Union of Congolese Patriots
Encyclopedia
The Union of Congolese Patriots is an armed group in Ituri
, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
. They were in 2003 said to be 15000 soldiers http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2772575.stm. It has carried out numerous attacks upon civilians and other serious human rights
abuses in pursuit of its policies. The UPC supports the Hema
ethnic group in the Ituri conflict
, a spin-off conflict of the Second Congo War
that officially ended in 2002.
In August 2002, it took control of the town of Bunia
with the help of Uganda
n forces, following which it received support from Rwanda
. In late 2003, the UPC split into two factions: one led by Kisembo Bahemuka and known as the UPC-K, and the other under Thomas Lubanga
and known as the UPC-L. The UPC-L was militarily stronger.
The UPC-L was implicated in the deaths of nine Bangladesh
i MONUC peacekeepers on 25 March 2005. Lubanga was arrested along with Floribert Ndjabu
, leader of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front
. In March 2006, Lubanga was arrested under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court
for the alleged war crime of using child soldiers, and was flown to the Netherlands.
Bosco Ntaganda
was named its leader in his absence. Human Rights Watch
states that between August 2002 and March 2003, the UPC arrested and tortured over 100 opponents, was responsible for the murder of a Kenya
n peacekeeper in January 2004 and the kidnapping of a Moroccan
peacekeeper later that year. In January 2005, Commander Bosco Ntaganda was offered a position as a general in the national Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), but had refused the post.
The UPC won three National Assembly seats in the 2006 general elections
.
Ituri
Ituri may refer to:* Ituri Interim Administration, an interim administration in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo* Ituri Province, a proposed province in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo* Ituri Rainforest* Ituri River...
, northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. They were in 2003 said to be 15000 soldiers http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2772575.stm. It has carried out numerous attacks upon civilians and other serious human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
abuses in pursuit of its policies. The UPC supports the Hema
Hema people
The Hema, or Hima, are an ethnic group with about 160,000 members located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the Ituri region and Orientale province, as well as parts of Uganda and Rwanda...
ethnic group in the Ituri conflict
Ituri Conflict
The Ituri conflict is a conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo . While there have been many phases to the conflict, the most recent armed clashes ran from 1999 to 2003, with a low-level...
, a spin-off conflict of the Second Congo War
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Coltan War and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power; however, hostilities continue to this...
that officially ended in 2002.
In August 2002, it took control of the town of Bunia
Bunia
Bunia is a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo and is the headquarters of Ituri Interim Administration in the Ituri region of Orientale Province....
with the help of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n forces, following which it received support from Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. In late 2003, the UPC split into two factions: one led by Kisembo Bahemuka and known as the UPC-K, and the other under Thomas Lubanga
Thomas Lubanga
Thomas Lubanga Dyilo is a former rebel leader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo . He founded and led the Union of Congolese Patriots and was a key player in the Ituri conflict...
and known as the UPC-L. The UPC-L was militarily stronger.
The UPC-L was implicated in the deaths of nine Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i MONUC peacekeepers on 25 March 2005. Lubanga was arrested along with Floribert Ndjabu
Floribert Ndjabu
Floribert Ndjabu is leader of the Nationalist Integrationist Front in Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, leader of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front
Nationalist and Integrationist Front
The Nationalist and Integrationist Front is a Lendu rebel group active in the Ituri conflict in Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The FNI has fought against the Hema tribe and is blamed for the ambush and murder of nine MONUC peacekeepers near the town of Kafe in February 2005...
. In March 2006, Lubanga was arrested under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
for the alleged war crime of using child soldiers, and was flown to the Netherlands.
Bosco Ntaganda
Bosco Ntaganda
Bosco Ntaganda is the military chief of staff of the National Congress for the Defense of the People , an armed militia group operating in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
was named its leader in his absence. Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
states that between August 2002 and March 2003, the UPC arrested and tortured over 100 opponents, was responsible for the murder of a Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n peacekeeper in January 2004 and the kidnapping of a Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
peacekeeper later that year. In January 2005, Commander Bosco Ntaganda was offered a position as a general in the national Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC), but had refused the post.
The UPC won three National Assembly seats in the 2006 general elections
Democratic Republic of the Congo general election, 2006
General elections were held in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 30, 2006, the first multiparty elections in the country in 41 years. Voters went to the polls to elect both a new President of the Republic and a new National Assembly, the lower-house of the Parliament.The polls were...
.
External links
- The Curse of Gold: Ch III. Methodology, Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, June 2005 - D.R. Congo: Army Should Not Appoint War Criminals, 14 January 2005