Six CRP Militiamen Surrender Amid Fighting with FARDC in Djugu

Djugu, Ituri, January 9, 2026 - Six militiamen from the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CRP) surrendered on Friday, January 9, during clashes with the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) in the Nyaka and Lodha localities of Djugu territory. The surrender followed an attack by CRP fighters on a FARDC position in the area. Sporadic gunfire had been reported since last Monday around Fataki, where Thomas Lubanga’s CRP militia had unsuccessfully tried to establish a foothold following an incursion into Bule, approximately 15 kilometers away. These attempts were repeatedly repelled by MONUSCO soldiers, stationed in Djaiba, who maintain regular patrols in the region. On the morning of Friday, January 9, the CRP attacked a FARDC position near Lodha, which also hosts a camp for internally displaced persons. The FARDC, reinforced in the area, responded vigorously, leading to clashes that continued until mid-afternoon. MONUSCO peacekeepers intensified patrols along the Fataki-Lodha and Fataki-Sanduku roads to protect civilians, many of whom fled to nearby FARDC positions and the MONUSCO base due to ongoing threats from the militia. The incident underscores the persistent insecurity in Djugu and the continued efforts by FARDC and MONUSCO to safeguard civilians.