The Press Conference That Kicked it Off

On December 15th, 2023, shockwaves were sent through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the formation of a new political coalition was announced at a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya, one that promised to challenge the DRC government based in Kinshasa. The man who had just founded this coalition promised more, however. He stated his willingness not just to win control in the DRC, but to remove President Félix Tshisekedi’s government by any means necessary. 

Corneille Nangaa

In January 2025, the March 23 Movement (M23) restarted its military campaign in the eastern DRC. As the heavily armed militia group rolled through the city of Goma, one figure continued to play a central role in the offensive: Corneille Nangaa. Just over a year ago, Nangaa had announced his declaration against the government in Kinshasa at his press conference in Nairobi, and now he was seen donning military fatigues as coalition forces stormed through the eastern DRC. 

While the 2025 campaign is by no means out of character for M23, it was surprising to see Nangaa’s unprecedented role in the chaos and violence that unfolded in the eastern DRC. it is therefore vital to understand Nangaa’s background and to assess any role he could play in the future.

Political Background and Government

In 2018, Félix Tshisekedi emerged as the new president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following a controversial presidential election. It was during this election that Nangaa stepped into the limelight as the head of the DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI). It is the organization that oversees the election process. It was in this role that Nangaa orchestrated a two-year postponement of elections, which he claimed was due to a lack of funds. Independent investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, however, found that Nangaa was among those who had in fact embezzled these funds.

Despite the US Treasury finding that the embezzlement of state funds was a prominent reason behind the postponement of the elections, Nangaa claimed that it was due to a series of backroom deals between Tshisekedi and outgoing president Joseph Kabila that forced him to push the elections back to 2018. Amidst this political hailstorm, Nangaa’s presidency at CENI came to an end, and he subsequently fled into self-imposed exile in Kenya. 

Formation of the AFC

By February 2023, Nangaa had reemerged in the political spotlight, albeit this time with the formation of his new political party: Action pour la Dignité du Congo et de son Peuple (ADCP), which translates to English as Action for the Dignity of the Congo and its People.  The ADCP, however, had little success. Already by December 2023, Nangaa crossed the Rubicon with his declaration of the formation of a new party altogether, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC). It was a coalition of political, armed, and paramilitary groups (including the M23) that shared the common goal of fighting against President Tshisekedi’s government in Kinshasa. Compared to the ADCP, this new alliance included a wider base of support and subsequently posed a greater threat to the DRC government.

Response From the National Government

The formation of the AFC sparked outrage from President Tshisekedi, who accused former president Joseph Kabila of supporting the coalition. The announcement of the AFC also angered Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who, on behalf of Kenya, was quick to denounce any links between Nangaa and the Kenyan government.

These events all culminated in the M23, one of the principal armed groups to fall under the banner of the AFC. It gained substantial ground during its armed campaign in the eastern DRC in January 2025. As the M23 rolled through the region’s capital, Goma, Nangaa was seen leading the charge in his military fatigues and holding press conferences with the same political tact that his previous experience had granted him.

Moves Against Corneille Nangaa and the AFC 

The embezzlement of CENI funds during the 2018 election cycle by Nangaa not only resulted in an unflattering report by the US Treasury, but also resulted in sanctions being placed on Nangaa. Furthermore, Nangaa’s claim that backroom deals between Tshisekedi and Kabila were to blame for the postponement of state elections was seen as treasonous, granting him a death in absentia ruling from the Congolese courts. Following the M23 offensive in 2025, a $5 million bounty for Nangaa’s arrest has been offered by the DRC government. 

The Future of Corneille Nangaa and the AFC 

On June 27^th 2025, a peace deal was signed between the DRC and Rwanda, which halted the M23’s campaign in the eastern DRC. Since then, Nangaa and the groups that fall under the umbrella of the AFC have been relatively quiet. Despite this lack of action, it remains unlikely that Nangaa will stop his efforts towards his goal of overthrowing President Tshisekedi in DRC’s capital Kinshasa. 

Shadows of the Past

Having witnessed the First Congo War, it is no surprise that the DRC government views Nangaa as a threat. Despite being some 2,500 kilometers from the capital, Nangaa’s deep political and military network, as well as his long list of alliances, have meant that the AFC is still an active threat. As the peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC was being finalized, independent reports suggested that Nangaa was strengthening his foothold in the Katanga province, a region that has historically been hostile to the government in Kinshasa and lies in the South, rather than East, of the vast country. There have been further reports that Nangaa is finalizing an expanded alliance with other politicians in the southeastern DRC, including former president Joseph Kabila. It remains uncertain as to what role Nangaa will have in the future of the DRC, but it will be vital to keep an eye on his movements.