Convicted War Criminal Lubanga Forms a Rebel Group in DRC

(The Post News)– Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, a name synonymous with the brutal conflicts that have plagued the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has once again emerged at the centre of controversy. After serving a prison sentence for war crimes, Lubanga has announced the formation of a new rebel group, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR), aiming to challenge the government in the volatile Ituri province

Lubanga first gained notoriety as the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), an ethnic Hema militia active during the early 2000s. Under his command, the UPC’s military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC), was implicated in severe human rights violations, including ethnic massacres, torture, and the conscription of child soldiers. In 2006, he became the first individual arrested under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). His trial culminated in a 2012 conviction for recruiting and using child soldiers, resulting in a 14-year prison sentence.

Released in 2020 after serving two-thirds of his sentence, Lubanga was appointed by President Félix Tshisekedi to a peace task force aimed at stabilising Ituri. However, his involvement took a dramatic turn in 2022 when he was kidnapped by a rebel group, an ordeal he attributes to governmental betrayal. Following his release, Lubanga relocated to Uganda, where he began mobilising support for his new movement.

In March 2025, Lubanga announced the creation of the CPR, a politico-military movement with both political and armed wings. The group claims to have armed elements in three areas of Ituri, though it has yet to initiate military operations. Lubanga asserts that the CPR’s objective is to address governance failures and restore order in the province, accusing the current administration of corruption and neglecting the security crisis.

The emergence of the CPR adds complexity to an already unstable region. Ituri has long been a hot spot of ethnic tensions and armed conflicts, with various groups vying for control over its rich resources. The Congolese army is currently engaged in combating the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, and the addition of another armed group threatens to further destabilise the area. Lubanga’s return to militancy raises concerns about a potential escalation of violence and the recruitment of vulnerable populations into armed conflict.

The international community, which previously hailed Lubanga’s conviction as a milestone for international justice, views his resurgence with alarm. Human rights organizations fear that his actions could undermine efforts to bring lasting peace to the DRC. Domestically, opinions are divided. Some see the CPR as a necessary response to governmental failures, while others worry that it will exacerbate the cycle of violence that has plagued Ituri for decades.

Thomas Lubanga’s formation of the Convention for the Popular Revolution marks a significant and troubling development in the DRC’s ongoing struggle for stability. His return to armed rebellion not only challenges the authority of the central government but also poses a serious threat to peace efforts in the region. As the situation unfolds, the international community and local stakeholders must carefully monitor and address the implications of this new movement to prevent further suffering in an already beleaguered province.