Former DR Congo president Kabila joins M23 rebels in a new coalition | Joseph Kabila News
Kinshasa Prepares for Escalating Tensions as Kabila Aligns with M23 Rebels
Published on October 13, 2026
Former Congolese President Joseph Kabila has announced the formation of a new political and military coalition, joining forces with the M23 armed group, which has gained significant control over eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At a press conference on Monday in Goma, where M23 has maintained a presence since January 2025, Kabila introduced the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN). He stated that he would lead the coalition, which includes notable rebel leaders such as Corneille Nangaa, former head of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and the political branch of M23, serving as his deputies.
Claude Ibalanky, an adviser to the coalition, indicated that the FRN is dedicated to uniting various resistance factions with the intent of ending what they describe as tyranny, potentially resorting to armed conflict to achieve their objectives.
The announcement has not elicited an immediate response from the Congolese government, but analysts are concerned about the implications of this coalition. Yvon Muya, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, suggested that this move heightens the risk of direct confrontations between Kabila and current President Félix Tshisekedi, possibly leading to increased violence in the region.
“You don’t make an announcement like this without preparing subsequent actions,” Muya remarked, signaling that military escalations may be imminent.
Discussions were planned between DRC government representatives and M23 leaders in Qatar next month. However, analysts believe the formation of the FRN may disrupt these peace negotiations.
Kabila served as president from 2001 to 2019, assuming office at the age of 29 following the assassination of his father, President Laurent Kabila. Last year, a military court in the DRC sentenced Kabila to death in absentia on charges of treason, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, claiming he had collaborated with Rwanda and M23. Kabila has characterized the court’s decision as politically motivated and has denied all allegations.
Earlier this year, the United States imposed sanctions on Kabila in connection with claims of his financing of rebel factions. Both the DRC and UN experts have accused Rwanda of supporting M23, which Rwanda has denied.
As President Tshisekedi’s term is set to conclude in 2028, his allies have started to rally public support for potential amendments to the constitutional two-term limit, amid intensifying rebel activities in eastern Congo.
