Former warlord in Ituri, MP Floribert Ndjabu calls on Thomas Lubanga to find a peaceful outcome to his demands
Floribert Ndjabu is a former warlord in Ituri. Convicted by the national justice system after his expulsion from the Netherlands, where he had sought political asylum following his appearance as a witness in the case of Mathieu Ngudjolo before the International Criminal Court (ICC), he returned to Ituri to work for peace after serving his sentence in Kinshasa. Alongside Thomas Lubanga — the first ICC convict —, he was taking part in an official Congolese government mission aimed at urging armed groups to lay down their arms, before being kidnapped in 2022 by the CODECO militia. Both managed to escape. In the last legislative elections, Ndjabu was elected a national deputy. Thomas Lubanga, meanwhile, had been elected a provincial deputy, but his mandate was invalidated by the Congolese courts. Since then, Lubanga has taken refuge in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, from where he launched a new rebellion: Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP).
As an elected representative for Ituri, how do you explain the resurgence of armed violence and what could be at the root of this relapse?
Floribert Ndjabu: With the fall of the cities of Goma and Bukavu to M23 rebels and everything looming on the horizon with the negotiations, Ituri is feeling the pressure of this war. The region's rebel leaders believe that by remaining militarily active, they are securing a place on the agenda of upcoming negotiation processes and access to power.
Is there a risk of inter-ethnic violence?
Floribert Ndjabu: There was an enormous risk of inter-ethnic violence. Fortunately, that is not yet the case, because the region's notables and deputies were working in Bunia and signed a joint declaration to bury the hatchet. But Thomas Lubanga's CRP must also be consulted. Such is the situation in Ituri right now: the war is already here, and the army is pursuing CRP elements in several localities. This will need to be discussed so that Thomas Lubanga comes to his senses and a common ground conducive to peace can be found in the province.
So, in your opinion, there is no risk of inter-ethnic violence for the moment?
Floribert Ndjabu: There are increased risks of inter-ethnic violence, especially since General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, head of the Ugandan army, stated that his forces were coming to protect a specific category of Ituri's people. This created psychosis and acted as a trigger. There is a great deal of restraint on our part. We have long advocated for Ituri not to go up in flames and we continue to do so. Because believe me, (