The Kasaï region (also referred to as the Greater Kasaï region , Greater Kasaï , Grand Kasaï , or simply Kasaï ) is a geographic and cultural region in south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo . Once a single province , it now comprises the provinces of Kasaï Province , Kasaï-Central , Sankuru , Kasaï-Oriental , and Lomami Province . It shares its name with the Kasai River .
5-775: Bana Mura is an armed militant group active in the Kasaï region of the Democratic Republic of Congo . It mostly recruits ethnic Chokwe , Pende , and Tetela , and is supported by the Congolese government. According to the United Nations , the group destroyed approximately 20 villages over the span of two months in 2017. Zeid Raad Hussein of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has stated that
10-560: The Kasaï region has been a stronghold for the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party. As an opposition stronghold, it experienced both political and economic marginalization by the central government. This long-running resentment of the central government's remoteness and corruption exploded into a rebellion , triggered by the official rejection of a local chief, Kamwina Nsapu, who in August 2016
15-611: The group was created and armed by the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to counter the Kamwina Nsapu rebellion . The group has been accused of committing numerous atrocities, including massacring civilians. The group has reportedly committed attacked civilians belonging to the Luba and Lulua ethnic groups. Bana Mura members have also enslaved civilians, forcing them to work on their farms. Kasa%C3%AF region Historically,
20-417: Was elevated to the five current provinces. In spring 2017, long-running resentment of central government 's remoteness and corruption exploded into a rebellion, triggered by official rejection of a local chief, Kamwina Nsapu, who in August was killed by security forces. In the fighting that followed, nearly 1.4 million people were displaced, among them around 850,000 children, leading to a hunger crisis across
25-467: Was killed by security forces. After UDPS candidate Félix Tshisekedi 's victory in the 2018 presidential election , most militia members surrendered and returned to their communities of origin. Until 2015 Kasai region was divided administratively into two provinces, Kasai-Occidental and Kasai-Oriental . After 2015, the former Districts within these provinces were in some cases combined with cities that had been independently administered, and their status
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