Territorial Decoupage and Issues of 'Autochthony' in Former Katanga Province, the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Role of Urban Ethnic Associations

This study investigates how ethnic associations have tried to influence decision making in the decentralization process in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in Katanga. Creating new provinces by splitting up Katanga induced the construction of new identities and fueled tensions between communities: ethnic associations either oppose(d) or advocate(d) this break-up for political and socio-economic reasons that concerned interests of the communities they represent. They employed autochthony discourses to reinforce their arguments and claims. In the context of a weak state and its economic uncertainty, decentralization that aimed to bring governors closer to the governed did not necessarily decrease ethnic conflict.