Congolese government accuses former president of promoting widespread attack

O congolese government accused Joseph Kabila, who was president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 2001 to 2019 and who recently assumed the leadership of the rebellion in the east, to foster “a widespread attack” against the country.

In an interview with AFP on Friday night, the government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, insisted that “the choice of weapons means that Congolese is going to be killed because it is thought to conquer territories.”.

East Congolese has been the scene of conflict for over 30 years. The region, rich in natural and border resources from Rwanda, has witnessed since the end of 2021 the resurgence of the armed anti-government group M23, supported by Kigali.

In early 2025, the M23, which already controlled vast territorial extensions in the provinces of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu, seized the important cities of Goma and Bukavu.

On Monday, the M23 and its political branch, the Rio Congo Alliance (AFC), announced that Joseph Kabila, aged 55, became its leader.

The announcement, made from his residence in Goma and his presence, coincides with a climate of contesting a draft constitutional amendment to allow a third term to the current president, Félix Tshisekedi.

The rebels also announced the change of their designation, with the AFC/M23 platform moving to Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN) and describing itself as a “political-military” movement.

For months the government had accused Joseph Kabila of “collaborating” with the rebels. Military justice condemned him in late September 2023 to death for treason. Kabila is also under US sanctions for her support for M23.

Since April 2025, the M23 has participated in peace negotiations with the government, under the aegis of Qatar, which the FRN indicated wanting to maintain.

Kabila's return to the political scene takes place in a volatile political context in the country. Tshisekedi, 63 years old and successor to Joseph Kabila, finished his term in 2028. The Constitution lays down a limit to presidential office for two five-year terms.

The challenge to this possibility prompted protests in June and September.

A coalition that brings together the main opposition parties has distanced themselves from Kabila, which, for its part, attacks the power holders “motivated only by their permenisation”.

Several diplomatic sources and observers point to the possibility of political challenge being equated with support for rebellion and causing a wave of arrests of opponents.

A recent UN report indicated that 42 politicians, mostly from the opposition, were detained in the country on 30 January.

Today, Joseph Kabila's party, the PPRD, which maintains influence in part of the political class and provinces, despite recent exits, was suspended, according to a document from the Ministry of Interior consulted by AFP.