Former Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has launched a new political and military coalition incorporating the Rwanda backed M23 rebel movement, taking a more direct role in the conflict against the government of President Félix Tshisekedi.
The coalition, called the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), was announced on Monday, October 12, at a press conference in Goma, a major city in eastern Congo that M23 has controlled since January 2025. Kabila will lead the group, while several rebel leaders will serve as deputies.
The coalition’s leadership includes Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki and Sultani Makenga, according to adviser Claude Ibalanky, who announced the new organisation. Nangaa previously led the Congo River Alliance (AFC), the political wing associated with M23.
Ibalanky said the coalition intended to bring together resistance movements and pool their resources and capabilities to challenge the current government, including through the use of force.
The announcement marks a significant development in Kabila’s relationship with the insurgency. Congolese authorities have repeatedly accused the former president of supporting M23, allegations he has denied. His decision to lead a coalition that includes the rebels brings him more directly into the conflict.
In a speech on Friday, Kabila accused Tshisekedi’s administration of corruption, poor governance and military failures in eastern Congo. He also criticised the government’s minerals agreement with the United States.
Kabila governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019. He assumed the presidency after the assassination of his father, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, and left office following the 2018 election, which brought Tshisekedi to power.
A Congolese military court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia in 2025 after convicting him of treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity in a case linked to allegations of collaboration with M23 and Rwanda. Kabila has rejected the accusations and described the proceedings as politically motivated. The United States also imposed sanctions on him in 2026 over his alleged support for rebel groups.
The conflict in eastern Congo has displaced civilians and intensified regional tensions. The DRC, the United Nations and several Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali denies.
The coalition’s formation also raises questions about ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. Representatives of the Congolese government and M23 were expected to hold further talks in Qatar in November, but analysts have warned that the new alliance could complicate negotiations and increase the risk of renewed fighting.
The Congolese government had not immediately issued a response to the coalition’s announcement.
The development adds another political and military dimension to the conflict, with potential consequences for peace negotiations, civilian security and stability across the Great Lakes region.
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