Joseph Kabila heads new DR Congo coalition including M23 rebels
The former president launched the FRN in Goma. Reports identify Corneille Nangaa and Sultani Makenga among its deputies.
Former Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila launched a new political-military coalition including M23 rebels on October 12, according to Associated Press reporting.
The group is called the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN). It was announced at Kabila’s residence in Goma, AP reported.
Reuters described the new coalition as intended to replace the AFC-M23 alliance fighting government forces in eastern Congo.
Corneille Nangaa, who led the Congo River Alliance, will serve as one of the coalition’s four vice presidents, according to AP. The Financial Times reported that M23 military commander Sultani Makenga would also serve as a deputy.
Coalition adviser Claude Ibalanky said the group sought to coordinate resistance against President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, including through the use of force, AP reported.
Kabila governed DR Congo from 2001 to 2019. The Financial Times reported that the new movement incorporates both M23 and its political umbrella, the Alliance Fleuve Congo.
The formation of the FRN places the former president at the head of an alliance involving leaders of the armed movement opposing his successor.
This story was drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below and reviewed by a human editor before publication.