Congo War: Kabila Joins Rebel Front 7 Years After Leaving Power

Former Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila has joined a new political-military coalition challenging his successor, President Felix Tshisekedi, raising fresh doubts about any near-term end to the war in the country's east, Al Jazeera reported.

What has Kabila announced?

The coalition, called the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), was announced in Goma on Monday evening, according to Al Jazeera. It replaces the existing alliance between the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the March 23 Movement (M23), folding figures and fighters from both groups under Kabila's leadership. The FRN accuses Tshisekedi of tyranny and calls for resistance "by all means, including force," Al Jazeera reported.

Why does Goma matter to the new coalition?

Goma, the main city in North Kivu province in eastern Congo, has been under M23-AFC control since January last year, according to Al Jazeera. The group has said it took up arms because the Congolese government failed to honor earlier commitments. The Congolese government and international actors have accused Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali denies, citing security threats from armed groups operating in eastern Congo, Al Jazeera reported.

What do residents in eastern Congo fear?

Goma resident Basa Juhudi told Al Jazeera that Kabila's decision has revived fears the conflict will drag on.

"The fact that Joseph Kabila has joined the rebellion, bearing in mind that he is our former president and knows this country inside out, means the war is far from over. I am not happy about this frightening situation," Juhudi said, according to Al Jazeera.

Juhudi also pointed to the 2019 peaceful transfer of power between Kabila and Tshisekedi as a benchmark he now worries is at risk. "I don't know if I will be lucky enough to experience a proper democracy in the DRC," he told Al Jazeera.

Who blames whom for the fighting?

The roots of the conflict stretch back decades, shaped by regional rivalries and competition over territory and mineral resources, Al Jazeera reported. The aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide helped fuel wars across the region, and tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali continue to shape the fighting, according to the report.

Conflict timeline figures

• Rwanda's genocide, cited as a root driver of regional instability: 1994
• Kabila's peaceful exit from the presidency: 2019
• M23-AFC control of Goma: since January last year

What to watch next

• Whether the FRN issues a formal political platform or demands beyond "resistance by all means"
• Any response from Tshisekedi's government to Kabila's direct involvement
• Statements from Rwanda on the new coalition, given existing accusations of its support for M23
• Movement of displaced populations in North Kivu as the realignment unfolds

Key terms to know

• FRN (Front pour la Refondation de la Nation): The new coalition led by Kabila, formed from the former AFC-M23 alliance.
• AFC (Alliance Fleuve Congo): A political-military alliance that had partnered with M23 before the FRN's formation.
• M23 (March 23 Movement): An armed group controlling Goma since January last year, which says it fights over unmet government commitments.

Whether Kabila's leadership reshapes the rebellion or further complicates efforts to end the war remains unclear, Al Jazeera reported.