Joseph Kabila to Lead New Political-Military Platform in Eastern DRC

Joseph Kabila has taken leadership of a new political-military platform announced in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing together prominent figures from the AFC/M23 anti-government forces.

The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, or FRN, says it was formed to unite resistance forces and establish a new direction for the country. Its creation comes during what has been described as a realignment among groups opposed to the government in Kinshasa.

New leadership structure

Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa have been appointed vice-presidents of the platform. Sultani Makenga was named Chief of General Staff, while Freddy Kaniki was appointed Secretary-General and Benjamin Bonimpa Deputy Secretary-General.

Claude Ibalanky, an adviser to the coalition, outlined the platform’s stated aims at a press conference on Monday.

“The mission of the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation is to unite and coordinate all resistance forces in order to put an end to tyranny—by any means necessary, including force—and to chart a new course and create new prospects for the country,” Ibalanky said.

He added that the signatories had agreed to combine their forces, resources and means in an effort to create a framework through which Congolese people could work together to liberate the country.

Message to Tshisekedi

Moïse Nyarugabo, another coalition member, directed a warning to President Félix Tshisekedi, saying the Congolese leader faced a choice between peace and war.

“Today, the message to Tshisekedi is that he must make a choice. If he wants peace, we are ready to grant it to him; if he chooses war, he will get that too,” Nyarugabo said.

The government of President Tshisekedi had not commented on the announcement at the time covered by the report.

Background to Kabila’s return

The United Nations Group of Experts had noted in a June report the possibility of restructuring the AFC/M23, including a name change and a leading role for Kabila.

Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a Congolese court last year on charges including treason and war crimes. He denied having links to the M23 and Rwanda and described the proceedings against him as a political trial.

The FRN’s announcement provides limited information about the coalition’s full membership, geographic reach, resources or military capacity. It does, however, formally place Kabila at the head of a new platform aligned with figures from the AFC/M23 and opposed to the Kinshasa government.