Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila has launched a new political-military coalition to replace the AFC-M23 alliance fighting government forces in eastern Congo, taking a far more direct role in an insurgency he had previously stopped short of openly backing. The announcement, made in rebel-held Goma on Monday, marks one of the most dramatic escalations yet in a conflict that has displaced millions.

A new front with familiar faces

The new group, known as the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), will be headed by Kabila himself, with senior rebel figures Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki and Sultani Makenga serving as deputies, according to an announcement by the group's adviser Claude Ibalanky at a press conference.

The FRN is explicitly designed to supersede the AFC-M23 alliance, which captured vast territories across eastern Congo during an offensive last year. The move consolidates the various rebel factions under Kabila's personal leadership — a striking reversal for a man who, for months, denied any involvement in the insurgency.

From denial to open leadership

Congolese authorities have long accused Kabila of supporting the AFC/M23 rebellion, but the former president repeatedly denied the allegations. That stance became increasingly difficult to maintain after he travelled to rebel-held Goma in 2025, and several of his former allies took positions within the AFC/M23 structure.

In a speech on Friday, Kabila accused President Félix Tshisekedi's government of corruption, poor governance and military setbacks in the east, while criticising a recent minerals deal struck with the United States. Kabila is allied with Nangaa, the former electoral commission chief who oversaw the contested 2018 vote that brought Tshisekedi to power and ended Kabila's own presidency.

According to Reuters, 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. He has denied the accusations, calling the case politically motivated.

The Rwanda dimension

The United Nations and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23 and exercising command and control over the rebels. Rwanda denies supporting the insurgency. Kabila's decision to openly head the FRN raises the stakes further: a former head of state now stands at the helm of the very rebellion the region has spent years trying to contain.

The eastern Congo conflict is also unfolding alongside a severe humanitarian burden in the country. Chronicle has previously covered the Ebola outbreak in Congo and a deadly river collision in Équateur province.

What comes next

Kinshasa has yet to issue a formal response to the FRN's launch, but the government's long-standing position — that Kabila is a traitor backing a foreign-directed rebellion — suggests a harsh reaction is coming. The question now is whether the FRN will pursue a renewed offensive, a negotiated political settlement, or a de facto partition of eastern Congo under Kabila's authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FRN?

The Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (Front for the Refounding of the Nation) is a new politico-military coalition in the Democratic Republic of Congo, headed by former president Joseph Kabila and designed to replace the AFC-M23 alliance in eastern Congo.

Who are the FRN's leaders?

Kabila heads the coalition, with rebel leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, Freddy Kaniki and Sultani Makenga serving as his deputies.

What had Kabila previously said about M23?

For months, Kabila denied any involvement in the M23 insurgency despite Congolese government accusations and his own 2025 visit to rebel-held Goma. The FRN launch ends that ambiguity.

What is Kabila's legal status in Congo?

Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a military court after being convicted of treason, war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged support for the rebellion. He denies the charges and calls the case politically motivated.

What is Rwanda's role?

The UN and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23 and exercising command and control over the rebels; Rwanda denies it.