USN-USA Calls for Action Against Kabila's New Coalition in Congo

WASHINGTON, DC, DC, UNITED STATES, November 5, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- USN-USA, a civic collective of Congolese diaspora members based in the United States, has called for increased action against the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a political-military coalition led by former DRC President Joseph Kabila Kabange. The organization's call comes in response to Kabila's October 9 public remarks and the reported October 12 announcement of the FRN.

USN-USA, formed by members of the Congolese diaspora living in the U.S., is urging the United States, the United Nations, and international partners to step up efforts to disrupt the financing and supply networks of armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The organization specifically targets the illicit trade in minerals from mining sites controlled by armed groups in North Kivu and South Kivu. According to USN-USA, the FRN has been presented as a successor to the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and includes figures associated with the AFC/M23 movement.

The collective emphasizes the need for accountability and civilian protection. It states that disagreements with public authorities cannot justify armed attacks, abuses against civilians, or violations of international humanitarian law. USN-USA also highlights the political responsibility of the FRN's leadership, particularly given international sanctions and documented abuses associated with the AFC/M23. The group cites U.S. Treasury sanctions against Joseph Kabila announced on April 30, 2026, and warns that organizational changes or a new name must not be used to circumvent applicable sanctions or erase responsibility for previous conduct.

USN-USA is calling for investigations into any illicit flows of arms, ammunition, and military equipment to the FRN or armed groups associated with it. The organization wants to identify suppliers, intermediaries, financiers, and transportation channels, with targeted measures against parties whose involvement is established through lawful investigations. Additionally, the collective is advocating for stronger traceability and certification requirements for minerals extracted from armed-group-controlled sites, which are linked to the financing of violence.

The organization is also calling for restrictions on the international sale or import of unlawfully obtained minerals whose legitimate origin cannot be established. USN-USA is urging authorities to examine treating minerals extracted from such sites as conflict minerals. The collective advocates for sanctions against companies and intermediaries knowingly involved in illicit trade, while safeguarding legitimate producers and the local communities whose livelihoods depend on lawful mining.

USN-USA's advocacy is rooted in democracy, public accountability, justice, human dignity, and international cooperation. The organization emphasizes that the DRC's natural resources must contribute to the development of its people, not the financing of armed violence.