The AFC/M23 movement has sharply criticized what it describes as “irresponsible” and “warlike” rhetoric from President Félix Tshisekedi, delivered during his recent address in Houston to Congolese expatriates following the DRC-Portugal World Cup match. The head of state reiterated his commitment to reclaiming territories currently under the control of this politico-military faction in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

During a press briefing held Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Goma—capital of North Kivu province—AFC/M23’s political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, accused the international community of tacit complicity in Kinshasa’s actions. He expressed bewilderment at the apparent indifference of mediators and peace partners, despite their awareness of the escalating military operations by government forces that violate existing agreements and undermine diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

“In light of this dire situation and the resulting catastrophes, we bear a responsibility—before God, History, and the Nation—to denounce the deafening silence of mediators and peace partners, which borders on complicity. The international community possesses detailed information about the ground realities, the staggering toll of civilian victims, and those responsible for these crimes,” Nangaa declared.

The movement further condemned what it sees as an attempt to downplay the security crisis in eastern DRC, arguing that President Tshisekedi continues to undermine peace initiatives while international partners remain passive observers.

“We refuse to accept that the suffering of eastern Congolese populations is treated as a peripheral tragedy occurring over 2,000 kilometers from Kinshasa. Every human life deserves equal protection. We call attention to the numerous obstacles, deceptions, manipulations, and intrigues orchestrated by President Félix Tshisekedi and his international partners, which gravely compromise peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Nangaa emphasized.

The coordinator highlighted the contradiction between military escalation and peacebuilding, noting that while AFC/M23 has released hundreds of prisoners of war as a goodwill gesture, Kinshasa has failed to reciprocate with any meaningful concessions. He stressed that the continuous deployment of additional troops and the militarization of the region directly contradict sincere de-escalation efforts.

“The reinforcement of military deployments and the ongoing deployment of new forces on the ground are antithetical to any genuine peace process. Many commitments made under the peace framework remain unimplemented. Despite our release of several hundred prisoners of war as a confidence-building measure, reciprocal engagements from the Kinshasa regime have seen no action,” he stated.

This verbal confrontation between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebel group—backed by Rwanda—occurs amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the Washington Accords and the Doha process, aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire and relaunching dialogue among conflict stakeholders. However, these initiatives have yet to yield tangible results on the ground, where hostilities persist between rebels and government forces.

Despite repeated calls at national, regional, and international levels for all parties to honor their peace commitments, progress remains elusive. The persistent gap between diplomatic agreements and ground realities continues to widen, as each side interprets the terms of the accords according to its own agenda, further undermining their implementation.