DRC: President Tshisekedi Seeks New Kinshasa Peace Talks with AFC/M23

Kinshasa/Luanda - 8 January 2026: President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo has requested that new peace talks between his government and the AFC/M23 coalition take place in Kinshasa, signaling a shift from the ongoing Doha mediation led by Qatar. Tshisekedi traveled to Luanda, Angola, on 14 December 2025 and returned on 5 January 2026. On 8 January, he again met Angolan President João Gonçalves Lourenço to discuss strategies for restoring peace and security in eastern DRC. During these discussions, Tshisekedi asked Lourenço to initiate new inclusive talks involving all Congolese affected by the war. The proposed talks are expected to include: Government supporters and political opposition Armed groups, including AFC/M23 Civil society representatives Religious figures and churches The Angolan government has reportedly begun contacting several opposition figures who may participate in the new negotiations. Tshisekedi has also agreed, in principle, to the release of some AFC/M23 prisoners, with individual cases reviewed to verify the justification of previous convictions. Sources in Kinshasa confirm that the President wants the AFC/M23 to declare a ceasefire, with the DRC government taking responsibility for monitoring its implementation. Tshisekedi continues to reject Doha-based talks despite AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo stating on 31 December 2025 that the DRC government refused to send representatives to two Qatar-led meetings intended to monitor the ceasefire. The DRC government maintains that AFC/M23 fighters captured the town of Uvira in South Kivu, though the group claims to have withdrawn from the town to resume peace talks under the Doha framework. These developments indicate that Tshisekedi is pursuing a new, domestically anchored negotiation strategy, potentially sidelining previous international mediation efforts.