Fears grow in DRC as former President Joseph Kabila joins rebellion

What the report says

Fears are growing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after former President Joseph Kabila aligned himself with a new political-military coalition opposing President Felix Tshisekedi. According to Al Jazeera, the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation, or Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, was announced in Goma and replaces the earlier AFC-M23 alliance. The move puts a former head of state directly into the leadership structure of an armed challenge in eastern Congo.

The report says Goma, the main city in North Kivu, has been under M23-AFC control since January last year. Al Jazeera describes the conflict as one that has displaced millions and drawn in neighbouring states, with long-running tensions tied to security, territory and mineral wealth. Residents quoted by the outlet said Kabila’s involvement makes the war seem less likely to end soon and raises concerns about the country’s democratic future.

Kabila, who ruled after the death of his father and later served as elected president, had already been a controversial figure because of delays to the end of his second term. His alliance with the rebellion marks a new phase in his conflict with Tshisekedi, who took office in 2019 after Congo’s first peaceful transfer of power through elections.

The development also complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts. Al Jazeera says the United States and Qatar have been pursuing separate talks related to ceasefire terms, refugees, detainees and Rwanda’s role in the conflict. The new coalition says it will honor commitments from the Doha process, but the article notes uncertainty over whether that pledge can produce any real progress toward peace.