Ex-DRC President Kabila’s alliance with M23 rebels: Why it matters
Former DRC President Joseph Kabila has launched a new political-military coalition called the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN). The group aims to challenge the current government in Kinshasa and includes leaders from the M23 rebel movement.
Why it matters
This alliance formalizes the link between a former head of state and armed rebels, significantly increasing the risk of civil war and instability in the eastern DRC.
Kabila’s move confirms numerous accusations from the government in Kinshasa of his ties to armed rebels.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Former President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Joseph Kabila walks back into his house after posing for a group photo with religious leaders at one of his residences in Goma on May 29, 2025 [Jospin Mwisha/AFP] By Shola Lawal Published On 14 Oct 2026 14 Oct 2026 Former President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has officially allied with armed rebel groups, raising fears of further escalation of an ongoing conflict in the country’s east that has already killed thousands.
Kabila on Monday launched a new political-military coalition to replace the M23-AFC alliance, which is fighting government forces and controls swaths of territory.
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