African Union elders meet M23 rebels urging renewed peace commitments
An African Union delegation that included three former presidents met leaders of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo, urging them to honor the Doha cease-fire and keep civilians safe.
Three former heads of state - Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde and Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi - travelled to eastern Congo as part of an African Union fact-finding mission. They met with leaders of the AFC/M23 rebel group, which still controls large swaths of North and South Kivu after a rapid offensive last year. The AU team urged the rebels to fully implement the Doha cease-fire agreement signed with the Congolese government in July 2025 and to cooperate with verification teams deployed on the ground.
Despite limited gains such as the release of detainees in August, fighting persists in remote highland areas of South Kivu and Masisi territory. The delegation also emphasized the need to safeguard civilians and ensure unhindered humanitarian aid, and it will continue discussions with Rwanda’s foreign minister and Congolese officials in Kinshasa.
Why it matters
The talks affect stability in a volatile region where renewed conflict could displace millions and hinder aid delivery.
In this story
