Former Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila has reportedly launched a new political and military coalition that includes the M23 armed group, a movement widely accused of receiving backing from neighboring Rwanda and seizing vast territories in the country's volatile eastern region. Kabila introduced the newly formed Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) during a press conference held at his residence in Goma.

According to the announcements made at the event, Kabila will head the FRN, with prominent rebel figures such as Corneille Nangaa—former leader of the M23's political wing—serving as his deputies. Coalition adviser Claude Ibalanky allegedly stated that the primary objective of the group is to unite resistance forces to eradicate the current administration by any means necessary, including the overt use of force.

Analysts and academic researchers warn that this aggressive move significantly heightens the probability of a direct military confrontation between Kabila and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, potentially plunging the eastern provinces into a deeper cycle of violence. Observers note that such an unprecedented announcement strongly indicates prior strategic preparation for a broader military escalation.

This development threatens to completely derail upcoming diplomatic talks scheduled in Qatar between the DRC authorities and M23 representatives. The situation is further complicated by a previous in-absentia death sentence handed down to Kabila by a military court on treason charges, alongside financial sanctions previously slapped on him by the US regime over alleged rebel funding activities.

Source: www.aljazeera.com