SUMMARY
The Baraka group was an armed group that was formed as Résistants nationalistes Lumumbistes (RNL). The group was known as Vurundo Mayi Mayi in the early 1990s. The group was revived in year 2000 to avenge the death of their chief Lolwako. After Lolwako's death his son Baraka, born in 1996, took over leadership of the group. Baraka was assisted by several commanders: Mutsunga, Mbilika, Sarayevo, Ngamba Dola, and Wamwanya.
In 2016 The Baraka group had a new spell of activity as it joined the Corps du Christ under the leadership of David Maranatha. Corps du Christ gained a lot of attention in 2016 but disappeared from the news after David Maranatha was arrested in Butembo on 07 February 2017. A former leader of Mbusa Nyamwisi’s RCD-K/ML, Kakolele wambale, claimed to be the leader of the group in early 2017.
In 2020 the group reappeared again, this time as RNL led by Josaphat Kalakala known as Mille Tours Par Seconde.
RNL has cooperated with a number of other small Mayi Mayi factions in the Lubero area.
The Baraka group operated around operated in the Beni territory of DR Congo (Zaire).
The Mayi Mayi Luwotu also known as the Forces d’Autodéfense populaires (FAP), Front de Résistance Populaire de Lubwe-Rwenzori (FRPL-R), Bahandule or Mayi Mayi Mudohu was a Bashu (Nande ethnic armed group active in the Beni-Lubero area of DR Congo (Zaire) during and after the second Congo war (1998-2003).
The Luwotu Mayi Mayi was mainly opposed to the Ugandan intervention into DR Congo. They fought Ugandan the Ugandan allies RCD-K-ML together with RNL (later the Baraka group), but were also fighting the RNL who was from another Nande clan (the Batangi) over the control of the region’s agro-pastoral and mining resources and local control over peace negotiations.
Mayi Mayi Luwotu could be recognized by their commanders wearing civet and leopard skins and bird feathers on their head. Their troops had tattoos on the forehead. The majority of the group was integrated into the national army through 'brassage'.
Mayi Mayi Luwotu was led by Kahindo Mudohu Fabien (alias Kukumana and Commandant Suprême) and Sura Mbaya.
