page_title: Ituri conflict
section_title: FRPI: (2014 – December 2017)
hierarchical_section_title: Ituri conflict / 2008–present / FRPI: (2014 – December 2017)
caption_attribution_description: Aveba, district de l’Ituri, Province Orientale, DR Congo&#160;: Des militaires FARDC en patrouille. L’état-major général des Forces Armées de la RDC a informé la MONUSCO du début de l'Opération militaire des FARDC, SUKOLA II (nettoyer en français) dirigée contre les rebelles rwandais des FDLR ce mardi 24 février au Sud Kivu. Photo MONUSCO/ Abel Kavanagh == Aveba, Ituri district, Oriental Province, DR Congo: FARDC soldiers on patrol. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the DRC has informed MONUSCO of the start of the FARDC military operation, Sukola II (sweep in English), against Rwandan rebels of the FDLR this Tuesday 24 February in South Kivu. Photo MONUSCO/Abel Kavanagh
context_page_description: The Ituri conflict was a major conflict between the agriculturalist Lendu and pastoralist Hema ethnic groups in the Ituri region of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. While the two groups had fought since as early as 1972, the name 'Ituri conflict' refers to the period of intense violence between 1999 and 2003. Armed conflict continues to the present day.
  The conflict was largely set off by the Second Congo War, which had led to increased ethnic consciousness, a large supply of small arms, and the formation of various armed groups. More long-term factors include land disputes, natural resources, and the existing ethnic tensions throughout the region. The Lendu ethnicity was largely represented by the Nationalist and Integrationist Front while the Union of Congolese Patriots claimed to be fighting for the Hema.
  The conflict was extremely violent. Large-scale massacres were perpetrated by members of both ethnic factions. In 2006, the BBC reported that as many as 60,000 people had died in Ituri since 1998.
context_section_description: In spite of government efforts, the FRPI attacks civilians to this day, particularly since 2014. More property has been stolen and more crimes have been committed. Militants may be using bases in Uganda to aid in operations. Although FRPI commander Mbadu Adirodu promised to surrender 300 militants in May 2015, by June peace negotiations had broken down and fighting continued.
caption: FARDC soldiers on patrol near Aveba in 2015
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