Mai Mai Militas

The Mai Mai (the word "Mai Mai" means "Water, Water" basing on the rituals that those militias believe will make themselves immune to bullets), as mentioned in a few of my previous posts is a broad term for tribal militias that warred against various rebel groups and the Kabila regime. Several Mai Mai militias groups also allied themselves with the Kabila regime. Several Mai Mai groups formed to protect their villages from the Rwandan backed insurgents, but many of these groups took advantage of the conflict to solve a variety of tribal disputes like cattle rustling and raiding rival villages. As they are only a label, their is no cooperation between several of the Mai Mai groups and several even war against each over.  The Mai Mai don't answer to any of the peace treaties, so it is problematic to disarm them.

Mai Mai group A;  Some of the more better equipped Mai Mai factions. Military fatigues and sophisticated weaponry hints that this Mai Mai faction collaborated with the Kabila regime or some of the foreign governments. Several of the more mainstream groups like the RCD factions and the UPC factions have military uniforms, most likely because of the rebel groups collaboration with foreign governments.

Mai Mai Group B;  All photos below show the heavy tribal influences among the Mai Mai factions. These fighters must be part of some of the more isolated groups that have little western influences. Traditional clothing and weaponry with of the expectation of AKs show that they are very tribal and strongly believe in folk magic. This Mai Mai group most likely has not collaborated with any governments because they lack sophisticated equipment.