Joseph Kabila's Return: New Alliance with M23 Fighters Threatens Escalation in Eastern DRC Conflict

Joseph Kabila, who previously governed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for nearly two decades, is making a political comeback. He has now formed a coalition with M23 fighters operating in the eastern part of the DRC. This newly formed political-military alliance, which Kabila will lead, stands in opposition to the government based in Kinshasa. Observers widely believe this development is likely to intensify the ongoing fighting in eastern DRC. Previous efforts to broker a peace agreement involving government forces, rebels, and various armed groups in the region have thus far proven unsuccessful. The key question remains whether this coalition will lead to an escalation of hostilities.

The discussion features insights from:

• Henry-Pacifique Mayala – Coordinator of the Kivu Security Tracker at the Ebuteli institute
• Ovigwe Eguegu – Policy analyst at Development Reimagined, specializing in African geopolitics and great power competition
• Vincent Rouget – Head of political risk for Africa at Control Risks, a global consultancy

The program is presented by Dareen Abughaida.