DR – Congo: Joseph Kabila named head of new Rebel coalition

Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) president Joseph Kabila has been named head of a new political and military coalition involving leaders of the M23 rebellion, marking a significant escalation in his confrontation with President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.

The Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), translated as the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, was unveiled in Goma, eastern DRC, on Monday, October 12.

The announcement was made by Claude Ibalanky, a former diplomatic adviser to Tshisekedi who is now associated with the new movement.

The coalition brings together political and military figures previously associated with the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and the M23 rebellion, which has seized significant territory in eastern Congo, including Goma in January 2025.

Under the announced leadership structure, Kabila will head the FRN, while prominent rebel figures Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa will serve as vice-presidents.

Sultani Makenga, the M23’s military commander, has been appointed chief of staff of the coalition’s armed wing, according to reports by Reuters and Congolese media.

In its founding declaration, the FRN said it intended to unite opposition forces and resources to end what it described as tyranny and establish a new political order.

The statement explicitly said the movement would pursue its objectives through all means, including force.

The declaration also invoked Article 64 of the Congolese Constitution, which calls on citizens to oppose individuals or groups that seize power or exercise it in violation of constitutional provisions.

The announcement followed a national address by Kabila on Friday, October 9, in which he criticised the Tshisekedi administration over insecurity in eastern Congo, corruption, economic mismanagement and alleged repression of political opponents.

Kabila said proposals he had presented in May 2025 to help resolve the conflict had been ignored.

He promised to outline further actions he believed Congolese citizens should take to rescue their country.

The government had not publicly responded to the latest allegations at the time of reporting.

Kabila’s new role comes amid a prolonged conflict in eastern Congo, where government forces have fought M23 rebels despite regional and international diplomatic efforts.

The United Nations and several Western governments have accused Rwanda of supporting M23, allegations Kigali denies.

The development also carries legal implications for the former president.

In September 2025, a Congolese military court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia after convicting him of treason and other serious crimes linked to alleged support for the rebellion.

Kabila has rejected the accusations as politically motivated.

Kabila ruled the DRC from 2001 until January 2019, when Tshisekedi took office following a disputed election.

His appointment to lead the FRN represents a more direct public alignment with the armed opposition, potentially complicating efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.

The immediate impact of the coalition on the battlefield and ongoing peace initiatives remains uncertain.