivation of a wide range of crops , including maize , bush beans , cowpea , cassava , cabbage , potatoes , paddy rice , carrots , soybeans , amaranth , onions , bananas , and spring onions , rendering Luvungi and its environs renowned as one of the country's best-stocked granaries. The Luvungi groupement (grouping) is subdivided into several smaller units commonly known as villages within

576-663: The local inhabitants. Luvungi, similar to many areas in the South Kivu Province , encounters a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons all year round. The rainy season spans for about nine months, starting from September and stretching until May, with frequent rainfall. Conversely, Luvungi experiences a three-month dry season from June to August, significantly reducing the precipitation levels . The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 940 millimeters (Pmm), which contributes to its fertile soil and agricultural productivity . Luvungi

608-524: The loss of over 60 lives. In the midst of World War I, specifically on January 12, 1915, Luvungi experienced a raid by German forces originating from Ruanda-Urundi in present-day Burundi . The incursion occurred within the broader context of the East African Campaign . Despite being a relatively small-scale operation, the raid resulted in German defeat, and their commander, Karl Schimmer,

640-521: The middle and high plateaus to the Ruzizi Plain . Prior to the arrival of the Belgians , the Bafuliiru Chiefdom was under the reign of Mwami Kalingishi, a member of the Bahamba clan of Fulliru people . As the king, Kalingishi held significant authority, and all power was concentrated within the ruling family . This consolidation of power extended to the various groups known as "Baluzi". During

672-480: The name "Luvungi" could potentially be a regional adaptation or modification of another name. The name might have derived from the river "Luvubu," while the local farmers referred to it as "Iyombe." The historical and cultural importance of the name likely stems from the indigenous customs and heritage of the Fuliru community. Until 1904, the Itara-Luvungi groupement was under the administration of Uvira , which

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704-405: The north. The village of Mutarule , the scene of the 2014 South Kivu attack , is located nearby. This Democratic Republic of the Congo location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Luvungi The precise meaning or origin of the name "Luvungi" is not explicitly specified in the colonial records. According to a report conducted by SERACOB for Uvira Territory ,

736-541: The other two, is projected to have a capacity of 145 MW when it becomes operational in about 2027. As part of the Ruzizi III project, Ruzizi I and II are to be refurbished. If eventually built, Ruzizi IV will be positioned between Ruzizi II and Ruzizi III and is projected to operate at more than 200 MW. On January 16, 2020, the African Development Bank allocated €8 million for technical assistance on

768-617: The presence of United Nations peacekeepers nearby. Margot Wallstrom , addressing the United Nations Security Council , expressed her shock and condemnation, deeming these acts as "unimaginable and unacceptable" upon discovering the possible involvement of Congolese government soldiers as perpetrators. 2°52′S 29°02′E  /  2.86°S 29.03°E  / -2.86; 29.03 Ruzizi River The Ruzizi (also sometimes spelled Rusizi , French : Rivière Ruzizi ; Dutch : Ruzizi Rivier )

800-664: The presence of various armed groups, encompassing both local militias and foreign factions. On October 20, 1996, during the First Congo War , Luvungi experienced a massacre when the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB) units targeted the refugee camps in Bafuliiru Chiefdom . Approximately 100 Burundian and Rwandan Hutu refugees were killed in Luvungi refugee camps. On

832-561: The river. The Bridge of Concord, Burundi's longest bridge, crosses the river near its mouth . Tributaries of the Ruzizi River include the Nyamagana , Muhira , Kaburantwa , Kagunuzi , Rubyiro and Ruhwa , among others. The Ruzizi River, flowing south into Lake Tanganyika, is part of the upper watershed of the Congo River. Nineteenth-century British explorers such as Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke , uncertain of

864-813: The same day, the AFDL/APR/FAB units also killed an unknown number of refugees, including around twenty in the camp's hospital in Kanganiro camp in Bafuliiru Chiefdom. Additionally, they targeted and killed an unknown number of refugees who sought shelter in the homes of Zairian civilians in Luvingi. Moving forward to October 21, 1996, the AFDL/RPA/FAB units resumed their violence, killing an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, as well as Zairian civilians who were attempting to flee

896-660: The two towns. In the Second Congo War , with the emergence of the Rally for Congolese Democracy ( Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie ; RCD), conflicts in the Ruzizi Plain escalated following the power shift and the coalition formed by the Banyamulenge and Barundi against the Bafuliiru , particularly in Luvungi and Sange . The RCD forces took control of certain provincial mineral resources, leading to

928-631: The village after the departure of the Zairian Armed Forces (FAZ) in Lubarika village, located in the Luvungi groupement of Bafuliiru Chiefdom. The soldiers forced local residents to bury the bodies in four large mass graves . Incidentally, on the same day, around 370 refugees were killed in Luberizi and Mutarule by the AFDL/RPA/FAB units. The victims' bodies were disposed of in pit latrines , while others were discovered in houses in

960-401: The western rift, which includes, from north to south, lakes Albert , George , Edward , Kivu, Tanganyika, Rukwa , Malawi , and others. Uplift associated with the rifting altered the connections among the region's water bodies. About 13,000 to 9,000 years ago, volcanic activity blocked Lake Kivu's former outlet to the watershed of the Nile . The volcanism produced mountains, including

992-587: Was governed by the Congo Free State . In the 1910s, the region served as a major battleground for various European powers vying for control. On September 29, 1913, the Germans initiated an attack against the Belgians . Following a fierce conflict enduring fourteen hours, the fighting remained inconclusive, leading the Germans to retreat. The aftermath of the battle left behind abandoned equipment and

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1024-401: Was killed. In 1920, a post station was officially established under the leadership of J. Cunds. Thereupon, negotiations took place between Chief Kabwika and the territorial authorities to address the administrative challenges encountered in Luvungi. The newly established post witnessed rapid stability and progress. Infrastructure development, including road construction, attracted settlers from

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