EXPLAINER — Will a new leader and a new name boost the rebellion in eastern Congo?

Former president Kabila named head of Rwanda-backed group Move puts a high-profile Congolese face on the insurgency Kabila's ability to marshal support in and beyond Congo unclear Rebels say they remain committed to Qatar-mediated talks By Clement Bonnerot DAKAR, Oct 16 (Reuters) — The former president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, took over leadership of rebel forces occupying eastern regions this week, in the most significant shake-up of the uprising in years. The move gives the rebels a highly prominent Congolese figurehead and could boost their efforts to present themselves as a national movement rather than a Rwandan proxy, diplomats, rebel sources and analysts said. The big questions now are whether Kabila can translate his political stature and regional connections into broader support for the rebellion, and whether his leadership will significantly alter the balance of power on the ground in the fractured country. What Does Kabila's Leadership Change? The most obvious change is the name. After Monday's announcement of Kabila's new role, the rebels — an alliance of the Alliance Fleuve Congo coalition and the M23 armed group — said they would now be know