Cobra Matata[nb 1]
Nationality D.R. Congo
Other namesBanaloki Matata
Justin Banaloki
Justin Wanaloki
Justin Matata Wanaloki
Matata Wanaloki
Known forLeader 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "The Congo's Feared 'Cobra' Warlord Plans to Surrender — Again". Vice News. November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "RDC : Cobra Matata bientôt face au juge" (in French). BBC News. January 4, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Bunia: Cobra Matata transféré à Kinshasa" (in French). Radio Okapi. January 5, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  4. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c "MONUSCO welcomes the surrender of a high-ranking FRPI militia leader". MONUSCO. June 18, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d "Last Ituri warlord signs peace deal in DR Congo". Agence France Presse. November 29, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.((cite news)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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