SUMMARY
The Forces armées du peuple congolais (FAPC, People’s Armed Forces of Congo) was an armed group active in Ituri Province, DR Congo. The group was also known as FAPC/UCPD, referring to its association with the Union des Congolais pour la paix et la démocratie (UCPD, Union of Congolese for Peace and Democracy). FAPC emerged during the later stages of the Ituri conflict and operated mainly in the northern parts of the province, particularly near the border with Uganda.
FAPC was established at the end of February 2003, when Jérôme Kakwavu Bukande broke away from UPC. Before joining UPC, Kakwavu had fought with RCD-ML. The formation of FAPC reflected shifting alliances among armed groups in Ituri, as well as competition between Uganda, Rwanda, and Congolese armed actors for political, military, and economic influence in eastern DR Congo.
FAPC objectives were linked to control of territory, border crossings, local political influence, and access to economic resources in northern Ituri. The group presented itself as defending the interests of communities in the Aru and Mahagi areas, but it also relied heavily on control of trade routes, customs revenues, and commercial activities along the Ugandan border.
FAPC operated mainly in Aru territory, where it maintained its headquarters, and in Mahagi territory in northern Ituri. The group controlled significant parts of the border area with Uganda, including border crossings and roads used for trade. This location enabled FAPC to collect customs revenues, tax commercial activity, and maintain supply routes with Uganda.
FAPC was a mixed-ethnic armed group. Its membership consisted mainly of Alur and Lugbara fighters from northern Ituri, but it also included Lendu and Hema elements. Its leader, Jérôme Kakwavu, was reportedly a Banyarwanda from North Kivu. The group’s mixed membership differentiated it from some other Ituri armed groups that had been more closely associated with specific ethnic communities.
FAPC was organized under the military leadership of Jérôme Kakwavu. It maintained military units and administrative structures in the areas under its control. The group was estimated to have had around 4000 fighters at its peak. Its military capacity was based on access to small arms and other weapons, control of local territory, revenue from border trade, and support from external and local armed networks.
Jérôme Kakwavu Bukande led FAPC from its formation until its disbandment. He had previously served with RCD-ML and UPC before forming FAPC. Kakwavu was integrated into the Congolese army, the FARDC, with the rank of general, in December 2004. His integration formed part of the broader process of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of Ituri armed groups.
FAPC was known for shifting alliances with other armed groups in Ituri. It cooperated at different times with FNI, PUSIC, RCD-ML, RCD-N, and UPC. These alliances changed in response to local military developments, competition for territory and economic resources, and the changing involvement of Uganda and Rwanda in the Ituri conflict.
FAPC was created with direct support from Uganda. Uganda had previously supported both RCD-ML and UPC, the armed groups in which Kakwavu had earlier served. Ugandan support reportedly contributed to FAPC’s access to weapons, logistical networks, and territory near the Ugandan border. The group also benefited from its control of border trade and commercial networks in Aru and Mahagi.
FAPC was the first Ituri armed group to begin voluntary disarmament. Its forces started surrendering weapons in Aru on 6 March 2005 as part of the Ituri disarmament and community-reintegration process. During 2005, FAPC was disbanded and its remaining fighters were either integrated into FARDC or entered demobilization and reintegration programs. This marked the end of FAPC as a separate actor in UCDP data.
