The talks took place in areas under the control of the rebel group, just one day after AFC/M23 confirmed Kabila's arrival in the region.
According to sources close to both camps, the former president held a meeting with Corneille Nangaa, the coalition's political coordinator, along with his deputy Bertrand Bisimwa and another senior official.
The meeting was described as a courtesy exchange, a "salamalek" or peace greeting, but signalled a potentially deeper political engagement to come.
On the same day, Kabila also visited the AFC/M23's military and ideological training base in Rumangabo, Rutshuru territory.
A source close to the former president said the visit aimed to assess the conditions under which Congolese citizens are trained after choosing to join the AFC/M23 "revolution.'
Kabila's return to the Democratic Republic of Congo came just days after the Congolese Senate lifted his immunity as a senator for life, paving the way for legal proceedings against him over alleged ties to the M23 rebels.
In April, the Ministry of Justice accused the former head of state of colluding with the insurgency and ordered the seizure of his assets.
Since his arrival in Goma, no official photos or videos of Kabila have been released. Updates about his movements have come mainly from Reconstruire RDC, a platform he founded, and his close associates.
The platform announced last night that starting Wednesday, May 28, Kabila plans to begin a series of citizen consultations aimed at gathering concerns and proposals from various groups in response to the current security challenges facing the DRC.
The consultations are expected to guide the next phase of his political roadmap, centred on his proposed twelve-point plan to address the national crisis.
Kabila has been sharply critical of President Félix Tshisekedi's administration, accusing it of corruption, mismanagement, and worsening insecurity in the eastern provinces. His return to Goma, particularly his engagement with M23 leadership, signals a major shift in the country's political dynamics.
The former president is expected to address the nation once he concludes his consultations, during which he is likely to outline his vision and next steps amid a growing political crisis in the DRC.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/politics-48/article/kabila-holds-talks-with-afc-m23-leaders-in-goma
