Cardinal Ambongo Calls for Inclusive Dialogue After M23 Seizure of Uvira

Kinshasa, December 14, 2025 - The Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, has renewed calls for an inclusive national dialogue following the capture of Uvira by the AFC/M23. Speaking at the close of the 15th plenary assembly of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa (ACEC), he urged Congolese leaders to address the root causes of the conflict in eastern DRC.

Cardinal Ambongo questioned the effectiveness of the Washington Agreement signed on December 4 between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, noting that Uvira fell under occupation less than a week later. He warned against peace initiatives that exclude Congolese voices and legitimize the exploitation of the country’s resources.

Emphasizing that “peace remains possible,” he endorsed the CENCO-ECC social pact as a credible path toward lasting peace and coexistence in the DRC and the Great Lakes region.