Former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila takes charge of a new rebel coalition
The FRN, announced in rebel-held Goma, replaces the M23-led alliance and calls for resistance 'by all means' against President Tshisekedi.
At a glance
- Joseph Kabila leads the newly announced Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), unveiled in Goma.
- The FRN replaces the AFC–M23 alliance and accuses President Félix Tshisekedi of tyranny.
- Goma, capital of North Kivu, has been under rebel control since January 2025.
- Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia last year by a military court; his family calls the case politically motivated.
The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a dramatic political turn. Former president Joseph Kabila is now leading a new political-military coalition, the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), announced in the rebel-held city of Goma.
A new front
The FRN replaces the existing alliance between the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the M23 rebel group. It accuses President Félix Tshisekedi of tyranny and calls for resistance by all means, including force. FRN leader Freddy Kaniki said the group succeeds the AFC and will honour its commitments, including those made in Qatar-mediated talks in Doha.
Goma, the main city of North Kivu province, has been controlled by M23 and its allies since January 2025. The war has displaced millions and drawn in neighbouring countries. Kinshasa and international partners accuse Rwanda of backing M23; Rwanda denies this and cites threats from armed groups in eastern Congo.
From president to rebel leader
Kabila came to power in 2001 after his father was assassinated, won elections in 2006 and 2011, and stepped down after delayed and contested polls in 2018, handing over to Tshisekedi in 2019. Last year a military court sentenced him to death in absentia on charges including treason and war crimes linked to M23 — a verdict his family called unjust and politically motivated.
Reactions
The government had not reacted officially at the time of reporting; spokesman Patrick Muyaya had earlier said Kabila had "nothing to offer but chaos". Opposition figure Vital Kamerhe urged the movement to drop armed struggle for dialogue. Residents of Goma told Al Jazeera they feared the war would drag on.
The move complicates peace efforts in Doha and Washington, where the US has pushed a DRC–Rwanda deal on disarming militias and withdrawing Rwandan troops.
Questions people are asking
Who is Joseph Kabila?
He was president of the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2001 to 2019, taking power after his father's assassination. He handed over to Félix Tshisekedi in the country's first peaceful transfer of power.
What is M23?
A rebel group active in eastern DR Congo. Kinshasa and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing it, which Rwanda denies.
How we verified this story
GlobeHourly wrote this report in its own words after checking the facts against 3 independent sources: official statements, wire agencies and established news outlets. Read our standards.
