Paul Sadala

Paul Sadala alias "Morgan", was a Congolese militant and faction leader.^[1] Throughout the 2000s, Sadala grew into an elephant poaching kingpin in the Okapi Faunal Reserve. He was arrested on at least two occasions by ICCN park rangers. In 2011, Morgan initiated the militant group "Mai Mai Lumumba" while it was commonly known as "Mai Mai Morgan". Morgan and his rebels were accused of committing the most severe crimes, such as cannibalism, rape, kidnapping and murder. Their most high-profile attacks included a siege of Epulu village, the headquarters of the Okapi Faunal Reserve early on the morning of June 24, 2012. Morgan occupied Epulu until the afternoon of June 25, 2012 before vanishing back into the forest. In the wake of this attack, 7 people were killed, while the entire captive population of okapi in Epulu's zoo were also shot and killed by the rebels. FARDC soldiers arrived and looted the village. In January 2013, Morgan occupied the large town of Mambasa for several hours before finally being repelled by the Congolese army.^[2]

Sadala and his rebellious associates fought a bloody war, which focused mostly on occupying territory in the Ituri forest. On April 12, 2014, Sadala turned himself in to a local chief at Badengaido claiming that his followers and wives were suffering in the forest. While FARDC forces arranged for his extradition to Bunia, a gun battle erupted on April 14, 2014, the events of which are not well understood. had attacked the Congolese army with armed weapons, as he was escaping from the gun battle, Sadala was shot in the legs and died from blood loss. The Congolese government continues to pursue loyalists to this faction, which is led by a Mbuti pygmy named Manu, and will turn themselves in after the death of Sadala.^[3]

Sadala enjoyed support from FARDC units in Bafwasende and Kisangani ^[4]

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