An African Union delegation has met leaders of the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel alliance in Goma as regional mediators sought to advance a peace process aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa received the mediation delegation, which included former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Radio Okapi reported on October 5.
The visit forms part of consultations linked to two parallel diplomatic tracks - the Doha process between the Congolese government and AFC/M23, and the Washington-backed process between Kinshasa and Kigali. Rwanda has repeatedly said that the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a mainly Hutu armed group operating in eastern Congo, represents a security threat.
The AU mediators outlined the timing of mutual commitments, balancing the neutralizing of the FDLR by Congolese and allied forces with Rwanda’s troop disengagement.
AFC/M23 officials have said they will not withdraw from territory under their control. The movement has instead pledged to retain its positions while negotiations continue, making any agreement on restoring state authority and implementing a ceasefire more difficult.
At a meeting in Geneva on August 12-13, representatives of Congo and Rwanda, supported by the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union, agreed to convene a trilateral planning conference in October. According to a US State Department statement, the conference is expected to produce a revised operational framework for implementing security commitments.
However, the diplomatic activity has coincided with renewed fighting across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Pro-government Wazalendo militia groups have claimed advances against AFC/M23 positions in Masisi Territory, including around Ufamandu, while further clashes have been reported in Kalehe Territory.
The fighting has displaced civilians towards areas still controlled by AFC/M23, including Ngungu, Rubaya and Katoyi. The extent of the territorial changes remained unclear amid competing claims from the armed groups.
In the meantime, at least 29 AFC/M23 fighters surrendered to the Congolese army and allied Wazalendo forces between October 1 and 4 in Lubero, Masisi and Walikale territories. A regional military spokesman attributed the defections partly to difficult conditions and alleged forced recruitment.
