Hopes for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been significantly dimmed with the announcement that former President Joseph Kabila has joined a new political-military coalition challenging the current administration.

The newly formed coalition, named the Front pour la Refondation du Nation (FRN), was unveiled in Goma on Monday evening. The FRN replaces the existing alliance between the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the March 23 Movement (M23). This move positions Kabila, a former head of state, directly at the helm of a rebellion that has contributed to the displacement of millions and drawn in neighboring countries.

The coalition brings together figures and forces previously associated with the M23 and AFC. It accuses President Felix Tshisekedi of tyranny and calls for resistance by all means, including armed force. Goma, the principal city in North Kivu province, has been under the control of M23 and its allies since January of the previous year.

The conflict in eastern Congo has deep roots, extending back decades and fueled by regional rivalries, unresolved security concerns, and competition for the region's rich mineral resources. The aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide significantly contributed to wars across the region, and ongoing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali continue to influence the current fighting.

The M23 movement asserts that it took up arms due to the Congolese government's failure to honor previous agreements. Both the Congolese government and various international actors have accused Rwanda of backing the M23 group, allegations that Kigali denies, citing security threats posed by armed groups operating in eastern Congo.

It remains unclear whether Kabila's leadership will significantly alter the rebellion's trajectory or further complicate efforts to end the protracted conflict. Residents in Goma have expressed deep concern that this latest political realignment will push the prospect of peace even further out of reach.

For residents like Basa Juhudi, Kabila's decision has reignited fears that the conflict will continue indefinitely. "As a resident of Goma, I believed the war might end in the very near future, hoping that the Congolese government would liberate us," Juhudi told Al Jazeera. "And we are greatly surprised that even our former president has joined the fray." Juhudi highlighted Kabila's extensive political experience as a particularly troubling aspect of his involvement, stating, "The fact that Joseph Kabila has joined the rebellion, bearing in mind that he is our former president and knows this country inside out, means the war is far from over. I am not happy about this frightening situation."

Juhudi also voiced anxieties about the DRC's democratic future, recalling the landmark peaceful transfer of power in 2019 when Tshisekedi succeeded Kabila. "Today, I am very afraid. I don’t know if I will be lucky enough to experience a proper democracy in the DRC. I was delighted by the country’s very first peaceful transfer of power," he added, underscoring the profound disappointment and apprehension felt by many following this development.