Eastern DR Congo Research Articles

Rapid Urbanization and Environment Management in Nkafu Municipality, Eastern DR Congo

Rapid Urbanization and Environment Management in Nkafu Municipality, Eastern DR Congo

Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes (LULC) in the North Talihya River Watershed (Lubero Territory, Eastern DR Congo)

On the Equator, the Talihya North watershed is a vast area of nearly 581.7 km2 that extends from the Cool Highlands on the Congo-Nile Crest in Lubero Territory to the Rift Valley in the Virunga National Park in Beni Territory. This vast territory has an agropastoral vocation. Indeed, agricultural activities combined with the high population density in this watershed generate modifications in the landscape structure. The objective of this paper is to study the dynamics of land use from 1987 to 2020. To achieve this, two Landsat TM+ and ETM+ images and one Sentinel-2 image were analyzed. After the classification of the images based on the Maximum Likelihood algorithm, this study shows that two processes are evident in the landscape of the North Talihya watershed: deforestation and savannization. Forests that occupied 253.11 km2 in 1987 have decreased to 201.12 km2 in 2001 and to 123.04 km2 in 2020. These area balances indicate that the natural forest formations in the North Talihya watershed have been converted primarily to croplands and fallows. The estimated annual deforestation rate between 1987 and 2020 is 2.18%. With this high rate of deforestation, mechanisms to restore degraded forest ecosystems in this watershed will need to be put in place. The sustainable management of residual forest ecosystems that have escaped human pressure is necessary for the conservation of biodiversity for future generations.

Hysterosalpingographic, ultrasonographic and clinical profile of infertile women in Butembo, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

infertility is a reproductive health issue in modern society. In developing countries, ultrasonography and hysterosalpingography (HSG) are first-line exams investigating infertility in women. It is a highly reported issue in Africa and is linked to abnormalities diagnosed by medical imagery investigations. Our research aimed to evaluate ultrasonography and HSG usage in female infertility investigation in eastern DR Congo, and to point out the most frequent lesions in infertile women in this area. it was a cross-sectional research. It included 1024 patients in four equipped hospitals with HSG and ultrasonography, who consulted from January 1st, 2019 up to December 31st, 2021. Data were collected from consultation dossiers and imagery protocols. of 1024 patients, the mean age was 30.85±5.05 years, 41.79 % (n=428) had primary infertility and 57.71% (n=591) had secondary infertility with parity ranges 1.28±1.25, abortion 1.17±1.33. HSG usage rate was 26.85% (n=275) whereas ultrasonography was 66.01%(n=749). The prevalent diagnosed lesions were uterine myomas 10.51 % (n=71), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 8.28%(n=56), endometrial dysplasia 7.99% (n=54), ovarian cysts 5.03% (n=34) at ultrasonography and tubal obstructions 53.45 %(n=147), hydrosalpinx 4.73% (n=13), cervical impotence 3.27% (n=9), uterine synechias 2.55%(n=7), müllerian abnomalies 2.55%(n=7), uterine retroversion 2.18% (n=6) at HSG. History of upper genital infection was a risk factor aOR= 3.71, 95%CI 1,55-8,88; p <0.001 for tubal obstruction to HSG. regarding the high prevalence of tubal and uterine abnormalities in infertile women of eastern DR Congo, ultrasonography, and HSG should be more performed exams in clinical practice in low-income countries.

Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal in an Unstable SocioPolitical Area: The Case of Eastern of the Democratic Republic Congo

The purpose of this research was to identify factors that affect the resistance of the population of eastern DR Congo to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Therefore, quantitative research based on primary data obtained from a survey was conducted in North Kivu Province. The questionnaire had 35 items with 410 respondents. After processing of the data, 318 records were retained. There were 151 women (48.55%) and 160 men (51.45%). Using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the authors shifted from 35 items to 6 main factors affecting vaccine resistance when they used Cronbach's Alpha test for each rotated factor. Cronbach's Alpha test for the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.67; the Bartlett test was 2490.79, and the KMO test was 0.70. Total cumulative variance was 30.1% explained by the six retained which are Psycho-medical background, Demographic, Social origin, Lack of trust in government actions, Previous issues about the Ebola vaccine in North Kivu, and Socio-political belonging.

Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the South Talihya Watershed North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The anthropization of forest ecosystems has become a major environmental problem with negative impacts on biodiversity around the world. Responding to such a problem requires monitoring land use. Thus, this study aims to analyze the Spatio-temporal dynamics of land use (LULC) to implement effective management strategies for forest ecosystems in the South Talihya watershed in eastern DR Congo. For this, a diachronic study of Landsat TM+ satellite images from 1987 and 2001 and Sentinel-2 from 2020 was used. The results revealed that natural formations have regressed in favor of croplands and fallow mosaics in the Talihya South watershed. The forests which occupied 183.68 km2 in 1987, decreased to 140.94 km2 in 2001 and 108.2 km2 in 2020. Bare lands and buildings represented 87.54 km2 in 2020 against 115.33 km2 in 2001 and 58 .63 km2 in 1987. The current state of land use indicates that Crop lands, fallows, and pastures occupy a high surface area compared to forests and bare lands and buildings. These Crop lands, fallows, and pastures occupied 317.88 km2 in 1987, 303.74 km2 in 2001, and 373.34 km2 in 2020. The observed changes result from overexploitation of resources characterized by the expansion of agricultural lands and tree logging. The annual deforestation rate calculated from forested areas of Talihya South watershed between dates t0 (1987) and t1 (2020) was 1.60%. In view of these results, participatory land use planning is a way to ensure sustainable management of the existing residual forests in this watershed.

Level of screening for and vaccination against hepatitis B among healthcare workers in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a public health concern

SummaryBackgroundIn low resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa healthcare workers (HCW) have a high risk of contracting hepatitis B infection. Vaccination of HCWs is to protect them from acquisition of hepatitis B from patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological and vaccination status of HCWs in the Butembo Antenna in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) and to investigate the factors influencing hepatitis screening and vaccination.MethodsA cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was carried out from 1st to 30th April 2021 among consenting HCWs in Butembo (≥18 years of age). Data was analysed using SPSS version 23.ResultsOf 373 participants, 178 (47.7%) had already been screened for HBV. Screening was more likely for HCWs in a rural or publicly owned facility (P<0.05). A total of 25 (6.7%) HCWs were fully vaccinated against HBV; the factors associated with full vaccination were: prior screening for HBV (odds ratio: 9.03 (2.51–38.61), P<0.0001), prior knowledge of the value of post-exposure prophylaxis (odds ratio 12.9 (2.89–80.44), P=0.0004), prior knowledge of hepatitis B vaccine benefits (adjusted odds ratio: 4.54 (1.66–13.05), P=0.002) and prior exposure to hepatitis B infection (adjusted odds ratio: 2.61 (1.08–6.39), P=0.039).ConclusionScreening and vaccination rates of HCWs for HBV are extremely low, and not high enough to prevent the spread of this serious illness and its complications. There is a dire need to increase vaccination rates among HCWs in Eastern DR Congo. The DRC government should issue vaccination against HBV as a recommendation at the national level.

Smallholder farmers’ perception and challenges toward the use of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts in livestock feeding systems in Eastern DR Congo

The extent of crop residues and agricultural byproducts utilization for their integration in feeding systems in Eastern DR Congo was assessed in South-Kivu (Walungu territoire) and two territoires in the Tanganyika province (Kalemie and Moba territoires). Data were collected through 21 focus group discussions in which 273 farmers participated including respectively 116 (42%) from South Kivu and 157 (58%) from Tanganyika province. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors influencing the adoption of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts as livestock feeds. Results revealed that all the respondents keep goats and chicken as major livestock. In all the territoires, crop residues (26.9%) were utilized more than agro-industrial byproducts (6.4%). Both crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were most utilized in Walungu (39%, 10.3%), compared to Moba (18.3%, 6.2%) and Kalemie (23.4%, 2.7%). Sixteen types of crop residues and eight agro-industrial byproducts were identified and categorized into cereal crop residues (4), legume crop residues (4), root crop residues (3), fruit crop residues (3) and other crop residues (2). These crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were generally sourced from around the homesteads and available and utilized throughout the year. They were often fed to livestock twice daily. The main constraints affecting adoption of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts were access to information, lack of knowledge, poor infrastructures, high cost of transportation of material, storage and conservation facilities, the toxicity of material and plant diseases, high cost of products, microbial infestation and the insufficient supply of the material. Improving the utilization of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts in the livestock feeding system in these territoires should tackle the above mentioned factors for sufficient utilization.

Uncontrolled urbanization and expected unclogging of Congolese cities: Case of Bukavu city, Eastern DR Congo

This study was conducted to contribute to improvement and sustainable development of Congolese cities, particularly Bukavu city. GIS and Remote Sensing technics were used to estimate the built-up suitable areas in Bukavu taking into account the slopes, rivers, exclusion zones, protected zones, lakes, roads, identified landslides areas, erosion and flooding. These exclusion areas were subtracted from the total city area to determine the suitable areas. 2030 and 2050 population projections were made based on 2016 estimations. The results obtained show that only 68.6% (∼29.7 km2) are suitable for built-up. Based on 2016 estimation, the population will double by 2030 and triple by 2050. While the areas that can be developed for settlements can accommodate only ∼186 000 people, the surplus will be relocated in two selected satellite cities, namely Nyatende and Miti-Murhesa centres, having ∼38 and ∼125 km2 of suitable areas, respectively. Both vertical and horizontal development with an average plot size of 350 m2 would reduce the negative impacts and ensure a sustainable city environment. To maintain the sustainability of Bukavu and its former name of “green city”, both horizontal and mixed extensions will be considered while the two selected zones have to be well planned for new satellites cities and new Bukavu city development.

Severe Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms Among Ebola Virus Disease Survivors and Healthcare Workers in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Eastern DR Congo.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors and healthcare workers (HCWs) face stress, fear, and stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic that can induce severe symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We examined the prevalence and factors related to severe PTSD and anxiety symptoms, using a representative sample of survivors of the 2018–2020 EVD epidemic in DR Congo in comparison HCWs. Five hundred sixty-three participants (55.25% women, 309 survivors, 202 HCWs, and 52 HCWs and survivors) completed questionnaires assessing anxiety, PTSD, exposure to EVD and COVID-19, stigmatization related to EVD and COVID-19, interpersonal traumas, social support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 45.6 and 75.0% of survivors and HCWs reported severe symptoms of PTSD and anxiety. Significant difference was observed among the three groups for both PTSD (53.7% survivors, 37.1% HCWs, and 30.8% HCWs-survivors, χ2= 18.67, p < 0.0001) and anxiety (88.3% survivors, 56.9% HCWs, and 65.4% HCWs- survivors, χ2= 67.03, p < 0.0001). Comorbidity of severe PTSD and anxiety symptoms was 42.3% between the three groups. Results revealed that exposure to EVD (b = 0.53; p = 0.001; b = 0.12; p = 0.042), EVD-related stigmatization (b = 0.14; p = 0.018; b = 0.07; p = 0.006), COVID-19-related stigmatization (b = 0.22; p < 0.0001; b = 0.08; p = 0.0001) and social support (b = −0.30; p < 0.0001; b = −0.14; p < 0.0001) predicted severe PTSD and anxiety symptoms. The last models explained 63.8 and 56.4% of the variance of PTSD and anxiety. Symptoms of PTSD and anxiety are common among EVD survivors and HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Culturally-sensitive programs that address stigma are necessary to mitigate the cumulative effects of EVD and the COVID-19 pandemic on EVD survivors and HCWs.

Policing Insecurity

In environments of seemingly intractable conflict, how should we understand the role of state capacity building and security-sector reform in transitions to peace? Prevailing wisdom suggests that a strong state security apparatus mitigates cyclical violence and aids in transitions to predictable, rule-governed behavior. Yet growing attention to police brutality in institutionalized democracies calls this assumption into question. Drawing on a multiyear study of war making and state making in eastern DR Congo, this article interrogates logics of police capacity building, analyzing how and why reform efforts intended to bolster the state’s monopoly on violence frequently fail to curb the unrest they seek to disrupt. I argue that enhancing the coercive capacity of the police can entrench a wartime political order that makes peace more elusive; when police deploy the image of the state toward destabilizing ends they reinforce the institutions of everyday war, undermining the stability a monopoly on violence is intended to build.

Upholding sensitization as a pillar of sexual, reproductive health, and rights implementation among youth in post conflict area in Eastern DR Congo

Conflict and crises have dire consequences on access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. Over the years, Global and Humanitarian Health actors have developed health policies and guidelines to improve the delivery of health services in emergencies or humanitarian crises. Despite these advancements, the international health response in conflict-affected settings still faces gaps and challenges. This commentary highlights the need for an increasing sensitization as a pillar for sexual reproductive health and right implementation among youth in the post-conflict regions in Eastern DR Congo. The eastern part of DRC is living in a situation of armed conflict with an impact on the health system which renders SRH services difficult to access among youth. This has an impact on the health status of the future leaders of this country and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3. Sensitization of the community based on the complete sexuality education approach has the potential to positively impact the integration of SRH services in this post-conflict region.

Farmers’ Perceptions on Rabbit’s Diseases and Treatment Application Trial against Ectoparasites in Kalehe, Eastern DR Congo

Farmers’ Perceptions on Rabbit’s Diseases and Treatment Application Trial against Ectoparasites in Kalehe, Eastern DR Congo

SCREENING OF ADVANCED CIP POTATO CLONES FOR BIOTIC (PEST, DISEASE) RESISTANCE, ABIOTIC STRESSES TOLERANCE, YIELD ADAPTABILITY &amp; STABILITY UNDER LOCAL ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS IN &amp; AROUND LWIRO RESEARCH CENTER, IN SOUTH-KIVU PROVINCE, EASTERN DRCONGO

Understanding farmers’ needs and local genetic resources are crucial steps to improve and conserve potato. Based on current farmers’ interests and demands, a study was conducted to screen and select potato genotypes that are suitable to local environment in eastern DRCongo from some clones that were sent from CIP-Nairobi in June 2016. The investigations were conducted at the research station as well as in farmers’ fields in collaboration with small-scale potato growers from nearby Lwiro research center during the cropping season A (long rain: September-January) and the cropping season B (Short rainy season: February-May) from 2017 to 2021. Each cropping season, the trials were carried out in different fields chosen within Lwiro Research Center following a rotation scale rate. Experimental materials comprised 10 clones from CIP: CIP 39337158, CIP 394611.112 , CIP 398190.404, CIP 398192.41 , CIP 398190.735, CIP 398208.505 , CIP 398202.704, CIP 694474.16 , CIP Shangi Mini tubercule ,CIP 392797.22. These advanced materials were said of being abiotic-biotic and climate-smart tolerant clones. In addition, two local varieties (Kinigi &amp; Cruza) were associated to trials as control. The experiments were conducted following randomized plot designs (on-station), or following simple demonstration plot design with three clones only (on-farm participatory trials). Data collection consisted of recording information about yield and yield components, occurrence and population density of different pest species, incidence and severity of different potato diseases along the production cycle. Results indicated that there was a seasonal and yearly variation in the yield on the clones, during both on-farm and on-station trials. A cross-analysis of on-station and on-farm field data from the seasons and years of field evaluations showed a certain consistency (P&lt;0.05) in the high yielding ability, tolerance to pests and diseases of three genotypes, namely CIPShangii, CIP 393371.58, CIP 392797.22 &amp; CIP 398190.404. Although these 3 clones were found to perform better (better yield, lower susceptibility to pests and diseases) across field site environments, years and cropping seasons, the most promising clone was CIP Shangi Mini tubercule (29.6 t/ha, research station, 19.81 t/ha on-farm) that produced the greatest yield across years and seasons. The rest of clones showed high yield variability across seasons and years. There was a lack of clone stability across season and years. At the on-farm trials, still Shangii was the most preferred clone by farmers with the highest score for yield, resistance to diseases and tolerance to insect damages. Results indicate significant variations among the clones in the yield no much difference in the response to pest population density pressure. Results revealed significant (P&lt;0.05) variability for disease incidence and severity.

Body composition of adults with a history of severe acute malnutrition during childhood using the deuterium dilution method in eastern DR Congo: the Lwiro Cohort Study

ABSTRACTBackgroundFew studies have evaluated the body composition (BC) of adults who suffered from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) during childhood, a population at risk of long-term noncommunicable diseases.ObjectiveWe performed an observational cohort study to evaluate BC in a group of young adults aged 11–30 y after nutritional rehabilitation for SAM, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).MethodsWe evaluated 151 adults in eastern DRC who were treated for SAM during childhood between 1988 and 2007. They were compared with 120 aged- and sex-matched control adults living in the same community who had not been exposed to malnutrition as children. The main variables of interest were the different compartments of adult BC (fat-free mass [FFM], fat mass [FM], and 2 indices of height-normalized BC: FFM index [FFMI] and FM index [FMI]) measured by deuterium dilution.ResultsThe mean age in both groups was 23 y, and females represented 49% and 56% of the exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. SAM-exposed males had lower mean ± SD weight (53.6 ± 6.4 compared with 56.4 ± 7.9 kg, P = 0.029) and lower height (159.9 ± 6.6 compared with 163.6 ± 6.7 cm, P = 0.003) compared to unexposed males. SAM-exposed subjects had less FFM (–1.56 kg [–2.93, –0.20]; P = 0.024) but this observation was more marked in males (45.4 ± 5.4 compared with 48.2 ± 6.9 kg, P = 0.01) than in females. No differences in FM were noted between SAM-exposed and unexposed subjects. Adjusting for height, FFMI and FMI showed no difference between SAM-exposed and unexposed in either sex.ConclusionSAM during childhood is associated with reduced FFM in adulthood which is probably due to a shorter height.

Humanitarian Shapeshifting: Navigation, Brokerage and Access in Eastern DR Congo

ABSTRACT This article examines the experience of Congolese humanitarians negotiating access with armed groups in eastern DRC. It describes how humanitarians become shapeshifters: they play different roles for different audiences as a tactic of social navigation in a context of uncertainty. Because humanitarians encounter risks related to their perceived identity, they play upon identity categories and personal histories, situating themselves tactically during encounters with different armed actors through creative modes of self-fashioning. Whilst there remains a focus on performing a distinct humanitarian identity, NGOs in practice draw upon the embedded local knowledge and skills of employees to work in conflict areas.

Dynamics of Customary Land Rights and Its Impact on the Agronomic Choices for Small Farmers in the South Kivu province, Eastern DR Congo

In Africa, there is still observed a land related legal plurality despite innovations undertaken since colonial times. In DR Congo, while by law land remains the property of the State, it remains difficult to manage rural lands, ignoring customary practices. In fact, alongside the “modern” land administration, the majority of rural lands are covered by customary contracts. Meanwhile, these contracts have evolved due to different socio-political issues in the DRC and particularly in its eastern part. This study aimed at understanding these changes and thus the impact resulted in agricultural activities, especially the small farmers’ technology choice. The study is based on households’ surveys in the Mbinga Sud zone as well as from other stakeholders on land in the Kalehe territory, South Kivu province, eastern DRC. Through this study, it is noted that customary land contracts have sufficiently evolved due to the population growth, innovations taken in land administration in the country, the wars that occurred in the eastern DR Congo, the attractiveness of rural land by elites and rich businessmen leading to land concentration etc. Given this situation, some practices such as purchase and lease of land were thus developed to cope with weak customary land acquisition mechanisms, the land scarcity and / or land depletion and the fear of land grabbing by the strongest. These changes also have an impact on some agricultural practices, including the fertilization of farms, the choice of crops and varieties to grow as well as many other cultivation techniques. &#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 3 June 2021 / Accepted: 4 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

Paths of authority, roads of resistance: Ambiguous rural infrastructure and slippery stabilization in eastern DR Congo

This article uses the concept of the ‘infrastructural frontier’ to trace the linkages between externally financed road building projects and the constitution of eastern DR Congo as a liminal political space at the material edge of the state. This frontier space has two core features: first, the patchy quality of its road infrastructure, which is perpetually rebuilt only to disintegrate again. Second, the transient nature of configurations of authority and control, leading to ‘circulation struggles’ along roads that are never fully functional. These features contribute to the collapse of a clear-cut dichotomy between the presence and the absence of transport infrastructure, but also between spaces of control and spaces of resistance. The constitution of eastern Congo as an infrastructural frontier, we argue, is importantly related to its ‘subversive soils’, whose clayish, sticky substance accelerates road degradation and compounds power projection. The resulting patchiness of both durable road infrastructure and central state control generates a ‘frontier effect’: it invites perpetual external donor interventions to build roads, but these projects never fundamentally upend the infrastructural and political state of affairs. In fact, as we demonstrate, these projects have become crucial to its very constitution. These observations point to the dual temporality of eastern Congo’s ‘perpetual’ infrastructural frontier, where the short-term volatility of circulation struggles is both a product of and reproduces its frontier-ness over the longue durée. Our contribution thus demonstrates the intricate relations between the temporal, material and political qualities of frontier spaces.

Lakes as Rebellious Landscapes: From ‘Fishing Rebels’ to ‘Fishy State Officials’ in DR Congo

Lakes are rarely considered to be political spaces in the literature on the inter-linkages between landscapes, authority, and armed conflict. Scholars mainly focussed on the role of mountains, forests, and mud fields, in war and resistance, and examine how a variety of state(-like) actors try to make these ‘unruly’ spaces legible. This article discusses the frictions that emerge when the management of Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo tries to retake control of Lake Edward through infrastructural and military interventions. These interventions not only encounter resistance from multiple rebel groups that hold various fishing villages along the shores of Lake Edward, but also from other state authorities present in the area—‘fishing rebels’ and ‘fishy state officials’. Drawing on a longue durée perspective to understand contemporary contestations allows us to move beyond focussing on practices of illegal fishing in conflict areas and, instead, embed such issues within the broader historically shaped political and social landscapes of power. Park authorities aim to carve the lake into ‘enclaves’—to counter subversion and render fishing sustainable—neglecting the ways in which the lake is interconnected. This article argues that we should abandon the dichotomy of landscapes as either producing subversive politics/rebellion or as controlled by ‘the state’. Instead of approaching landscapes in conflict areas —in this case lakes— as ‘rebel landscapes’ they should be approached as ‘rebellious landscapes’, as they are controlled fluidly amongst different de facto authorities.

Characteristics and Constraint Evidences of the Pegmatite Veins in Lubishi Mining Sector, Kalehe District, Eastern DR Congo

Characteristics and Constraint Evidences of the Pegmatite Veins in Lubishi Mining Sector, Kalehe District, Eastern DR Congo

Batwa return to their Eden? Intricacies of violence and resistance in eastern DRCongo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park

ABSTRACT This article builds on debates about conflicts surrounding territorialisation for conservation. It elaborates on how slow violence can generate covert resistance which in turn transitions toward forms of overt resistance and sudden violence. Taking eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Kahuzi-Biega National Park as an example, it argues that the violent reoccupation of the park by indigenous Batwa communities can be explained by three factors: (i) the failure of peaceful strategies of rightful resistance; (ii) an increase in the level of threats to the Batwa; and (iii) the arrival of opportunities for the Batwa to forge alliances with different stakeholder groups.