DRC: AU facilitators call for respect of ceasefire and continuation of dialogue
Xinhua 10/08/2026 08:20
The Panel of facilitators of the African Union (AU) called on Wednesday for strict adherence to ceasefire commitments and the continuation of the ongoing diplomatic process, following consultations held in Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a statement released by the AU, a delegation from the Panel held consultations on Monday in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), UN and humanitarian agencies, as well as representatives of the M23 rebellion.
The delegation was led by Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia and vice-chair of the Panel, and also included former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi.
"Lasting peace requires political dialogue," the Panel emphasized, encouraging the continuation of good-faith discussions within the framework of the Doha process. It also called for full cooperation with verification mechanisms and avoidance of any actions that could jeopardize the peace process.
Since March 2025, Qatar has been mediating between the Congolese government and the M23, hosting several rounds of negotiations as part of the Doha peace process. These discussions led to the signing of a declaration of principles in July 2025, followed by a framework agreement in November, in which both parties committed to building trust through dialogue, gradually advancing the stabilization process, and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
The Panel also stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. It indicated that the results of the consultations would be transmitted to the AU mediator and the Congolese government.
Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference in Goma, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a political-military coalition allied with the M23, called on mediators and facilitators to "go beyond general statements."
"Credible mediation must produce precise, clear, and verifiable commitments," he stated, believing that these commitments must be accompanied by mechanisms to verify their implementation.
According to him, "the Doha process, like any other peace mechanism, can only be sustainable if it addresses the root causes of the crisis and guarantees concrete measures for the protection of civilians."
Since January 2025, the M23 has intensified its offensives in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in eastern DRC, taking control of several important towns, including Goma and Bukavu.
(Web editor: Qianqian Wu, Yishuang Liu)
