Thomas Lubanga Announces New Rebel Group in Congo Amidst M23 Advance

Formation of the CPR Rebel Movement

• 🚩 Convicted war criminal Thomas Lubanga has announced a new rebel movement called the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR) in eastern Congo's Ituri province.
• 🎯 The stated aim of the CPR is to topple the government.
• 🗺️ Lubanga, an Ituri native, is now based in Uganda.

Lubanga's Background and Previous Convictions

• ⚖️ Lubanga was the first person convicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2012, receiving a 14-year sentence for recruiting child soldiers.
• 🕊️ He was released in 2020 and appointed by President Felix Tshisekedi to a task force focused on bringing peace to Ituri.
• ⚠️ However, in 2022, Lubanga was taken hostage by a rebel group, which he attributes to the government.

Current Context and Unanswered Questions

• ⚔️ The CPR's formation occurs as the Congolese army faces a significant advance by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels elsewhere in eastern Congo.
• ✍️ In a written statement, Lubanga claimed the CPR has both political and military components, including armed individuals in three areas of Ituri, though he stated the group has not yet launched military operations.
• ❓ The exact number of combatants Lubanga might command remains unclear.
• 🤝 UN experts previously accused Lubanga of mobilizing fighters to support a local militia and the M23.
• 🗣️ Congo's presidency has not yet responded to requests for comment.