African Union Delegation Meets Congo Rebels, Calls for Continued Peace Efforts

Reuters

October 7, 2026

Former Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Ethiopia's President Sahle-Work Zewde, both African Union facilitators, attend a meeting 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. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

Former Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Ethiopia's President Sahle-Work Zewde, both African Union facilitators, arrive for a meeting 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. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

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. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

Oct 7 (Reuters) - An African Union delegation that met Rwanda-backed rebels in eastern Congo has called for continued engagement in ​the peace process, as fighting continues despite ongoing ‌mediation efforts.

• The delegation, which includes three former presidents, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopia's Sahle-Work Zewde and Botswana's Mokgweetsi Masisi, met leaders of the ​AFC/M23 rebel group on Monday, the African Union ​said in a statement on Wednesday

• The rebels control ⁠large areas of North and South Kivu provinces captured ​during a lightning offensive last year

• Congo's government and AFC/M23 signed ​a declaration in Doha in July 2025, committing to a permanent ceasefire and negotiations towards a broader peace agreement

• The process has yielded ​limited progress, including the release of detainees in August and ​the recent deployment of teams responsible for observing implementation of the ceasefire

• Yet fighting ‌has ⁠continued, with recent clashes concentrated in remote parts of South Kivu's highlands and North Kivu's Masisi territory

• Parallel mediation efforts involving Congo and Rwanda have also been led by ​the United States ​and the ⁠African Union, but have so far brought little change on the ground

• The delegation called ​for respect of commitments made in Doha, adherence ​to ⁠the ceasefire and cooperation with verification mechanisms

• It also stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure safe humanitarian access

• The delegation ⁠met ​with Rwanda's foreign minister on Tuesday ​and is expected in Kinshasa for consultations with the Congolese government

Reporting by ​Stanis Bujakera; Writing by Clement Bonnerot; Editing by Andrea Ricci

© 2026 Reuters. All rights reserved.