The latest United Nations Group of Experts report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo sheds light on the Convention for the Popular Revolution/Forces for the Popular Revolution (CRP/FRP), a politico-military movement led by Thomas Lubanga, former International Criminal Court (ICC) convict and one of the figures linked to instability in Ituri Province, eastern DRC.

According to the report, since its official establishment on January 10, 2025, the CRP/FRP—under Lubanga’s leadership—has maintained an anti-government stance while advocating for regional autonomy. In a bid to align with broader regional dynamics and avoid isolation, Lubanga publicly endorsed the AFC/M23 on July 16, 2025.

No formal alliance with AFC/M23 has been documented, the report emphasizes. The CRP/FRP’s leadership includes former warlords, politicians, and local Ituri figures, many of whom reside in exile in Uganda, where some are registered as refugees. The FRP faction is reportedly led by Lobho Gokpa Justin, a former FARDC colonel.

Recent leadership defections have weakened the CRP/FRP’s internal cohesion and support base. As of November 2025, the group’s combatant numbers stood at approximately 300. By the time of the report’s drafting, this figure had risen to nearly 1,000 fighters. Recruitment has primarily targeted the “G5” community, with a majority of combatants hailing from the Hema ethnic group—some former members of the Zaïre group. The CRP/FRP has also recruited from internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Ituri and refugee settlements in Uganda.

From January 2026 onward, Innocent Kaina—sanctioned by international bodies—collaborated with the CRP/FRP, recruiting individuals from Ugandan refugee camps, including former M23 fighters. Despite these efforts, the CRP/FRP has struggled to secure broad support from other armed groups or Ituri communities. The group’s chief of staff attempted to enlist young Lendu fighters but met with limited success.

The CRP/FRP was officially launched by Lubanga Dyilo, a convicted war criminal, following his 2020 release from ICC custody. The movement positions itself as a response to what it describes as systemic failures in governance, citing corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and kleptocracy as key grievances. The CRP/FRP criticizes the state’s abandonment of its core responsibilities, particularly in Ituri Province, where years of conflict have resulted in thousands of deaths, mass displacement, and widespread human rights abuses.

Lubanga was first arrested in March 2006 under an ICC warrant for war crimes, including the conscription and use of child soldiers. His trial began on January 26, 2009, and concluded with a guilty verdict on March 14, 2012. Initially sentenced to 30 years in prison, he served 14 years before his 2020 release. Following his release, he participated in a presidential task force aimed at promoting peace in Ituri, though these efforts yielded limited results. His subsequent bid for a parliamentary seat in Ituri was also unsuccessful.