AU Envoys Meet DR Congo Rebels to Push Peace

An African Union (AU) delegation comprising former African presidents met with Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebels in eastern Congo on Monday to urge continued commitment to peace talks despite ongoing clashes.

In a statement released by the AU on Wednesday, October 7, the diplomatic envoy—including Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde, and Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi—pressed all factions to honour ceasefire terms as heavy fighting persists across North and South Kivu provinces.

Despite the July 2025 Doha declaration committing Congo’s government and M23 forces to a permanent ceasefire, mediation efforts have delivered minimal progress on the ground.

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Recent combat has flared in North Kivu’s Masisi territory and the South Kivu highlands, threatening fragile gains such as prisoner releases and the deployment of ceasefire observation teams.

AU envoys meet DR Congo rebels to push peace (News Central TV) — Former Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, an African Union facilitator, attends a meeting with Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), as part of mediation efforts to discuss the peace process in efforts to negotiate an end to the war with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, October 5, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

The AU representatives demanded full respect for the Doha agreement, strict adherence to ceasefire protocols, and immediate cooperation with verification teams to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid.

Following discussions with Rwanda’s foreign minister on Tuesday, the delegation will travel to Kinshasa to hold consultation talks with Congolese government officials.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.