Senior politicians and military officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reportedly been in discussions with the leadership of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), an alliance that includes the M23 rebel group, with the intention of possibly joining the coalition.
This revelation was made by UN experts on the DRC in a report published in May 2025, ahead of its submission to the United Nations Security Council.
The experts compiled the report following months of investigations, which concluded in April 2025.
Among those said to be in ongoing talks with Corneille Nangaa, the coordinator of the AFC, are:
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Joseph Kabila Kabange, former President of the DRC
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Moïse Katumbi Chapwe, opposition politician
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Gen. John Numbi, former head of the Congolese National Police and former Inspector General of the Armed Forces
The report states:
“AFC/M23’s strategy of uniting armed groups with political figures has shown results. In North and South Kivu, many armed factions, including former Wazalendo fighters, have joined M23 following the group’s continued military gains.”
It continues:
“While major political and military figures such as Joseph Kabila, Moïse Katumbi, and John Numbi have not officially joined the AFC/M23, they have maintained regular communication with Corneille Nangaa.”
According to the report, preparatory meetings for their alignment with M23 have been held in Kampala (Uganda) and Kigali (Rwanda).
Kabila, in particular, is reported to be in Goma, a city under AFC/M23 control, where he has been for over a month, frequently meeting with the alliance’s leadership.
Kabila’s senior adviser, Kikaya Bin Karubi, recently confirmed that the former president—who ruled the DRC for 18 years—shares a common goal with M23: ending President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi’s authoritarian rule.
Meanwhile, Moïse Katumbi has regularly accused Tshisekedi’s government of:
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Silencing dissent
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Harassing journalists and opposition figures
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Arbitrarily detaining civilians under the pretext of the war against M23
He reaffirmed these concerns recently when commenting on the peace agreement signed between the DRC and Rwanda.
