African Union Urges DRC Rebels to Honor Ceasefire
An African Union delegation met with M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo to demand adherence to the Doha peace process and civilian protection.
The African Union Panel of Facilitators met with leaders of the AFC/M23 rebel group in Goma to urge strict adherence to a July 2025 ceasefire declaration signed in Doha. The delegation, led by former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde and including former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mokgweetsi Masisi, called for good-faith engagement in the Qatar-mediated peace process and the protection of civilians to ensure humanitarian access.
Despite the 2025 commitments, fighting persists in the South Kivu highlands and Masisi territory. The region has faced intensified M23 offensives since January 2025, resulting in the seizure of key cities including Goma and Bukavu. While the AU panel emphasized the necessity of political dialogue, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, criticized the facilitators for making general statements and demanded precise, verifiable commitments to address the conflict's root causes.
Following consultations with the rebels, UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, and humanitarian agencies, the delegation met with Rwanda's foreign minister. Rwanda has been accused of backing the AFC/M23 rebels. The AU delegation is now scheduled to travel to Kinshasa for consultations with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
