Archive · 16 Aug 2025
Congo Army Battles Militia of Convicted War Criminal, Civilians Dead
Imagine there's a former bad guy named Thomas who was in jail for using child soldiers.
After getting out, he started a group and the army is now fighting them.
The fighting is happening near a city in Congo.
Sadly, some innocent people, like old ladies and young girls, have died because of the fighting.
The army says they've killed some of Thomas's fighters.
Thomas used to be in charge of using child soldiers but now has started a new group.
Nobody knows how many fighters he has.
Heavy clashes erupted between the Congo army and a militia founded by a convicted war criminal.
The fighting occurred approximately 30 kilometers north of Bunia, the Ituri capital.
A civil society activist reported 19 civilian deaths, including elderly women and young girls.
Thomas Lubanga, the war criminal, was convicted by the International Criminal Court in 2012.
Lubanga was released in 2020 and appointed to a peace task force, but later based himself in Uganda.
- Who
- Congo's army and a militia founded by Thomas Lubanga
- What
- Clashes between the Congo army and a militia founded by war criminal Thomas Lubanga.
- When
- This week
- Where
- Around 30 kilometers north of Bunia, Ituri capital, Congo.
- Why
- The CPR attempted multiple attacks, according to the Congo army.
Congo Army
CPR militia
Initiation of Attacks
Congo Army
The CPR initiated attacks against the army.
CPR militia
A CPR commander acknowledged clashes but reported only one casualty.
- Conflict
- Congo army vs. militia founded by Thomas Lubanga
- Location
- North of Bunia, Ituri, Congo
- Civilian Deaths
- 19 reported
- War Criminal
- Thomas Lubanga
- Lubanga Conviction
- Recruiting child soldiers (2012)
- Lubanga Release
- 2020