In brief
Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has been announced as the chief of a newly formed rebel coalition, the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), that aims to oust President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration. The coalition, based in the eastern city of Goma, will bring together key militias, including the M23, and pledges to use “all means, including force” to end what it calls tyranny. Kabila, who was sentenced to death in absentia for treason last year, had largely stayed out of the public eye but has become increasingly critical of Tshisekedi, accusing the government of undermining constitutional rule and mismanaging the economy. The move follows a heated speech by Kabila in which he urged the Congolese people to liberate their country and denounced the government’s alleged abuse of power. The government has yet to respond to the announcement, but the development raises concerns about escalating violence in a country already grappling with more than 100 armed groups in the mineral‑rich east.
The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) announced on Monday that former president Joseph Kabila would serve as its chief, vowing to coordinate armed forces to oust President Félix Tshisekedi. The coalition’s statement called for an end to “tyranny” in the Democratic Republic of Congo by “all means, including force.”
Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 until 2019, was recently sentenced to death in absentia for treason. He has long denied ties to the M23 rebel group, but the new coalition now includes its leader, Sultani Makenga, as one of Kabila’s four deputies.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at Kabila’s residence in Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo that has been under M23 control since last year. Video released by the FRN showed Kabila signing documents in front of an assembled leadership, signalling a shift from political opposition to active militancy.
In the weeks before the reveal, Kabila spoke in Kinshasa and accused Tshisekedi’s government of ignoring proposals he offered last year, undermining constitutional processes, mismanaging the economy, and neglecting security. He also alleged arbitrary arrests of political rivals and military officers.
The government has so far not issued a public explanation of the new coalition’s formation. Analysts warn that the move could usher in a new wave of conflict in a country that has endured decades of violence, with more than 100 militia groups operating in the east, competing for control of lucrative mineral resources.
International actors, including the United Nations and several Western governments, have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels. Rwanda maintains it is only present in eastern DR Congo in a defensive posture against Congolese armed groups.
Tshisekedi’s second term is scheduled to end in 2028, but he has hinted that future elections could be cancelled amid the ongoing unrest. The Congolese parliament recently passed a bill that could pave the way for a referendum to remove the constitution’s two‑term limit, a move that has already sparked protests in the capital.
For more on this developing story, read BBC News Africa.
