Eastern DRC: AFC/M23 condemns mediators’ silence, accusing Kinshasa of sabotaging peace efforts
The Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23) has launched a scathing attack on international mediators and partners, accusing them of complicity in what it describes as Kinshasa’s systematic sabotage of diplomatic peace efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a strongly worded statement delivered Thursday in Goma, North Kivu, AFC/M23’s political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, condemned President Félix Tshisekedi‘s recent rhetoric as “irresponsible” and “warlike,” particularly following his remarks in Houston, USA, where he vowed imminent military reconquest of territories controlled by the movement.
“We fail to comprehend the international community’s attitude toward Félix Tshisekedi’s actions,” Nangaa declared. “This silence borders on complicity, especially when these partners possess detailed information about the ground realities, including the massive civilian casualties and documented war crimes.”
International partners accused of inaction despite documented violations
The AFC/M23 leadership highlighted what it views as a deliberate minimization of the security crisis in eastern DRC, pointing to continued military escalation by government forces despite peace agreement commitments. “The strengthening of military deployments directly contradicts any genuine de-escalation process,” Nangaa emphasized.
The movement particularly criticized the Doha peace talks mediators, diplomatic missions, and international agencies for their alleged failure to act despite being fully informed of the deteriorating situation, especially in the Minembwe Highlands.
“The international community’s inaction only reinforces the sense of impunity and encourages continued violence. We refuse to accept that the suffering of eastern Congolese populations is treated as a peripheral tragedy,” Nangaa stated.”
Broken promises and unfulfilled commitments
The AFC/M23 coordinator condemned what he described as a pattern of broken promises from Kinshasa, noting that while the movement has released hundreds of prisoners of war as a confidence-building measure, reciprocal commitments from the DRC government remain unimplemented.
“This is not just a failure of diplomacy—it’s a deliberate undermining of peace efforts through military escalation and political manipulation,” Nangaa asserted.
Calls for urgent action amid escalating violence
The AFC/M23 statement comes at a critical juncture, with diplomatic initiatives such as the Washington Accords and Doha Process failing to produce tangible results on the ground. Despite multiple ceasefire agreements and peace frameworks, hostilities between government forces and the AFC/M23 continue unabated.
“The gap between diplomatic agreements and ground realities widens daily,” Nangaa warned. “Each party interprets peace accords according to its own agenda, rendering their implementation increasingly uncertain.”
The escalating tensions underscore the urgent need for international actors to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to enforce existing peace agreements and protect civilian populations caught in the crossfire.