Cobra Matata

Cobra Matata[nb 1]
Nationality D.R. Congo
Other names Banaloki Matata
Justin Banaloki
Justin Wanaloki
Justin Matata Wanaloki
Matata Wanaloki
Known for Leader of the FRPI and FPJC

Cobra Matata (also known as Banaloki Matata,[1][2] Justin Banaloki,[3][4] Justin Wanaloki,[5] Justin Matata Wanaloki,[6] and Matata Wanaloki[7])[nb 1] is a former leader of the Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI)[8] and Popular Front for Justice in Congo (FPJC)[9] militias active in the Ituri conflict in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was previously a member of the D.R. Congo armed forces (FARDC), having integrated in 2007 before deserting to reconstitute a rebel group in 2010.[1][8][10] In November 2006, Matata had agreed to disarm in exchange for amnesty.[11] In the FARDC, Matata attained the rank of colonel[6][12] or general.[5][7] The International Criminal Court classified Matata as Ngiti.[13]

Matata has been accused of leading the massacre at Nyakunde Hospital in 2002, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 civilians, and the subsequent Bogoro massacre.[6][14] Matata succeeded Germain Katanga as leader of the FRPI after Katanga integrated into the FARDC in 2004.[12] Matata surrendered to the Congolese government on November 21, 2014, and was arrested on January 2, 2015, in Bunia, a city in Ituri, for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the use of child soldiers.[2][15] Matata was also accused of forming a rebel group, desertion, and attempting to escape detention.[3][4] Prior to his surrender, Matata commanded an estimated 1,000 combatants in Ituri.[7][16] The FARDC falsely claimed in 2011 that it had killed Matata.[17]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Cobra Matata" is a regularly used alias.[1][3][5][7] As indicated by these alternative names, sources conflict as to Matata's real name.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Congo's Feared 'Cobra' Warlord Plans to Surrender — Again". Vice News. November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "RDC : Cobra Matata bientôt face au juge" (in French). BBC News. January 4, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bunia: Cobra Matata transféré à Kinshasa" (in French). Radio Okapi. January 5, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (PDF) (Report). United Nations Security Council. March 10, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "MONUSCO welcomes the surrender of a high-ranking FRPI militia leader". MONUSCO. June 18, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Informe de la Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas sobre la situación de los derechos humanos y las actividades de su Oficina en la República Democrática del Congo (PDF) (Report). United Nations Human Rights Council. April 2, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Last Ituri warlord signs peace deal in DR Congo". Agence France Presse. November 29, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Who's who among armed groups in the east". IRIN. June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  9. ↑ Congo: The Electoral Process Seen from the East (PDF) (Report). International Crisis Group. September 5, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (PDF) (Report). United Nations Security Council. October 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Report). United States Department of State. March 6, 2007.
  12. 1 2 Public: Annex 5 (PDF) (Report). International Criminal Court. September 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (PDF) (Report). International Criminal Court. April 8, 2013.
  14. ↑ Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (No. ICC-01/04-01/07) (PDF) (Report). International Criminal Court. May 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Democratic Republic of Congo: Events of 2015". Human Rights Watch. 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  16. ↑ "RDC : Cobra Matata se serait rendu aux FARDC, selon Mende" (in French). Radio Okapi. November 11, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  17. ↑ "DRC: Contradictions over the death of rebel leader based in Ituri". Great Lakes Voice. October 5, 2011. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
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