Corneille Nangaa has become a key figure in the the Democratic Republic of Congo armed conflict, as he is the current head of the Congo River Alliance (CRA) and allied with the M23 rebel group.
At the helm of this giant movement, Corneille Nangaa Yubeluo has overseen the seizure of key cities, including Goma, and now pressing on towards Kinshasa.
His first taste of fame came as the head of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Independent National Electoral Commission, which was responsible for overseeing the contentious 2018 election, marked by irregularities and the controversial declaration of Félix Tshisekedi as the winner.
Here is his biography as told by WoK:
Early Life
Nangaa was born on July 9, 1970, in Haut-Uele Province in the DRC.
He developed an early interest in politics and policy, which led him to study economics at the University of Kinshasa. He later worked with several international organizations, including the UN Development Programme, where he served as an African specialist
Political Career
The outspoken rebel leader had minimal involvement in politics until 2015, when he was appointed president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) under then-president Joseph Kabila.
His tenure was clouded by controversy, particularly in 2018, when he was accused of deliberately delaying the general election and declaring Félix Tshisekedi as president.
This move was condemned both locally and internationally, resulting in sanctions from the United States for “undermining DRC elections” after a two-year delay in elections, despite Joseph Kabila’s term officially ending in 2016.
His tenure came to a sudden end in 2021, when he confessed to being involved in the controversial installation of Tshisekedi as president, acknowledging his knowledge of a deal between Tshisekedi and Kabila. Tshisekedi denied these claims, leaving Nangaa feeling betrayed and disgruntled.
Rise to M23 Leadership
In August 2023, he launched the Congo River Alliance (CRA) known as Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a coalition comprising 17 political parties, two political groups, and armed militias, including the March 23 Movement (M23) in a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
Under his leadership, the M23 has escalated its insurgency against President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, seizing key territories in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, including the city of Goma.
Joining forces with Nangaa, M23’s identity shifted from previous ethnic Tutsi dominance to a more diverse, nationalist movement. This shift seeks to detach the group from its Rwandan backing and rebrand it as a Congolese nationalist movement.
Under Nangaa’s leadership, the M23 has declared its goal of seizing power in Kinshasa and overthrowing President Tshisekedi’s government. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the group has ignored them and continued its advance, leaving destruction in its wake.
Reports indicate that hundreds have been killed, with thousands more injured and displaced due to the increased warfare.
Death Sentence
In August 2024, a military court in Kinshasa sentenced Nangaa to death in absentia for treason, insurrection, and war crimes.
Nangaa’s leadership of the rebel group has strained diplomatic ties between the DRC and its neighboring countries, especially after the CRA was announced in Nairobi, Kenya. Tshisekedi recently skipped an EAC meeting chaired by President William Ruto, citing scheduling conflicts, though reports indicate he may have avoided the meeting due to the tense relations.
