Kampala: Thomas Lubanga, a convicted war criminal, has announced the formation of a new rebel group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR), in the volatile Ituri province of eastern Congo. His move adds another layer of instability to a region already struggling with violent conflicts.
Lubanga, who was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers and sentenced to 14 years in prison, was released in 2020. He later joined a government-led peace initiative but was abducted by a rebel faction in 2022, an event he blames on the Congolese government.
Now based in Uganda, Lubanga has declared his intent to change the governance of Ituri, claiming his group has both political and military elements, with armed men stationed in three locations. However, he stated that the CPR has not yet launched military operations.
It remains unclear how much military power Lubanga holds. U.N. reports last year linked him to mobilizing fighters in support of local militias and the M23 rebel group, which is currently waging a major offensive backed by Rwanda against the Congolese army in another part of eastern Congo.
The Congolese government has not responded to these developments. Meanwhile, violence in Ituri continues to escalate, with humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders reporting a sharp rise in attacks that have left over 200 civilians dead and displaced approximately 100,000 people this year alone.
Ugandan forces are also present in Ituri, aiding Congolese troops in combating the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an extremist group linked to the Islamic State, which is known for its brutal attacks on villages. The emergence of another armed faction led by Lubanga could further complicate an already dire security situation in the region.
