Cobra Matata Explained

Cobra Matata
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] Justin Banaloki,^[2] Justin Wanaloki,^[3] Justin Matata Wanaloki,^[4] and Matata Wanaloki^[5]) is a former leader of the Front for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri (FRPI) and Popular Front for Justice in Congo (FPJC)^[6] 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] [7] [8]} In November 2006, Matata had agreed to disarm in exchange for amnesty.^[9] In the FARDC, Matata attained the rank of colonel^[4] or general.^{[3] [5]} The International Criminal Court classified Matata as Ngiti.^[10]

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.^{[4] [11]} 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.^{[13] [14]} Matata was also accused of forming a rebel group, desertion, and attempting to escape detention.^{[2] [15]} Prior to his surrender, Matata commanded an estimated 1,000 combatants in Ituri.^{[5] [16]} The FARDC falsely claimed in 2011 that it had killed Matata.^[17]

Notes and References

1. News: The Congo's Feared 'Cobra' Warlord Plans to Surrender — Again . . November 12, 2014 . July 18, 2016.
2. News: Bunia: Cobra Matata transféré à Kinshasa . . January 5, 2015 . July 18, 2016 . fr.
3. News: MONUSCO welcomes the surrender of a high-ranking FRPI militia leader . . June 18, 2012 . July 18, 2016 .
4. 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 . . April 2, 2009 . en.
5. News: Last Ituri warlord signs peace deal in DR Congo . . November 29, 2006 . July 18, 2016.
6. September 5, 2011 . Congo: The Electoral Process Seen from the East . . July 17, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160520084139/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central-africa/dr-congo/B80%20Congo%20-%20The%20Electoral%20Process%20Seen%20from%20the%20East%20ENGLISH.pdf . May 20, 2016 .
7. News: Who’s who among armed groups in the east . . June 15, 2010 . July 17, 2016.
8. Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . . October 8, 2010 .
9. 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices . . March 6, 2007 .
10. Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . . April 8, 2013 .
11. Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (No. ICC-01/04-01/07) . . May 24, 2013 .
12. Public: Annex 5 . . September 2, 2015 .
13. News: RDC : Cobra Matata bientôt face au juge . . January 4, 2015 . July 17, 2016 . fr.
14. Web site: Democratic Republic of Congo: Events of 2015 . . 2015 . July 18, 2016.
15. Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . . March 10, 2015 .
16. News: RDC : Cobra Matata se serait rendu aux FARDC, selon Mende . . November 11, 2014 . July 18, 2016 . fr.
17. News: DRC: Contradictions over the death of rebel leader based in Ituri . Great Lakes Voice . October 5, 2011 . July 18, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160823184448/http://greatlakesvoice.com/drc-contradictions-over-the-death-label-leader-based-in-ituri/ . August 23, 2016 .