Browsing: Conflict in Congo

Joseph Kabila Congo
  • For some, the reappearance of a once-powerful strongman Joseph Kabila raises concerns about instability; for others, it sparks speculation about whether he is staging a calculated return to power—or simply creating noise to protect old interests.
  • This environment is fertile ground for political disruption—and Kabila, a man who led Congo for nearly two decades — knows this terrain very
  • Already, the Congo River Alliance and M23 factions are actively welcoming his presence, and Congolese authorities have been unable to control his movements in the east.

When Joseph Kabila, the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reemerged in the rebel-controlled flashpoint of Goma earlier this year, it sent ripples through a nation already navigating fragile peace talks and deep political uncertainty. For some, the reappearance of a once-powerful strongman raised concerns about instability; for others, it sparked speculation about whether Kabila is staging a calculated return to power—or …

Joseph Kabila DRC
  • This year, Joseph Kabila’s political comeback gained traction amid mounting tensions with the President Félix Tshisekedi administration, which accused him of plotting insurrection and revoked his immunity from prosecution.
  • His recent reemergence, particularly in M23-held Goma, has sparked a flurry of debate: is this the calculated return of a power-hungry strongman, or the quiet evolution of a statesman ready to contribute to peace and reform?

When Joseph Kabila handed over power in 2019 after 18 turbulent years at the helm of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it was seen as a rare peaceful transition in a nation often synonymous with war, death, disease and hopelessness under the shadow of vast mineral wealth.

Since then, the former president has kept a notably low profile—until a couple of months now. His recent reemergence, particularly in M23-held flashpoint of Goma, has sparked a flurry of debate: is this the calculated return of …

M23 Rebels Goma
  • M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have seized Goma in eastern DRC, prompting accusations of a “declaration of war” from the Congolese government.
  • The conflict has escalated tensions between DRC and Rwanda, with international calls for de-escalation and emergency summit planned in Nairobi to address the crisis.
  • Thousands have been displaced, and the humanitarian toll continues to worsen in a region already plagued by decades of instability.

Gunfire echoed across Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as M23 rebels claimed to have seized the city on Sunday. The announcement by the Rwanda-backed rebel group came despite the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) calls for an immediate halt to hostilities.

Goma, home to nearly two million residents, was thrust into chaos as reports emerged of exchanges of fire between DRC and Rwandan troops along the shared border on Monday.

In a statement on social media …