| Kidote | |
| Other Name: | Kidoti |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Territory |
| Subdivision Type3: | Chiefdom |
| Subdivision Type4: | Grouping |
| Subdivision Name1: | South Kivu |
| Subdivision Name2: | Uvira |
| Subdivision Name3: | Bafuliiru |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lemera |
| Timezone1: | CAT |
| Utc Offset: | +2 |
| Official Name: | Village Kidote |
Kidote, also known as Kidoti, is a small village situated in the middle plateaux of Lemera, within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1] [2] [3] It also serves as a camp for Congolese Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from various regions of Bwegera.[4]
Kidote was traditionally inhabited by the Fuliiru people, as well as a small Vira population that share strong cultural connections with the Bafuliiru community.[5] [6]
During the onset of the First Congo War, Kidote served as a training camp for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo; AFDL).[7] [8] On 6 October 1996, Kidote was attacked by the AFDL, which resulted in more than 50 fatalities. The victims were mainly civilians. Some met their demise due to shrapnel injuries, while others were brutally executed after being coerced into digging mass graves, wherein their bodies were callously discarded.[9]
For decades, the region remained plagued by persistent insecurity. Armed conflict, clashes between various armed groups, and inter-communal violence have all contributed to uprooting communities from their homes. Armed groups operating in the region, such as rebel factions or militias, carry out attacks, looting and intimidation aimed at both civilians and rival factions.[10] [11] In the early months of 2022, the resurgence of the March 23 Movement, sparked tensions in Lemera. Consequently, a large number of civilians took refuge in Kidote, fleeing other conflict-affected areas. The Espace Amis d'Enfance (EAE), a local non-governmental organization, received nearly one hundred displaced children in search of help and shelter.[4]