Kabila joins M23 in new alliance

Former DRC president Joseph Kabila has joined forces with the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group to lead a new political and military alliance, marking his most direct intervention in the conflict.

The alliance unveiled in Goma

The alliance was unveiled on Monday at a joint press conference at Kabila's residence in Goma, the main city in eastern DRC which has been under M23 control since January two thousand twenty-five.

The FRN movement explained

The new organisation, known as the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation, or FRN, is presented as a politico-military movement bringing together Kabila's supporters and the rebels' forces.

Stated goal: end tyranny by force

The FRN's stated objective is to put an end to tyranny by any means, including force. Kabila will head the movement with senior rebel figures serving as his deputies.

“put an end to tyranny by any means, including force”

Escalation in political confrontation

The announcement represents a significant escalation in Kabila's confrontation with the government of his successor, Félix Tshisekedi, bringing together a prominent political figure with an armed movement.

Kabila's background and conviction

Kabila, fifty-five, ruled the country from two thousand one until two thousand nineteen and has largely stayed out of public view since leaving office. He was sentenced to death in absentia in two thousand twenty-five.

Death sentence and M23 accusations

Kabila was convicted of complicity with M23. Congolese authorities also accused him of driving the Congo River Alliance, which previously served as the political wing of M23 before being dissolved. Kabila has denied those allegations.

Political tensions ahead of twenty twenty-eight

The alliance comes as political attention turns to twenty twenty-eight, when Tshisekedi is due to complete his second and final five-year term. Figures within the presidential majority have raised the prospect of constitutional changes.

M23's history and territorial control

M23, whose leadership is drawn largely from the Congolese Tutsi community, first launched an insurgency in two thousand twelve and returned to arms in late two thousand twenty-one.

Failed peace efforts and stalled ceasefire

A Washington-backed agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali signed in December has produced little change on the ground.

Rebellion now tied to political struggle

Kabila's new role ties the eastern rebellion more directly to the political struggle over Congo's future leadership, linking the armed conflict to the contest for power in Kinshasa.