CRP/FRP struggles to gain traction in Ituri amid lack of M23 cooperation
The Convention for Popular Revolution/Forces for Popular Revolution (CRP/FRP), led by former International Criminal Court (ICC) convict Thomas Lubanga, continues to face an uphill battle in rallying broad support among armed groups and local communities in Ituri, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to the latest United Nations Group of Experts report on the DRC, submitted to the UN Security Council, the CRP/FRP—officially established on January 10, 2025—has maintained an antigovernment stance and advocated for regional autonomy since its inception. While Thomas Lubanga publicly declared his support for the Allied Democratic Forces (AFC/M23) on July 16, 2025, the report notes that no official cooperation between the two groups has been documented to date.
Key figures within the CRP/FRP include former warlords, political figures, and local leaders from Ituri, many of whom reside in exile in Uganda, where some have registered as refugees. The group is reportedly led by Lobho Gokpa Justin, a former colonel in the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).
A recent wave of defections among CRP/FRP’s leadership has significantly weakened its internal cohesion and support base. As of November 2025, the group’s estimated fighting force stood at around 300 combatants. By the time of the UN report’s drafting, this number had reportedly grown to nearly 1,000 fighters. Recruitment efforts have primarily targeted members of the “G5” community, though the majority of fighters hail from the Hema ethnic group, including former members of the Zaïre group. The CRP/FRP has also sought recruits from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Ituri and refugee camps in Uganda.
Since January 2026, Innocent Kaina—sanctioned by international authorities—has collaborated with the CRP/FRP, recruiting individuals from refugee camps in Uganda, including former M23 fighters. Despite these efforts, the group has yet to secure widespread backing from other armed factions or communities in Ituri. The CRP/FRP’s attempts to enlist young Lendu fighters, for instance, have yielded limited success.
The CRP/FRP, founded by Thomas Lubanga Dyilo—a convicted war criminal and ICC defendant—positions itself as a movement advocating for systemic change in the DRC. According to its manifesto, the group aims to address issues such as corruption, kleptocracy, mismanagement, and ethnic divisions. It cites the state’s failure to ensure security in Ituri, where thousands of lives have been lost and hundreds of thousands displaced over eight years of conflict. The group also accuses military authorities of complicity in the region’s endemic insecurity, alleging manipulation and sponsorship of armed groups to maintain political power and facilitate illegal mining activities.
Thomas Lubanga was arrested in 2006 under an ICC warrant for war crimes, including the conscription and enlistment of minors under 15 into active combat. His trial began in January 2009, and he was convicted in March 2012, facing a potential 30-year sentence. On July 10, 2012, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with credit given for time served since his 2006 arrest. Lubanga was released in 2020.
Following his release, he participated in a presidential task force established by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi to promote peace in Ituri and discourage involvement in armed groups. Despite these efforts, tangible results have been elusive. Lubanga’s bid to become a deputy in Ituri was ultimately overturned and replaced with another candidate.