The African Union (AU) has stepped up diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), holding consultations with AFC/M23 representatives, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi as fighting continues despite multiple peace initiatives.
The AU’s Panel of Facilitators met with AFC/M23 representatives in Goma on October 5, Kagame in Kigali on October 7, and Tshisekedi in Kinshasa on October 9. The panel aims to advance existing peace commitments and improve coordination among diplomatic efforts led by the AU, Qatar and the United States.
Led by former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, the delegation also included former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza joined the consultations in Kinshasa.
AU Calls for Ceasefire Compliance
Following the Goma meeting, the AU urged the parties to engage in good faith in the Doha process, honor ceasefire commitments, and cooperate with monitoring and verification mechanisms. It also called for restraint, civilian protection and safe, unhindered humanitarian access.
In Kigali, discussions focused on the AU-led peace process and steps toward a lasting settlement, including addressing the conflict’s underlying causes. During the Kinshasa consultations, Tshisekedi reaffirmed the DRC’s commitment to diplomacy while stressing that existing agreements must be implemented in a concrete and verifiable manner.
Peace Agreements Face Implementation Challenges
The latest mission comes after the Declaration of Principles signed by the DRC government and AFC/M23 in Doha in July 2025 and the broader Doha Framework for Peace signed in November that year. The agreements created a basis for negotiations, ceasefire arrangements, and measures to address the conflict’s underlying causes.
The United States has separately facilitated efforts to ease tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. However, diplomatic initiatives have yet to bring a sustained end to hostilities. Reuters reported on October 7 that clashes continued in parts of South Kivu and North Kivu, where AFC/M23 controls large areas captured during the group’s 2025 offensive.
The AU’s latest consultations seek to maintain dialogue with the main parties and move the peace process forward. No new agreement has been announced as a result of the October meetings, leaving mediators with the challenge of translating diplomatic commitments into compliance with the ceasefire and tangible improvements for communities affected by the conflict.
