Front for Patriotic Resistance of Ituri

The Front for Patriotic Resistance of Ituri (French: Forces de Résistance Patriotique d’Ituri; FRPI) is a Beni-based armed militia and political party in the Ituri Province of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The FRPI was established in November 2002 from the Ngiti ethnic group as an ally to the Lendu Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI). The Ngiti, organized under traditional leaders, thus formed a counterweight to the Union of Congolese Patriots in the Ituri conflict and was supported by the Uganda-backed Movement for Liberation faction of the Rally for Congolese Democracy. In May 2003, it was reported to have 9000 combatants and some considered it to be the armed wing of the FNI. The FRPI joined the Ugandans in successful March 2003 offensive against the UPC, and jointly occupied the town with the FNI in May 2003. [ [http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/congo/ituri/armedgroups.htm "Ituri: Bloodiest Corner of Congo -- Who is Who - Armed Political Groups in Ituri (May 2003)"] , Human Rights Watch] Initially led by Germain Katanga, by 2005 its leader changed to Dr. Adirodo (full name apparently unknown). [ [http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=53981 "DRC: Who's who in Ituri - militia organisations, leaders"] , "IRIN", 20 April 2005] In 2006 15,000 FRPI soldiers were demobilized as part of the peace process. Germain Katanga was arrested and flown to the International Criminal Court at The Hague in October 2007 to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7050506.stm "Congo warlord flown to The Hague"] , "BBC News", 18 October 2007]

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