KINSHASA, Oct. 21 — The African Union (AU) on Tuesday warned against the seizure of power by force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as political tensions mount following former President Joseph Kabila’s formation of a new rebel alliance.
In a statement released Tuesday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reaffirmed the continental body’s opposition to unconstitutional changes of government, particularly the seizure of power by force and the overthrow of democratically established institutions. Youssouf welcomed DRC President Felix Tshisekedi’s efforts to promote an inclusive national political dialogue within the country’s institutional framework, while urging political actors to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could undermine reconciliation efforts. The statement came just over a week after Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, was named head of the newly formed Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a political-military alliance bringing together leaders of the March 23 Movement rebellion. The Congolese government has strongly criticized Kabila’s move. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said in remarks cited by local media outlets on Monday that Kabila’s decision to lead the rebel alliance constituted an attack on the country’s constitutional order. Meanwhile, fighting has continued in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, with FRN-affiliated fighters clashing with government forces and allied militias, according to local media reports. In Tuesday’s statement, Youssouf called for preserving the gains made through existing peace mediation processes, implementing commitments already undertaken, respecting the ceasefire and ensuring the protection of civilians.
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