DR Congo's former president joins rebel group fighting his own successor

Joseph Kabila has been named the leader of the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, a rebel alliance that includes the M23 group. The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo is now at the head of the movement seeking to remove President Félix Tshisekedi from power.

Kabila was appointed to the role earlier this month, a development that confirmed long-held suspicions among many Congolese that he was coordinating with the M23 rebels. The M23 forces seized control of key eastern cities, including Goma and Bukavu, during the previous year. The announcement sent shockwaves through the nation, which possesses vast deposits of gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for mobile phones and electric vehicle batteries.

The political relationship between the two leaders is complex. Kabila handed power to Tshisekedi after 18 years as president. The two men previously formed a coalition government, but that arrangement collapsed in December 2020. Tshisekedi moved to break Kabila's parliamentary dominance, leading Kabila to self-imposed exile in South Africa. He returned to the country in 2025 and appeared in rebel-held Goma.

Kabila faces a death sentence after a military court convicted him in absentia of treason and financing violence in September. He also remains under US sanctions. Policy analyst Henry-Pacifique Mayala stated that Kabila had few options for regaining influence. Mayala suggested Kabila sought assurances that the partnership would serve his interests, noting that M23 military strength could provide leverage in future negotiations.

Kabila has framed the conflict as a struggle against authoritarianism. He accused Tshisekedi of acting as a tyrant and violating the constitution. In a statement to the research group Conspiracy Trackers Great Lakes, Kabila said, "This is personal." He invoked Section 64 of the constitution, which allows citizens to resist unconstitutional rule. Tshisekedi, who is rumored to be planning constitutional changes to seek a third term, reacted by saying Kabila has never loved the country.

The opposition C64 coalition refused to back Kabila's rebellion this week. The group announced plans to seek direct talks with both Tshisekedi and Kabila to pursue a national dialogue. Richard Moncrieff of the International Crisis Group noted that Tshisekedi retains substantial advantages, including strong American backing and control over the political and military systems. Tshisekedi has maintained that he won the 2018 election legitimately, despite claims by former electoral commission head Corneille Nangaa that a deal was struck before results were announced.

Fighting continues despite a peace accord overseen by US President Donald Trump last year. The US signed an agreement to extract mineral wealth from the country and has imposed sanctions on Rwandan officials. Kabila's appointment may align his interests with those of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, though analysts describe the relationship as one of convenience. Kabila has questioned whether elections scheduled for 2028 can resolve the crisis, asking if Congo needs a revolution instead.