Former President Joseph Kabila held a high-stakes meeting on Friday with the leadership of the AFC/M23 movement at his Kinyogote residence in Goma, as part of a series of ongoing consultations aimed at addressing the deepening political and security crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The closed-door session comes just a day after Kabila met with religious leaders, traditional chiefs, and economic operators under the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) in North Kivu.
These meetings are part of a broader effort by the former president to engage with key stakeholders on the future of peace and national cohesion.
According to sources close to the talks, Friday’s discussions focused on the instability in North and South Kivu, broader national challenges, and possible pathways to lasting peace.
Images from the meeting show Kabila in direct engagement with the M23 coordination team, signaling a bold move in a context of rising political tensions.
The former president has in recent weeks been openly critical of President Félix Tshisekedi’s leadership.
In a statement earlier this month, Kabila declared that “the problem is Tshisekedi—and also the solution,” deepening the political divide between the two camps.
Tensions between Kabila and the current administration have escalated further with the freezing of Kabila’s financial assets and the removal of his presidential immunity—moves widely interpreted as politically motivated and which have plunged the country into a worsening political quagmire.
While the presidency has yet to comment officially on Kabila’s series of consultations, his renewed public presence and engagement with both civil and armed stakeholders mark a significant shift in the evolving power dynamics within the DRC.
Consultations are expected to continue, with Kabila appearing determined to position himself as a key actor in shaping the country’s future amid mounting governance challenges and regional instability.