Convicted war criminal Thomas Lubanga, based in Uganda, has announced the formation of a new rebel movement called the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR).
The group aims to overthrow the government in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, escalating security concerns in the conflict-ridden region.
Lubanga, an Ituri native, was the first person convicted by the International Criminal Court in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers, receiving a 14-year sentence.
Released in 2020, Lubanga was later appointed to a peace task force for Ituri by President Felix Tshisekedi.
However, he was held hostage in 2022 by a rebel group, which he blames on the government, and subsequently relocated to Uganda.
In a statement to Reuters, Lubanga claimed the CPR possesses both political and military wings, with armed individuals present in three Ituri areas.
He asserted that a change in governance is essential for regional peace, though the group has not yet initiated military actions.
The actual number of fighters under Lubanga’s command remains uncertain.