Convicted War Criminal Thomas Lubanga Forms New Rebel Group in Congo

• Apr 01, 2025

A convicted war criminal has announced the formation of a new rebel movement in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, adding to the region’s ongoing security crisis. Thomas Lubanga, who is based in Uganda, claims his group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR), aims to bring change to the troubled area.

Lubanga, an Ituri native, was convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers. He served 14 years in prison before his release in 2020. Following his release, President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him to a peace task force in Ituri. However, in 2022, Lubanga was kidnapped by a rebel group for two months, an incident he blames on the government. Since then, he has been operating from Uganda.

In a written statement to Reuters, Lubanga said the CPR has both political and military wings. He confirmed that the group has armed fighters in three locations across Ituri, though he claimed they have not yet launched any military operations. He insists that peace in the region is only possible through a change in governance.

The security situation in eastern Congo remains unstable, with ongoing violence from various armed groups. The Congolese army is already facing challenges from the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have made significant advances in the region. Meanwhile, UN experts previously accused Lubanga of recruiting fighters to support both a local militia and M23.

It remains unclear how many fighters Lubanga controls. The Congolese presidency has not commented on his new rebel group.

Violence in Ituri has persisted for decades, with armed groups regularly attacking civilians. Last week, Doctors Without Borders reported a surge in violence, stating that over 200 people had been killed and nearly 100,000 displaced since the start of the year.