Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has taken the helm of a new political-military movement, the Front for National Refoundation (FRN), which includes the M23 armed group. The FRN was announced on Monday evening in Goma, a city in eastern DR Congo controlled by the M23. Kabila appeared before the press alongside several M23 leaders but did not speak. The FRN's members stated their goal is to "put an end to tyranny by all means, including force."
The M23, supported by Rwanda, has repeatedly expressed its desire to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. This development occurs amid rising tensions over Tshisekedi's future, with his second and final constitutional term set to end in 2028. The presidential majority has been preparing for a possible constitutional amendment that could allow Tshisekedi to run for a third term, a move opposed by the opposition.
The opposition has denounced the potential constitutional change as a maneuver to extend Tshisekedi's stay in power. Protests in June and September in Kinshasa and other major cities were dispersed by security forces, sometimes violently. The United Nations reported at least one death during the first mobilization. Kabila himself attempted to extend his term beyond two mandates before renouncing under pressure from the street and the international community.
Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by the military justice system in late September for treason and war crimes. The judiciary presented him as one of the initiators of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). Kabila had reappeared in Goma in 2025 after several years abroad, denouncing an alleged "dictatorship" in DR Congo.
Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by violence for over thirty years. In January and February 2025, the M23, backed by the Rwandan army, captured Goma and Bukavu, facing overwhelmed Congolese forces. Despite diplomatic initiatives, including an agreement between Kinshasa and Kigali under US auspices and Qatari mediation between the Congolese government and the M23, efforts to restore peace have not ended the fighting.
The creation of the FRN and Kabila's leadership raise concerns about the stability of DR Congo. The alliance between Kabila's movement and the M23 could escalate tensions and violence in the region. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the UN and other actors calling for calm and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The DR Congo government has reacted to Kabila's new role, with government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stating that Kabila is "a man of the past." The situation remains volatile, with many stakeholders watching the developments in DR Congo and their potential impact on regional stability.
Key points
- Joseph Kabila leads the Front for National Refoundation (FRN), a movement that includes the M23 armed group.
- The FRN aims to "put an end to tyranny by all means, including force," amid rising tensions over President Félix Tshisekedi's future.
- Kabila's new role has raised concerns about DR Congo's stability and the potential for escalated violence in the region.
