AU facilitators urge DR Congo ceasefire compliance after Goma talks
Synopsis
The African Union's top facilitators — including former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mokgweetsi Masisi — visited M23-controlled Goma and demanded strict ceasefire compliance, while a key M23 ally publicly pushed back, demanding 'precise, verifiable commitments' rather than diplomatic platitudes. The Doha peace process, more than a year old, is facing its sharpest credibility test yet.
Key Takeaways
The AU Panel of Facilitators held consultations in Goma , eastern DRC, on 8 October 2026 , calling for strict ceasefire adherence.
The delegation was led by Sahle-Work Zewde and included former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) and Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana).
Qatar -mediated Doha talks began in March 2025 ; a framework agreement was signed in November 2025 .
Corneille Nangaa of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) demanded 'precise, clear and verifiable commitments' with monitoring mechanisms.
Since January 2025 , the M23 has seized major eastern DRC cities including Goma and Bukavu in North and South Kivu.
The African Union (AU) Panel of Facilitators has called for strict adherence to ceasefire commitments and sustained diplomatic engagement following consultations held in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) — a key city now under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group. The appeal comes as the broader Doha peace process continues to navigate fragile ground.
Key Developments from the Goma Consultations
A delegation of the AU panel met earlier this week in Goma with representatives of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, UN and humanitarian agencies, as well as the M23. The delegation was led by Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia and deputy chairperson of the panel, and included former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The panel underscored that 'lasting peace requires political dialogue,' calling for continued good-faith engagement in the Doha process, full cooperation with verification mechanisms, and restraint from any actions that could derail ongoing negotiations.
Background: The Doha Peace Process
Qatar has mediated talks between the DRC government and the M23 since March 2025, hosting multiple rounds of negotiations. The process yielded a declaration of principles in July 2025, followed by a framework agreement in November 2025. Both sides pledged to build trust through dialogue, pursue stabilisation in stages, and address the root causes of the conflict. Notably, this represents one of the most structured diplomatic frameworks yet applied to the eastern DRC crisis.
M23 Ally Demands 'Precise, Verifiable Commitments'
Speaking at a press conference in Goma on Wednesday, Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) — a politico-military coalition allied with the M23 — urged mediators to move beyond 'general statements.' Nangaa called for 'precise, clear and verifiable commitments' backed by monitoring mechanisms, and stressed that the Doha process could only be sustainable if it tackled root causes and ensured concrete civilian protection measures.
Humanitarian Concern and Civilian Protection
The AU panel also highlighted the urgent need to protect civilians and guarantee safe, unhindered humanitarian access across conflict-affected areas. The panel stated that the outcomes of the Goma consultations would be conveyed to the AU mediator and the DRC government, with continued engagement planned to build confidence and advance the peace process.
Conflict Escalation Since January 2025
Since January 2025, the M23 has intensified offensives across the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, seizing several key cities including Goma and Bukavu. The group's territorial advances have complicated diplomatic efforts and worsened the humanitarian situation for millions of civilians in the region. All eyes now turn to whether the Doha framework can translate commitments on paper into verifiable calm on the ground.
Point of View
Without any public mechanism to enforce it, risks being read as acknowledgment of a new status quo on the ground. Corneille Nangaa's demand for 'precise, verifiable commitments' cuts both ways: it signals that the AFC-M23 alliance is not satisfied with the pace of the Doha process, but it also exposes the framework's central weakness — commitments signed in Qatar have not translated into verified calm in North and South Kivu. With Goma and Bukavu already fallen and humanitarian access contested, the peace process is playing catch-up to facts on the ground rather than shaping them.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the AU Panel of Facilitators call for after the Goma consultations?
The AU Panel of Facilitators called for strict respect for ceasefire commitments, continued good-faith engagement in the Doha peace process, full cooperation with verification mechanisms, and restraint from actions that could undermine negotiations. The panel also stressed urgent civilian protection and unhindered humanitarian access.
What is the Doha peace process for the DR Congo?
The Doha peace process refers to Qatar-mediated negotiations between the DRC government and the M23 rebel group that began in March 2025. The talks produced a declaration of principles in July 2025 and a framework agreement in November 2025, committing both sides to trust-building dialogue and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
Who led the AU delegation to Goma?
The delegation was led by Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia and deputy chairperson of the AU panel, and also included former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
What did Congo River Alliance leader Corneille Nangaa say?
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC) — allied with the M23 — urged mediators at a Goma press conference to go beyond general statements and deliver 'precise, clear and verifiable commitments' backed by monitoring mechanisms. He also said the Doha process must address root causes and ensure concrete civilian protection to be sustainable.
How has the conflict in eastern DRC escalated in 2025?
Since January 2025, the M23 rebel group has intensified offensives in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, seizing major cities including Goma and Bukavu. The territorial advances have deepened the humanitarian crisis and complicated the ongoing diplomatic peace efforts.
