Former DRC president Kabila forms new force with M23 armed group
Former DRC president Joseph Kabila and the armed group M23 announced a new party, the Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), at a joint press conference at Kabila's residence in Goma. The group was presented as a "politico-military" outfit to be headed by Kabila, with rebel leaders serving as deputies. Kabila was condemned to death in absentia a year ago for "complicity" with the M23, an allegation he has denied, and the announcement comes as the presidential majority has been preparing public opinion on amending the constitution's two-term limit.
Why it matters: The merger of a former head of state with an armed group directly affects conflict and security in eastern DRC, where a Qatari-mediated ceasefire is not being respected and a Kinshasa-Kigali deal signed in December has had no tangible effect on the ground.