SUMMARY
The CRP (Convention pour la révolution populaire) with the armed wing FRP (Force pour la révolution Populaire) was an armed group formed in January 2025 in Kampala by Thomas Lubanga. CRP was based in Ituri and primarily drew members from Hema-majority armed networks.
CRP presented itself as a politico-military movement whose stated objective was to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The group combined anti-government rhetoric with claims of restoring justice and order in Ituri. CRP sought to reshape governance in Ituri and address perceived political exclusion. The movement framed itself as a “popular revolution” against corruption, mismanagement, and state neglect.
CRP was primarily active in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo, particularly in Djugu territory and areas along the coast of Lake Albert. Djugu was an area characterized by long-standing tensions between Hema and Lendu communities.
The group was largely composed of Hema recruits, including former members of the Zaïre self-defense group and MAPI (Le mouvement d'autodéfense populaire de l'Ituri) who reportedly rejoined armed mobilisation after dissatisfaction with reintegration processes.
CRP had a hierarchical politico-military structure with a declared political leadership and an armed wing. The leadership included a president, vice-presidents, and secretaries responsible for administration, diplomacy, communication, and mobilisation, indicating an attempt to formalize command structures.
The group’s military capacity was limited but included the ability to conduct coordinated armed attacks against state forces. Its first known operation targeted a Congolese army (FARDC) naval base in Nyamamba in February 2025, involving casualties and abductions. The group managed to establish temporary control over villages in Djugu despite FARDC offensives.
CRP was led by Thomas Lubanga, with reported involvement of former Zaïre self-defense group commanders such as Fidele Babala, Pharaon, and Logo Marine (deputy chief of staff). Thomas Lubanga was a prominent former rebel leader in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. He had previously headed the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) during the Ituri conflict in the early 2000s and was later convicted by the International Criminal Court for the recruitment and use of child soldiers, becoming the first person convicted by the Court. He was released after serving his sentence but remained politically and militarily active in eastern DR Congo networks.
CRP attempted to present itself as a coalition platform for multiple armed groups in Ituri, but several groups denied affiliation. Its creation reportedly caused internal divisions within Zaïre self-defense group networks.
Although CRP was primarily locally rooted and supported by community-based networks, there have been some reported but unconfirmed linkages to broader regional politico-military networks, including alleged contacts with actors in Uganda and with AFC (Alliance Fleuve Congo). The nature and extent of such connections remain unclear. For example, CRP has been reported to have contacts with networks associated with AFC-aligned political-military structures in eastern DR Congo, but there has been no formal organizational integration.
