An eight-member mediation team that traveled to Ituri province in February has been freed after being held captive by the armed group CODECO. The mission, approved by President Felix Tshisekedi, was aimed at persuading the group to halt its campaign of ethnic violence.
However, CODECO accused the delegation of colluding with the army, claiming the reconciliation trip was a cover to shell their positions.
Timeline of Releases
- March 21: One hostage was released.
- April 4: Three more, including the team’s driver, were freed.
- April 12: The final four, including ex-warlords and military escorts, regained freedom.
Pitchout Mbodina Iribi, the team’s spokesman, confirmed their release. However, another source claimed the last four had actually escaped and reached Bunia with army support.
Role of the Army
Former warlord Thomas Lubanga, one of the freed hostages, credited the army for their rescue:
“Perfect coordination between our armed forces with the colonels who were with us led to (the kidnappers) being foiled,” he said.
Lubanga explained that negotiations had failed and that the captives had become bargaining chips for CODECO. The intervention by the army ultimately led to their liberation.
Background of Mediators
The delegation included high-profile former warlords:
- Thomas Lubanga – served 14 years at the ICC for war crimes.
- Germain Katanga – served 12 years for crimes in Ituri.
- Floribert Ndjabu – jailed for 15 years over the killing of UN peacekeepers.
They were escorted by Congolese army colonels Justin and Desire Lobho.
Who Are CODECO?
CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) is a political-religious sect that claims to represent the Lendu ethnic group.
- The Lendu and Hema communities were locked in a deadly conflict from 1999 to 2003, killing thousands.
- Violence resurged in 2017, attributed to CODECO’s rise.
- Their attacks have killed hundreds, displaced 1.5 million people, and left half of Ituri’s population facing food insecurity (Danish Refugee Council).
Rebels’ Demands
While holding the mediators, CODECO demanded:
- Release of their fighters and detained Lendu civilians.
- End to military operations against them.
- Lifting of the state of siege in Ituri and North Kivu, where civilian authorities were replaced by military officers.
So far, the state of siege has failed to restore stability in the region.
