Thomas Lubanga, a convicted war criminal based in Uganda, has announced the formation of a new rebel movement aimed at overthrowing the government in Ituri province, eastern Congo, adding another layer of potential security instability to the already conflict-ridden region.
According to Reuters, the Ituri native has launched the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR) as Congo’s army grapples with an unprecedented advance by the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels elsewhere in eastern Congo.
Lubanga, who was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. However, he was released in 2020, after which Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him to a task force aimed at restoring peace to Ituri. In 2022, Lubanga was taken hostage by a rebel group for two months, an event he blames on the government. He is now residing in Uganda.
In written responses to questions from Reuters, Lubanga outlined that the CPR encompasses both political and military components, with armed forces present in three areas of Ituri. He emphasised that bringing peace to the region “requires an immediate change in governance and government,” although he also noted that the group has not yet initiated any military operations.
The number of combatants under Lubanga’s control remains unclear, but U.N. experts last year accused him of mobilising fighters to support both a local militia and the M23 rebels.
The Congolese presidency did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.
Ituri has long been plagued by violence from various armed groups. Last week, Doctors Without Borders reported a “renewed spike in atrocities,” with more than 200 civilians killed and around 100,000 displaced since the start of the year. Ugandan troops are stationed in Ituri to assist the government in combating the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-affiliated group responsible for brutal attacks on villages.
