DRC east turmoil: AFC/M23 accuses peace mediators of complicity in diplomatic sabotage

The political wing of the AFC/M23 movement has sharply criticized what it describes as a dangerous escalation in Kinshasa’s rhetoric and the inaction of international mediators, following recent remarks by President Félix Tshisekedi in Houston about the eastern DRC conflict.

Mounting tensions and diplomatic paralysis

In a press conference held Thursday in Goma, the AFC/M23’s political coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, condemned the irresponsible war-mongering tone adopted by the Congolese head of state during his speech to Congolese expatriates following the World Cup match between the DRC and Portugal.

Nangaa specifically highlighted Tshisekedi’s promises of imminent military reconquest in territories controlled by the movement, calling such statements a deliberate undermining of peace efforts. The coordinator emphasized that these actions contradict repeated calls for de-escalation and violate existing diplomatic engagements.

International silence deemed complicit

The AFC/M23 leadership accused the international community and peace mediators of silent complicity in Kinshasa’s military escalation. Nangaa stated:

“In the face of this tragic situation and considering the ensuing calamities, we have a responsibility—before God, History, and our Nation—to acknowledge the deafening silence of mediators and peace partners, which borders on complicity. The international community possesses detailed information about ground realities, massive civilian casualties, and the perpetrators of these crimes.”

The movement’s spokesperson further alleged that peace initiatives in Doha and other diplomatic forums fail to translate into tangible actions, while violence continues unabated in the eastern provinces, particularly in the Minembwe Highlands.

Military buildup undermines peace process

Nangaa criticized the unrelenting military reinforcement by Kinshasa, which he described as fundamentally incompatible with genuine peace efforts. He noted:

“The continuous deployment of new forces and military buildup directly contradicts any sincere de-escalation process. Numerous commitments made within the peace framework remain unimplemented, while hundreds of prisoners of war have been released by AFC/M23 as a gesture of goodwill—with no reciprocal actions from the Kinshasa regime.”

The coordinator also condemned what he termed systematic minimization of the eastern DRC crisis, arguing that Kinshasa treats the suffering of eastern Congolese as a peripheral issue despite its proximity to the capital.

Failed peace agreements fuel impunity

The AFC/M23 statement comes amid stalled peace processes, including the Washington and Doha agreements, designed to establish a lasting ceasefire and revive dialogue between conflicting parties. However, these initiatives have yielded no concrete results on the ground, where hostilities persist between government forces and the AFC/M23 movement.

Calls for adherence to peace commitments continue to resonate at national, regional, and international levels, yet their implementation remains elusive. The widening gap between diplomatic progress and ground realities persists as each party interprets agreement provisions differently, rendering their enforcement increasingly uncertain.