Thomas Lubanga, the convicted war criminal and former Congolese warlord, has launched a new rebel faction, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR), aimed at toppling the government in Ituri province, eastern Congo. This move further complicates the already volatile security situation in the region, which has been plagued by years of conflict and armed insurgency.
Lubanga, who currently resides in Uganda, has declared that the CPR will consist of both political and military components, with armed groups already operating in three areas of Ituri. He expressed that achieving peace in the region “requires an immediate change in governance and government,” though he stressed that the group had not yet initiated any military actions. The exact size of his forces remains unclear, but Lubanga has previously been accused by UN experts of mobilizing fighters to support local militias and rebel groups like M23.
This new development emerges against the backdrop of an already unstable situation in eastern Congo, where the Congolese army is battling the M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda. The M23 insurgents have made significant territorial gains, including the capture of several strategic towns such as Goma, Bukavu, and most recently, Walikale.
Lubanga, who was convicted in 2012 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for recruiting child soldiers, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released in 2020 after being appointed by President Felix Tshisekedi to participate in a peace task force for Ituri. However, in 2022, he was abducted and held hostage for two months by a rebel group, an ordeal he blamed on the government.
The region of Ituri has been a longstanding hotspot for violence, with various armed factions, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – affiliated with the Islamic State – wreaking havoc on local communities. Recent reports from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have highlighted a “renewed spike in atrocities” in Ituri, which has resulted in more than 200 civilian deaths and the displacement of around 100,000 people since the start of the year.
While the creation of Lubanga’s new faction threatens to escalate the conflict, there are ongoing peace efforts. Qatari mediators have been facilitating peace talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels, as well as separately with Rwandan-backed insurgents. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the M23 has continued its offensive, undermining hopes for a ceasefire.
In a glimmer of hope for de-escalation, Presidents Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda met last week in Doha for their first discussions since M23 intensified its attacks in January. However, the M23 has rejected calls for a truce, demanding direct negotiations with the government in Kinshasa.
As Lubanga’s rebel faction gains attention, the situation in eastern Congo remains fragile, with the potential for further chaos and suffering for the local population.
