Thomas Lubanga, a convicted criminal based in Uganda, has announced the formation of a new rebel movement, the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR) which aims to overthrow the government of eastern Congo’s Ituri province.

The announcement comes as Congo’s army faces significant challenges from Rwandan-backed M23 rebel.

Lubanga, who was convicted by the International Criminal Court in 2012 for recruiting child soldiers and sent to prison, says the CPR has both political and military elements including armed men in three areas of Ituri.

Labanga was released from prison in 2020, and President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him to a taskforce to bring peace to Ituri.

But in 2022, he was taken hostage for two months by a rebel group, an incident he blames on the government. He then move to Uganda.

-9News Nigeria.