What You Need to Know
The security situation in Djugu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has sharply deteriorated, with renewed violence from the Popular Revolution Conference led by Thomas Lubanga. Despite previous setbacks, recent clashes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, raising alarms about the humanitarian crisis affecting over 87,000 internally displaced persons in the region.
Africa. The Ituri Province, specifically the Djugu region in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is experiencing a serious deterioration in security, with a resurgence of activity from the group known as the “Popular Revolution Conference,” led by Thomas Lubanga, a former detainee of the International Criminal Court.
Although this group appeared to have lost momentum after operations by the Congolese army, recent weeks have seen new clashes, accompanied by a heavy initial toll of casualties.
While media and political attention is heavily focused on North Kivu Province, the security situation in Ituri remains extremely concerning.
In early 2015, Thomas Lubanga, currently in exile in Uganda, launched a military political movement called the “Popular Revolution Conference,” justifying it by expressing his anger towards the Kinshasa government, which he accuses of plundering Ituri’s resources and neglecting its conditions, particularly amid the escalating security crises in Kivu Province.
Since then, the Congolese Reform Party (CRP) has emerged as one of the most active and widespread armed groups in Ituri. In recent weeks, CRP members have been spotted around the town of Buli, located about 95 kilometers from Bunia, the provincial capital. Buli is an important commercial center and has become a battleground for control between militias and the Congolese army, as it is alternately held by the armed group and then retaken by the army.
In recent days, the town has been under the control of militias, which the Congolese army accuses of using displaced persons and other civilians as human shields during confrontations.
The numbers reveal significant human losses; according to sources from the United Nations, at least 25 civilians have been killed, and more than 40 others injured in Buli and surrounding areas over the past month.
Since December 26, 23 critically injured individuals have been transferred to the “Salama” hospital in Bunia, a facility supported by Médecins Sans Frontières. Additionally, 22 other injured persons have been treated at the Fatki hospital, located about 15 kilometers from Buli.
On the humanitarian front, the situation is worsening as insecurity continues. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the deterioration of security conditions is hindering humanitarian access to over 87,000 internally displaced persons residing in Buli and its surroundings.
In this context, local authorities reported the deaths of at least 17 individuals between December 5 and 29 due to harsh living conditions, lack of medical care, and hunger, further indicating the depth of the humanitarian crisis affecting the region.
In early 2015, Thomas Lubanga, a former International Criminal Court detainee, launched a military political movement called the Popular Revolution Conference, citing grievances against the Kinshasa government for neglecting the Ituri region. Since then, the Congolese Reform Party has emerged as a prominent armed group in Ituri, intensifying conflicts over control of key areas like the town of Buli, which has become a battleground between militias and the Congolese army.
