Former DR Congo president forms new rebel movement
The move deepens the political and security threat to President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.
Former President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo has established a new rebel movement, which includes elements backed by Rwanda. This development comes despite US sanctions imposed on Kabila, and it marks the deepening of the political and security threat to President Félix Tshisekedi's administration. The move also complicates Washington's efforts to bring an end to the conflict and secure access to the country's vital mineral resources, including copper, coltan, and cobalt, which are crucial for digital infrastructure and the global energy transition.
In June, UN experts revealed that Kabila's growing influence in the conflict appeared to be a calculated attempt to mask Rwanda's involvement in the insurgency. Kabila's rebellion is being presented as a national issue by the Congolese government, rather than a foreign-backed operation. Rwanda has acknowledged providing "security coordination" to the M23 rebels, who have controlled significant portions of eastern Congo rich in minerals for over a year now.
The international community, including the US and Qatar, has been attempting to mediate a peace deal and end the fighting through US-sanctioned measures against rebel leaders and Rwanda's military. However, these efforts have thus far failed to bring about a resolution. The fighting has hampered the DRC's potential to capitalize on the rising demand for critical minerals used in modern technologies.
The US, alongside its peace initiatives, aims to reduce China's dominance in the mining sector, particularly in the world's largest cobalt producer.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
