OMM Redaksiyası
Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been named leader of a new rebel coalition seeking to remove the government, the BBC reported.
The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) said it would coordinate “resistance forces” to end what it called “tyranny” in the country. It said it would pursue that goal “by all means, including force”.
Announced on Monday, the coalition is the clearest indication so far of Kabila’s direct involvement in an armed movement. He was sentenced to death in absentia for treason a year ago and had previously denied links to the M23 rebel group.
The announcement was made at a news conference at Kabila’s residence in Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo. The city has been under M23 control since last year.
M23 leader Sultani Makenga will be one of four deputies to Kabila in the new movement. The other three also come from the AFC-M23 alliance, which seized much of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo last year. The Congolese government has not commented on the coalition’s announcement.
Kabila’s accusations against the government
The coalition was announced days after Kabila gave an address saying he would explain how Congolese people should act to “rescue” their country.
On Friday, he accused President Félix Tshisekedi’s government of disregarding proposals he had put forward last year, including proposals to end the conflict in eastern DR Congo. Kabila also accused the government of undermining constitutional rule, mismanaging the economy and failing to improve security, and alleged that political opponents and military officers had been arbitrarily arrested.
The government has not publicly responded to those allegations.
Conflict and uncertainty over elections
Kabila, 55, led DR Congo from 2001 until January 2019, when Tshisekedi took office after a disputed election. After remaining largely out of public view for several years, Kabila has become increasingly critical of his successor’s administration.
The coalition’s formation comes amid decades of violence in the country. More than 100 militia groups are active in eastern DR Congo, where ethnic tensions and fighting over political power and valuable natural resources persist.
Tshisekedi’s second term ends in 2028. In May, he said elections due that year might not be held because of the conflict. He also suggested he could seek a third term “if the people want”.
Parliament has since passed a bill that could pave the way for a referendum on removing the constitution’s two-term limit. Last month, authorities clashed with protesters demonstrating in the capital against the proposed changes.
