After Meeting Denis Sassou Nguesso

Oyo, January 25, 2026 - President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) met on Saturday, January 24, with his Congolese counterpart, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in the city of Oyo, where the two leaders discussed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and good neighborly relations between their countries. The talks focused heavily on the deteriorating security situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, and efforts to achieve lasting peace. President Tshisekedi said that despite the existence of the Washington and Doha peace processes, some parties continue to fail to honor their commitments. “He is an elder statesman of the region, a Head of State who is very influential,” Tshisekedi told the press after the meeting. “It was only natural to brief him on what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the East, there is a war - an unjust and barbaric war imposed upon us. There are peace processes that have been initiated, to which the protagonists have committed, but which are not being respected by some.” The meeting comes amid persistent tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, despite the involvement of U.S. President Donald Trump and what authorities describe as renewed momentum in the Washington process, marked by the ratification of agreements by Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame. However, the situation on the ground remains fragile, with both sides exchanging accusations of non-compliance. A similar impasse is affecting the Doha talks, held under the auspices of the Emir of Qatar, between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion, which the Congolese government says is supported by Rwanda. These negotiations, intended to address the root causes of the conflict - including the restoration of state authority and the reintegration of armed groups - have yet to yield tangible results. Several agreed measures, including those outlined in the joint communiqué, the ceasefire mechanism, the declaration of principles, and the framework agreement, remain unimplemented. This diplomatic inertia has coincided with the continuation of violent clashes between the AFC/M23 and government forces. Meanwhile, calls from socio-political actors to convene a national dialogue have yet to be heeded. After announcing its withdrawal from mediation efforts in March 2025, Angola has begun a gradual and discreet return to the peace process, relaunching consultations and increasing contacts with key stakeholders. In parallel, Togo hosted a high-level meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2026, aimed at strengthening the coherence and consolidation of peace initiatives in the DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.