In a shocking development for the already volatile region of Ituri province, eastern Congo, convicted war criminal Thomas Lubanga has announced the formation of a new rebel faction dubbed the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR). This move is expected to further destabilize an area already grappling with numerous armed groups and escalating violence.

Lubanga, a native of Ituri who gained international infamy as the first individual convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in 2012 — specifically for the recruitment of child soldiers — made his announcement while based in Uganda, where he has been living since his release from prison in 2020. Shortly after his release, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him to a task force aimed at fostering peace in Ituri. However, his situation took a dark turn in 2022 when he was kidnapped by a rebel faction for two months, a situation Lubanga attributes to government betrayal.

In his written responses to inquiries from RNG247, Lubanga claimed that the CPR encompasses both political and military dimensions, asserting the presence of armed men in three distinct areas of Ituri. "Bringing peace to the area requires an immediate change in governance and government," he stated, emphasizing the group's intention to influence the political landscape. However, he claimed that no military operations have been initiated at this time.

The size and strength of Lubanga's new rebel group remain uncertain, but U.N. experts have previously accused him of rallying fighters to support local militias, including the notorious M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda and have been making significant territorial advances in eastern Congo.

As the ongoing conflict rages, the Congolese presidency has yet to respond to requests for comment concerning Lubanga's latest political maneuverings. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Ituri continues to deteriorate rapidly. Doctors Without Borders reported a concerning resurgence of atrocities, with over 200 civilians killed and around 100,000 displaced since the beginning of the year.

In a parallel effort to address the security crisis, Ugandan troops are currently deployed in Ituri to assist the Congolese government in combating the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group linked to the Islamic State, notorious for its horrific attacks on civilian populations.

As the region braces for further unrest, the implications of Lubanga's new rebel group could pose significant challenges to an already strained peace process in eastern Congo.