Kagame, M23 host AU elders on eastern Congo peace

The African Union Peace Panel tasked with seeking a political settlement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo crisis has stepped up consultations with key actors, meeting AFC/M23 officials in Goma and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

On October 5, former Ethiopian president Sahle-Work Zewde, former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi met AFC/M23 political coordinator Corneille Nangaa and other senior officials in Goma.

The AU said the delegation also held consultations with the UN peacekeeping mission Monusco, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus. The discussions were intended to gather perspectives on the peace process, the security and humanitarian situation and measures needed to build confidence among the parties, according to the AU.

The panel "called for strict respect for ceasefire commitments, full cooperation with verification mechanisms and restraint from actions that could undermine the peace process."

It stressed the "urgent need to protect civilians, particularly women and girls, prevent sexual and gender-based violence, and ensure accountability for violations."

A day after the Goma consultations, the facilitators travelled to Kigali.

"Our discussions focused on the AU-led peace process and the next steps towards achieving lasting peace and stability in eastern DRC, including addressing the root causes of the conflict," the Kagame presidency said.

The AU in July adopted a six-month roadmap, which assigned the facilitators responsibilities covering political and security issues, humanitarian access, dialogue with armed groups, regional economic cooperation and engagement with civil society.

The roadmap also calls for closer coordination between the AU initiative and the Washington and Doha processes, as well as measurable implementation of commitments already made by the parties.

In August, Kinshasa and AFC/M23 agreed on a roadmap setting out sequenced steps and timelines for negotiations under the Doha framework. They also established a mechanism to review progress and address challenges in implementing their commitments.

Rwanda and the DRC have separately agreed to advance measures aimed at strengthening monitoring and verification of their commitments, alongside preparations for an October trilateral conference.

The latest AU mission comes as the different diplomatic initiatives seek greater coordination rather than operating as separate tracks.

The continental body said commitments reached through the various initiatives should translate into "tangible improvements" for communities affected by the conflict.

The latest diplomatic efforts follow years of negotiations, ceasefire agreements and mediation initiatives in eastern DRC, where fighting and displacement have persisted.

Under the latest framework, the parties have sought to establish clearer timelines, monitoring arrangements and mechanisms for addressing implementation challenges.

In a joint statement following five days of talks in Switzerland, the DRC government and AFC/M23 said they had agreed to "pursue negotiations towards comprehensive peace and conflict resolution" and establish a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire.

The talks brought together representatives of the DRC government, AFC/M23, Qatar, the United States, Togo, the African Union Commission and Switzerland.

"The parties agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement," the statement said.

The parties also agreed on "sequenced steps and timelines", while committing to what they described as "flexibility and creativity" in the negotiations.

A mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations has also been established, with its secretariat in place and an initial verification mission scheduled for Minembwe in South Kivu.

But fighting has continued in parts of North and South Kivu, with the DRC government and AFC/M23 accusing each other of violating ceasefire commitments.