Bottom Line

Former president Joseph Kabila has been named leader of a new politico-military movement that the AFC says replaces its existing organization. The announcement follows his warning on Friday that he would soon set out what he believed was needed to “save” the DRC.

Fighting between CODECO and the CRP killed at least 45 people in Ituri as Uganda prepared to resume talks between Kinshasa and Thomas Lubanga’s movement. Fighting also displaced civilians in Masisi and continued across several South Kivu fronts. The government is preparing the institutions for a Congolese stock market and considering up to $500 million in prearranged disaster financing.

Security and Eastern DRC

Joseph Kabila named leader of new rebel movement

The AFC announced that former president Joseph Kabila will lead the Front pour la refondation de la nation, a new politico-military movement formed Monday in Goma. It says the FRN replaces the AFC. Sources close to the movement told Jeune Afrique that the AFC/M23 had been formally dissolved.

Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa, previously the AFC coordinator and M23 president, take senior positions in the new structure. M23 military chief Sultani Makenga becomes its chief of military staff, with the rank of vice president. The FRN says it intends to end Félix Tshisekedi’s presidency “by all means,” including force.

Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia by a military court in September 2025 on charges including treason and complicity with the AFC/M23. In an address on Friday, he said he would soon set out what he believed Congolese people should undertake to “save” the country.

Uganda-mediated talks prepare to resume as Ituri fighting kills at least 45

Fighting between CODECO and Thomas Lubanga’s Convention for the Popular Revolution killed at least 45 people in Djugu. In a separate attack attributed to CODECO, two children were killed at the Rhoo displacement site.

The violence followed an October 9 meeting in Entebbe between Lubanga, Congolese military officials and the military governor of Ituri under President Yoweri Museveni’s mediation. The talks revived a process begun in April and interrupted during the Ebola outbreak. Museveni proposed resuming a technical pre-dialogue within two weeks.

Lubanga renewed the CRP’s unilateral ceasefire and instructed its military leadership to enforce it. CODECO was not represented at Entebbe, leaving the process without a commitment from the group involved in the latest fighting.

Fighting displaces civilians in Masisi and continues across South Kivu

Renewed AFC/M23–Wazalendo fighting around Rubaya and Ngungu forced additional civilians to flee parts of Masisi territory.

In South Kivu, clashes continued around Kaziba in Walungu territory. Government-aligned forces separately claimed two positions and reported the surrender of more than 60 AFC/M23 combatants in Fizi. Twirwaneho, an armed group aligned with AFC/M23, also claimed Rubarati and Ruhuha in the Uvira highlands. The territorial and surrender claims come from the combatants or their allies.

Four bound bodies recovered from Lake Kivu in Goma

Four young men’s bodies were recovered near Goma’s ports between Sunday and Monday. Some had their hands and feet tied and showed signs of torture.

Witnesses alleged that one victim was pursued and detained by AFC/M23 personnel after singing a song hostile to the movement.

Health

Water shortages leave Ebola-prevention facilities unusable in Butembo schools

Four public primary schools serving 2,665 pupils in Butembo lack the water needed to use their handwashing facilities. The local education administration said water deliveries would begin at six affected schools.

The problem adds to pressure on the response as 25 additional Ebola cases were reported across nine North Kivu health zones. UN officials have also warned that financing the Ebola response should not further reduce assistance for other humanitarian emergencies.

Economy and Public Finance

Government begins building the institutions needed for a Congolese stock market

The government has established a committee to prepare the country’s stock market for operation following the promulgation of the stock-market law. President Félix Tshisekedi instructed the government to complete the regulations and define cooperation between the Central Bank of Congo and the Financial Markets Authority.

Before trading can begin, authorities must divide supervisory responsibilities, establish systems for issuing and trading securities, train regulators and market participants and develop a pipeline of credible issuers. An International Finance Corporation program running through June 2030 is supporting those legal, institutional and technical preparations.

The planned market is intended to give companies access to long-term financing outside the banking system and channel Congolese savings into investment.

Government considers $500 million in prearranged disaster financing

The government is considering a World Bank contingent-financing facility of up to $500 million for natural disasters, health emergencies and climate shocks.

The proposal responds to recurring floods, epidemics, landslides, volcanic eruptions and droughts that affected more than eight million people between 2000 and 2025. The World Bank estimates average annual financing needs of $62 million for floods and epidemics alone, compared with approximately $3.5 million in annual government emergency allocations.

The facility would give the government access to financing under terms agreed before an emergency occurs.

Cabinet backs negotiated settlement of the $25 million SONECA dispute

The dispute began with a 2016 judgment that created a state debt to the National Society of Publishers, Composers and Authors for payments owed to artists and other rights holders. After the debt was formally recognized, the Treasury borrowed $25 million from Equity-BCDC in 2023 to finance the settlement.

Disagreements over the loan’s conditions, payment procedures, fees and interest led to an Inspectorate General of Finance audit and stalled the arrangement. Cabinet has now authorized negotiations on an amendment that would establish the state’s final obligations, reconsider fees and interest and set a repayment schedule.

Infrastructure and Digital Services

Government backs a trade route connecting northwestern DRC to Atlantic ports

The Council of Ministers approved plans to develop the Zongo–Bangui–Douala corridor and construct a 625-kilometer road from Zongo to Bumba through Gemena, Akula and Lisala.

Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi and Mongala are poorly connected to Matadi, the DRC’s principal Atlantic gateway. Traders using the route through Central African Republic and Cameroon also face high transport costs, bottlenecks and alleged double customs charges on goods in transit.

The proposed road would connect the Congo River transport system at Bumba with Zongo, Bangui and the Cameroonian ports of Douala and Kribi. The government expects the corridor to reduce shipping costs and delays, expand import and export activity and increase customs revenue. The project will require financing, transit agreements and coordinated customs procedures with Central African Republic and Cameroon.

Government announces an urban start for commercial 5G service

The government announced that commercial 5G service would begin in urban areas before expanding gradually.

The announcement leaves the initial cities, participating operators and wider rollout schedule unspecified. It also does not address service in AFC/M23-controlled areas. Airtel, Orange, Vodacom and Africell hold unified telecommunications licenses, while the regulator’s public operator list continues to describe their mobile networks as 2G, 3G and 4G.

The launch is being prepared as subscribers continue to complain about unreliable service and the cost and shortened validity of some internet packages.

Governance and Mining

Senior police commanders suspended over deployment at private mining sites

The Lualaba provincial police commissioner and the provincial commander of the National Intervention Legion were suspended after officers were deployed to two RMC Mining concessions.

The National Intervention Legion is responsible for maintaining and restoring public order. Its deployment to privately operated concessions prompted the suspension of the two most senior officers responsible for the operation in the country’s principal copper- and cobalt-producing province. The government has not identified who requested the deployment or its stated purpose.