United States Urges DRC to Respect Upcoming Ceasefire

KINSHASA, February 15, 2026 - Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor on African Affairs to the U.S. President, has called on the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fully respect the ceasefire agreed on February 13 and expected to take effect on February 18.

The presidency confirmed that Félix Tshisekedi accepted the truce proposed by Angola, current chair of the African Union (AU). Authorities, however, stressed that the government would not allow the rebel coalition AFC/M23 to expand positions, reinforce fighters, or receive foreign support during the ceasefire period.

Rebels Dispute Government Position

AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa accused government forces of continuing attacks on civilians and rebel positions, describing the ceasefire announcement as an attempt to mislead the international community.

The group stated it had not been invited to the negotiations that preceded the Angolan proposal but said it supports the peace process and would respect the truce framework emerging from the Doha talks in Qatar.

Washington Calls for Concrete Action

Boulos welcomed Kinshasa’s acceptance of the ceasefire but emphasized that it must translate into real actions on the ground.

He urged all parties to immediately halt hostilities, including drone strikes, warning that civilians continue to be killed despite diplomatic commitments.

Implementation on the Ground

The Angolan initiative comes as the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission prepares to implement additional arrangements linked to the Doha discussions, particularly in Uvira territory in eastern DRC.

Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to stabilize the region amid persistent fighting and humanitarian concerns, with international actors pushing for the ceasefire to become a first step toward broader negotiations.