SUMMARY
FPP-AP (Forces patriotiques populaires - Armée du peuple, People’s Patriotic Forces - People’s Army), also known as Mayi Mayi Kabido, was a predominantly Nande armed group active in southern Lubero territory, North Kivu, DR Congo (Zaire). The group was formed in mid-2018 when Kasereka Kasyano, also known as Kabido or Kabidon, split from Mayi Mayi Mazembe, also known as UPDI, after disagreements over how to relate to NDC-R. Kabido considered NDC-R an enemy and opposed the accommodation or alliance that some Mayi Mayi Mazembe leaders sought with the group.
FPP-AP’s objectives were linked to local Nande armed mobilization, protection of local communities, and opposition to NDC-R influence in southern Lubero. Its activities were connected to local armed competition, control of mining areas, community defense narratives, and disputes among Nande armed groups over alliances with NDC-R.
The group operated mainly in southern Lubero territory. After splitting from Mayi Mayi Mazembe, FPP-AP established its area of influence around Mbughavinywa, Kanyatsi, and Pitakongo. It received support in this area from the local Mighobwe chapter of the Kyaghanda Yira, as well as from former members of Corps de Christ. Its headquarters were later reported near Bukumbwira, in Mbuwavywa, southern Lubero. In 2020, the group became one of the most powerful armed groups in southern Lubero and took control of key mining sites from NDC-R, including Buleusa.
FPP-AP was composed mainly of Nande fighters. It drew members from Mayi Mayi Mazembe networks, former Corps de Christ members, and local mobilization structures in southern Lubero. In 2021, the group was estimated to have between 200 and 300 combatants. It continued to be commonly referred to as Mayi Mayi Mazembe in some reporting, since the term Mazembe was also used generically for mainly Nande armed groups in Lubero territory.
The group’s structure centered on Kasereka Kasyano Kabido and local commanders who had split from UPDI/Mayi Mayi Mazembe. When the split became apparent in August 2018, Kabido, Safari, and Kasayi left UPDI and created FPP-AP shortly thereafter. The group remained locally based and did not develop a broad national political structure. Its authority depended on Kabido’s personal standing as a Mayi Mayi féticheur and commander, local Nande networks, and control of strategic areas in southern Lubero.
Mayi Mayi Kabido’s military capacity was based on local recruitment, small arms, Mayi Mayi spiritual practices, and control of territory and mining sites. The group’s fighters drew on the Mayi Mayi tradition of dawa, or protective spiritual medicine, and Kabido’s role as a féticheur was central to his authority. The group fought NDC-R and rival armed actors in southern Lubero and became stronger after NDC-R split in 2020. Its control of mining sites, including Buleusa, gave it access to resources and local influence.
Kasereka Kasyano Kabido was born in Kateku, Ikobo groupement, Walikale territory. He joined his first Mayi Mayi group around 2000 under a commander called Kaganga and worked under Ushindi, who produced dawa for the group. Kabido served as a kadogo dawa, a child carrying magic potions during operations, which gave him the name Kabidon, meaning “small jerrycan.” After Ushindi died, Kabido became a féticheur. He later served in this role within PARECO, including in the factions of Lafontaine and Muhamba Lyaki. After PARECO’s demobilization, Kabido initially left armed movements and started a family in Bunyatenge. Around 2012, he joined UPCP, reportedly in an effort to obtain a demobilization certificate. After leaving UPCP, he fled to Mambasa in Ituri, where he worked as a farmer. He later returned to armed activity as a féticheur in the Corps de Christ militia around 2016. After the arrest of Corps de Christ leaders Baraka Lolwako and David Maranatha, Kabido hid in Kateku. Facing NDC-R violence in the area, he joined Mayi Mayi Mazembe in 2016 and later helped create FPP-AP in 2018.
Although Mayi Mayi Kabido splintered from Mayi Mayi Mazembe, the two groups also continued to collaborate at times. In July 2020, his group killed Mayi Mayi Mazembe leader Kitete Bushu while Kitete was trying to rally the group to Guidon Shimiray Mwissa’s NDC-R after the NDC-R split.
