Kabila, M23 rebels form political-military coalition party

The former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila , has joined forces with the M23 rebels to form a new political-military coalition known as the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation.

The announcement was made at a press conference in the eastern city of Goma.

Senior members of the M23 rebel group attended the press conference announcing Kabila as the leader of the new movement: The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation.

According to the officials, Kabila will be deputised by four vice presidents, including former M23 political wing head Corneille Nangaa.

The new group’s stated objective is to pool their strengths, resources and means to end what they call the tyranny of the Tshisekedi administration by any means, including force.

The new movement’s formation comes amid political tensions in the DRC over the ruling coalition’s plans to change the constitution, which would allow President Tshisekedi to rule beyond his final term in 2028.

The DRC government has repeatedly accused Joseph Kabila of backing the M23 rebels.

VIDEO | Joseph Kabila denounces US sanctions against him https://t.co/fyo5Okwg9U — SABC News (@SABCNews) May 5, 2026 Last year, a military court in Kinshasa found Kabila guilty of treason and war crimes and sentenced him to death in absentia for his alleged links to the M23 rebels.

In May, the United States government imposed sanctions on the former Congolese leader, accusing him of providing financial support to the M23 rebels and seeking to destabilise the DRC.

Kabila denied the charges, describing the sanctions and the ruling as politically motivated.

He led the DRC from 2001 to 2018.

His participation in the new rebel outfit comes as the US, Qatar and the African Union continue trying to broker peace between the warring parties in eastern DRC, who have continued fighting.

CREDIT: Chris Ocamringa VIDEO | Joseph Kabila joins forces with M23 rebels