The African Union Panel of Facilitators has urged all sides to respect ceasefire commitments, protect civilians and maintain engagement through the Doha peace process….reports Africa Daily News Desk
The African Union (AU) Panel of Facilitators has called for strict adherence to ceasefire commitments and continued diplomatic engagement to advance the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The appeal came after an AU delegation held consultations in Goma, eastern DRC, earlier this week with representatives of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, UN and humanitarian agencies, as well as the March 23 Movement (M23), according to an AU statement.
The delegation was led by Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia and deputy chairperson of the panel. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi were also part of the delegation.
The panel stressed that a lasting settlement would require political dialogue and urged all sides to continue engaging in good faith through the Doha peace process.
“Lasting peace requires political dialogue,” the panel said, while calling for full cooperation with ceasefire verification mechanisms and restraint from actions that could undermine diplomatic efforts.
Qatar has mediated negotiations between the DRC government and M23 since March 2025, hosting several rounds of talks under the Doha process. The negotiations resulted in the signing of a declaration of principles in July 2025 and a framework agreement in November.
Under the agreements, the parties committed to building trust through dialogue, pursuing stabilisation in stages and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
What did the AU say about the DR Congo peace process?
The AU facilitators stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access in conflict-affected areas.
The panel said the outcomes of its consultations would be conveyed to the AU mediator and the DRC government. It added that engagement with the relevant parties would continue with the aim of building confidence and advancing the peace process.
The consultations took place in Goma, a major urban centre that was seized by M23 during its offensive in eastern DRC.
Speaking at a press conference in Goma on Wednesday, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military coalition allied with M23, called on mediators and facilitators to move beyond broad statements.
Nangaa said mediation efforts should produce “precise, clear and verifiable commitments” supported by mechanisms to monitor their implementation.
He also argued that the Doha process would only be sustainable if it addressed the root causes of the conflict and included concrete measures to protect civilians.
How has the conflict affected eastern DR Congo?
M23 has intensified its offensives in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu since January 2025, capturing several strategic locations, including Goma and Bukavu.
The renewed fighting has intensified international efforts to find a political settlement to the conflict and address the humanitarian consequences for civilians.
The AU panel’s latest consultations come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside calls for adherence to ceasefire commitments and improved humanitarian access.
The facilitators said continued dialogue, compliance with existing commitments and cooperation with verification mechanisms would be essential to maintaining momentum towards a political solution.
