Gédéon Kyungu
Birth nameGédéon Kyungu Mutanga Wa Bafunkwa Kanonga
Nickname(s)Commander Gédéon
BornUnknown
Zaire
AllegianceMai-Mai
Commands held Mai-Mai Kata Katanga
(2011–2016)
Battles/wars
Criminal details
Criminal statusFugitive
Conviction(s)Crimes against humanity
Criminal penaltyDeath
Escaped
  • 7 September 2011 (first time)
  • 28 March 2020 (second time)
Escape end11 October 2016 (first time)
Date apprehended
  • 16 May 2006 (first time)
  • 11 October 2016 (second time)
Imprisoned atLubumbashi (2009–2011, 2016–2020)

Gédéon Kyungu Mutanga Wa Bafunkwa Kanonga, known as Commander Gédéon,[1] is a Congolese warlord who was notable for leading the Mai-Mai Kata Katanga between 2011 and 2016.

Kyungu was detained on 16 May 2006. He was sentenced, in 2009, alongside his wife for crimes against humanity during and after the Second Congo War. He was sentenced to death.[2] On 7 September 2011 he escaped from a prison in Lubumbashi after members of his militia opened fire on prison guards.[3][4] Authorities of the Katanga province offered a US$100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.[1][5] After his escape from prison, he formed the Mai-Mai Kata Katanga.[6] On 11 October 2016, he surrendered himself along with 100 fighters to Congolese authorities in Malambwe in an effort to end the insecurity in the area.[7]

Kyungu again escaped from house arrest in Lubumbashi on 28 March 2020 when his militia men attacked security forces keeping him incarcerated. Although 31 militiamen were killed and a dozen more were arrested, Kyungu managed to escape. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi issued an order to arrest Kyungu two days after his escape.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "DR. Congo offers $100,000 reward for militia chief". AFP. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "DR Congo: Militia Leader Guilty in Landmark Trial". HRW. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Congo prison mass escape after attack by gunmen". BBC. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "UN voices concern after mass prison outbreak in DR Congo". UN News Center. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Congo's Katanga Province in 'Humanitarian Crisis,' UN Says". Bloomberg.
  6. ↑ "Katanga: Fighting for DR Congo's cash cow to secede". bbcnews.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Congo militia leader, 100 fighters surrender to authorities". Fox News. 12 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Mudge, Lewis (7 April 2020). "Convicted Congolese Warlord Escapes. Again". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
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