Former Ituri Warlords Forge Alliance with AFC-M23
A United Nations Security Council report released in late December reveals that former leaders and seasoned fighters of the Congolese Patriotic Union (UPC) have been reactivated, while the Zaïre/ADCVI (Auto-défense des communautés victimes de l’Ituri) group has intensified recruitment efforts from displaced persons camps in Ituri. Thousands of fighters have undergone training at centers across Ituri, as well as at an AFC-M23 (Alliance Fleuve Congo – Mouvement du 23 mars) coalition training facility in Tchanzu and Uganda.
Key training camps have been established in Bini within the Mambisa chiefdom, led by Baraka Amos Maki, and in Bua within the Bahema Banywagi chiefdom near Tchomia, under Mandro Saliko. Additional sites, including Mabanga, Katoto, Nzebi, Dhego, Berunda, and Bua in Djugu territory, have also hosted training programs. The Zaïre/ADCVI group has fortified its alliance with the AFC-M23 coalition to coordinate attacks on the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in Ituri. Backed by the coalition, Zaïre/ADCVI has crafted a detailed strategy, identifying key operational areas, weapons transit routes, and troop movements along Lake Albert from Uganda, preparing for a large-scale offensive.
The AFC-M23 coalition has persistently sought to unite all armed groups in Ituri under its banner. Recently, Nangaa and other representatives engaged with leaders of the Ituri Patriotic Resistance Force (FRPI) and CODECO-URDPC (Coopérative pour le développement du Congo/Union des révolutionnaires pour la défense du peuple congolais). Zaïre leaders such as General Logo Marine and Baraka have made frequent trips to Uganda. Marine established a presence in Kampala, working closely with Lubanga, while also traveling to Rwanda and Bunagana in the Democratic Republic of Congo to meet with AFC-M23 representatives and facilitate training for Zaïre fighters in Tchanzu.
In July 2024, Lubanga dispatched envoys to Ituri to mediate between the MAPI (Mouvement d’autodéfense populaire de l’Ituri) and Zaïre/ADCVI factions, aiming to consolidate them and align them with the AFC-M23 coalition. While MAPI leaders chose to retain their independence, both groups agreed to collaborate with the coalition. MAPI spokesperson Benjamin Bahati subsequently joined the AFC-M23 in Bunagana.
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A Fragile Ceasefire in Eastern DRC
Amid ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), two nearly identical statements released on April 23, 2025, announced an immediate ceasefire. One was signed in Goma by a member of the rebel group AFC/M23—someone not even officially part of the delegation—and the other was issued by the Congolese government in Kinshasa.
Ituri Under Surveillance
Rising Security Concerns The political fragmentation in eastern DRC continues to threaten the fragile stability of Ituri. The failure of the Doha process and the breakdown of the republican pact could pave the way for a new wave of unrest in the region. On April 22, 2025, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, met with leaders of the Lendu militia CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) in Entebbe. Officially, the meeting was convened to address CODECO’s attack on Ugandan military positions in Ituri, a confrontation that adds to past clashes between the group and the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Key Figures and Discussions The CODECO delegation, led by Dunji Kulukpa Etienne (Vice President of the Lendu community), included political and militant representatives. On the Ugandan side, top-ranking officials participated: • General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, CDF • Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, Land Forces Commander • Major General Felix Busizoori, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division • Brigadier General Oscar Munanura, Deputy Assistant Chief of Intelligence and Security Earlier in the week, CODECO leaders had already engaged with Ugandan military commanders. During the Entebbe meeting, Mr. Dunji expressed gratitude for Uganda’s reception and apologized for the Fataki clashes between CODECO and the UPDF. He claimed the militia had been influenced by external forces and emphasized that the Lendu, Balega, and Bahema communities do not view Uganda as an adversary. Dunji also highlighted Ituri’s worsening humanitarian crisis, attributing it to political divisions, while praising Uganda’s contributions in healthcare, refugee assistance, and economic aid. Uganda’s Expanding Influence in Ituri General Kainerugaba reaffirmed Uganda’s historical presence in North Kivu and Ituri, citing counter-insurgency operations dating back to the early 2000s. He urged CODECO leaders to collaborate with the UPDF in pursuit of a lasting peace. As a demonstration of goodwill, Ugandan forces provided free medical care to wounded CODECO fighters. Strategic Implications: A Larger Agenda? While Uganda frames this meeting as a step toward reconciliation, analysts at African Security Analysis suggest a deeper motive. They argue that the gathering was part of a broader effort to integrate CODECO into the militant coalition led by Thomas Lubanga, potentially setting the stage for coordinated offensives in Ituri, particularly targeting Bunia. If confirmed, this would signal a significant shift in the security landscape, with Uganda deepening its influence in Ituri under the guise of conflict resolution. The region remains under scrutiny as stakeholders assess the evolving dynamics.
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