DR Congo's former president Joseph Kabila to lead new movement with M23 rebels

Former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila has launched a new political-military coalition called the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN). According to the Daily Maverick, the group is intended to replace the AFC-M23 alliance currently fighting government forces in eastern Congo. Kabila will head the new movement, with deputies including rebel leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki, and Sultani Makenga, as announced by group adviser Claude Ibalanky.

In a speech on Friday, Kabila criticized the current government for corruption, poor governance, and military failures in the east, while also criticizing a minerals deal with the United States, the Daily Maverick reports. France 24 notes that this announcement comes despite Kabila being sentenced to death in absentia for alleged complicity with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. While Congolese authorities have accused Kabila of supporting the AFC/M23, the former president has denied involvement.

The move occurs amid growing debate regarding constitutional changes before President Felix Tshisekedi’s term ends in 2028, according to France 24. The Daily Maverick further notes that Kabila is an ally of Corneille Nangaa, the former electoral commission chief who oversaw the 2018 election.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Daily Maverick — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.