Former DR Congo President Kabila Forms New Coalition with M23 Rebels

Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has launched a new political and military coalition that includes the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group. This alliance raises concerns about increased conflict and confrontation with the government of current President Felix Tshisekedi in the eastern part of the country.

Kabila unveiled the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) at a press conference held at his residence in Goma, an eastern city that the M23 has controlled since January 2025. This development has put the DRC capital, Kinshasa, on alert for potential conflict.

Highlights

• Former President Joseph Kabila has formed a new political and military coalition, the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), which includes the M23 rebel group.
• Kabila stated he would lead the coalition, with Corneille Nangaa, former leader of the M23's political wing, serving as one of his deputies.
• A coalition adviser, Claude Ibalanky, indicated the group aims to unite all resistance forces “to put an end to tyranny, by any means necessary including the use of force.”
• Experts warn that this announcement increases the likelihood of a direct confrontation between Kabila and current President Tshisekedi, potentially escalating fighting in eastern DRC.
• Last year, a DRC military court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia on charges of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Details

Joseph Kabila governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, taking office at the age of 29 after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated. Last year, a DRC military court convicted Kabila in absentia of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, citing his alleged collaboration with Rwanda and the M23. Kabila has dismissed these charges as politically motivated. The United States also imposed sanctions on him earlier this year for his alleged role in funding rebel groups.

The DRC, the US, and UN experts accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, an allegation Rwanda denies. The M23 has seized vast areas in eastern DRC. Representatives from the DRC government and the M23 movement were expected to hold talks in Qatar in November, but analysts caution that this new coalition could undermine the peace process.

Why it matters

This development could further destabilize the already fragile security situation in eastern DRC and exacerbate regional instability. The alliance of a former head of state with a rebel group places significant pressure on the current government and brings political tensions in the country to a head. Experts express concern that this situation could lead to a military escalation. Furthermore, with President Tshisekedi's second term ending in 2028 and his allies reportedly preparing public opinion for changes to the constitutional two-term limit, this coalition could have substantial implications for the nation's future.