The landless Mwami

Land is a deeply contested issue that drives individuals and communities to mobilize, and sometimes clash. In certain parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, land is often a cornerstone of a people’s identity. In this country, the Mwami, a customary authority, holds recognized power over clearly defined territories. The Mwami is a traditional chief, also referred to as a customary chief. Today, this title applies to any leader appointed according to local customs, with power that is often hereditary, including the chief of a chiefdom, the head of a group, and the village chief. Politicians and businesspeople frequently make use of this traditional authority. Through these customary leaders, they seek, whether by consent or by force, to obtain rural land at the expense of local farmers who are the rightful landowners. However, farmers’ resistance to the growing scarcity of arable land, pastures, and economically valuable territories has become disconcerting for all involved. The customary chief no longer holds the power to sell land; any such act would be revocable by the community or could trigger violent conflict. It is in this context that new land disputes are emerging in South Kivu Province.