SUMMARY
The Defense Force Against the Balkanization of Congo (FDBC) was an armed Lendu militia that emerged as a splinter faction following the fragmentation of the URDPC. The split occurred after the killing of URDPC leader, Justin Ngudjolo, by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in March 2020. This leadership vacuum and subsequent internal discord led to the formation of multiple factions, including the FDBC. By the end of 2022 FDBC rejoined URDPC and operated under its leadership, marking the end of FDBC as a separate group in the UCDP data.
Colloquially, all Lendu militias in the Ituri area was known as CODECO. CODECO was an agro-religious cooperative that had been linked to the Irumu-based FRPI rebel group. The group became heavily involved in the Ituri conflict, which was marked by tensions between Lendu and Hema communities, as well as disputes over land and local resources.
FDBC opposed what it described as the “balkanization” of Congo, a term used by Congolese actors to denounce perceived efforts to divide or weaken the state along ethnic or regional lines. The group primarily defended Lendu communal interests, framing its struggle as a resistance against marginalization, land dispossession, and Hema influence.
FDBC operated in the gold-rich territories of Djugu, Ituri Province, with its main base located in the town of Lipri. Its area of operation was concentrated in central and northern Ituri, overlapping with other Lendu armed groups.
FDBC drew its fighters predominantly from the Lendu community. Recruitment was often localized, relying on kinship ties and mobilization through customary leaders.
FDBC was a lightly armed militia engaged in guerrilla-style warfare, ambushes, and raids. It obtained weapons through local black markets, battlefield capture, and resource-sharing agreements with allied groups. It funded operations through the control of gold mining zones and extortion at gold trading hubs.
FDBC was led by Chui Mutambala. Another key commander in the group Malo Maki was killed by FARDC in March 2021.
FDBC was a splinter group from URDPC, and eventually remerged with it by the end of 2022. It maintained cooperative relationships with the FPIC and URDPC. These groups reportedly maintained non-aggression agreements and shared logistics, especially weapons and ammunition.
