Former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has launched a new political-military coalition, the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), to replace the AFC-M23 alliance fighting government forces in eastern Congo.
The move signals a more direct role in the insurgency for Kabila, who had previously stopped short of openly backing the rebellion.
The new coalition will be headed by Kabila, with rebel leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki and Sultani Makenga serving as deputies, the group’s adviser, Claude Ibalanky, announced at a press conference.
Congolese authorities have for months accused Kabila of supporting the AFC-M23 alliance, which seized vast territories in eastern Congo during an offensive last year. The former president has denied involvement in the rebellion.
In a speech on Friday, Kabila accused the government of corruption, poor governance and military failures in eastern Congo. He also criticised the government’s minerals deal with the United States.
Kabila is an ally of Nangaa, the former head of the country’s electoral commission, who oversaw the disputed 2018 election that brought President Felix Tshisekedi to power and ended Kabila’s presidency.
Kabila travelled to the rebel-held city of Goma in 2025, while several of his former allies have since assumed positions within the AFC-M23 alliance, deepening perceptions of links between the former president and the insurgency.
The United Nations and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23 and exercising command and control over the rebels. Rwanda has denied supporting the insurgency.
Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a military court after being convicted of treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity over allegations that he supported the Rwanda-backed AFC-M23 rebellion in eastern Congo.
He has denied the allegations, describing the case as politically motivated.
