Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Leads New Rebel Alliance Against Tshisekedi

Residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo face a new political reality as former President Joseph Kabila takes the helm of the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation. The 55-year-old leader has aligned his movement with the M23 rebels, who control much of the country's eastern provinces. This move pits Kabila against President Félix Tshisekedi, the man he handed power to after his own term ended in 2019.

Kabila first commanded rebel forces that brought his father, Laurent Kabila, to power in 1997. He served as president until 2019, when he stepped down. His return to the battlefield comes after a period of self-imposed exile in South Africa. He returned to the country in 2025 and appeared in the rebel-held city of Goma.

In September of this year, a military court sentenced Kabila to death in absentia. The charges included treason and financing violence in eastern Congo. Kabila rejected the verdict at the time. He is also subject to US sanctions related to his alleged support for the M23.

Policy analyst Henry-Pacifique Mayala noted that Kabila had few options for regaining influence. Mayala suggested Kabila may have received assurances from the M23 to protect his interests. The alliance gives the rebels the experience of a former head of state. It gives Kabila potential leverage in future negotiations with the government.

Kabila accused Tshisekedi of acting like a tyrant who ignores the constitution. He told the research group Conspiracy Trackers Great Lakes that the government uses the death penalty to intimidate civilians and military members. Kabila invoked Section 64 of the constitution, which calls on citizens to resist those who seize power in violation of constitutional provisions. He framed his campaign as a fight against authoritarianism.

Tshisekedi reacted to Kabila's appointment by calling it proof that the former president never loved the country or its people. Tshisekedi has hinted at changing the constitution to seek a third term. The C64 coalition of opposition parties, named for that same constitutional section, refused to back Kabila's rebellion. The coalition said security crises cannot be solved by military means alone and plans to seek direct talks with both leaders.

The conflict has persisted despite a peace accord overseen by Donald Trump last year. That deal included a US agreement to extract the country's mineral wealth. The US has since sided with Tshisekedi by imposing sanctions on Rwandan officials. It accused them of prolonging the violence. The M23 rebels seized major cities in the east, including Goma and Bukavu, last year.

Kabila's relationship with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame adds another layer to the conflict. Rwanda has long been accused of backing the M23, a group formed in 2012 to protect ethnic Tutsis. Alex Adams of the European Council on Foreign Relations described the Kabila-Kagame alignment as one of convenience. He said their objectives differ, with Kabila seeking national influence and Kagame focusing on regional security.

Elections are scheduled for 2028, but Tshisekedi has warned that fighting in the east could delay the vote. Kabila has questioned whether elections alone can resolve the political crisis. He argued that lasting peace requires a fundamental overhaul of the executive and legislature. International analyst Ovigwe Eguegu said the Congolese people may lose under either scenario because neither side presents a credible economic plan.