World
Joseph Kabila named leader of new rebel coalition in eastern DR Congo
Former Democratic Republic of Congo president Joseph Kabila has been named leader of a new rebel coalition that says it will seek to remove President Félix Tshisekedi's government, including by force. The coalition includes senior figures from the AFC-M23 alliance, which controls much of mineral-rich eastern Congo, and was announced in M23-controlled Goma. Kabila has previously denied links to M23 and faces US sanctions over alleged support for the group. Analysts say his involvement could broaden the rebellion, though peace negotiations appear stalled.
Editorial summary · Publisher article
What matters
- The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation says it will coordinate resistance forces against the government.
- M23 leader Sultani Makenga is one of Kabila's four deputies.
- The coalition was announced in Goma, which has been under M23 control since last year.
- The International Crisis Group says Kabila may seek support beyond M23's narrow political base and reduce reliance on Rwanda.
Why the development matters
The report places Kabila's return at the centre of a conflict involving more than 100 militia groups, political competition and control of natural resources. The coalition could give the rebellion a more prominent political figure, but sanctions and the difficulty of reproducing his father's earlier march to power limit the immediate prospects of a takeover.
Context & caveats
- The Congolese government had not publicly responded to the coalition's announcement or Kabila's allegations in the supplied report.
Why this made the edition
The report documents a major political and military development in a conflict-affected country, with clear attribution, relevant historical context and analysis of possible consequences.
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