African Union holds Kigali talks as fighting continues in eastern DRC

What the report says

The African Union held consultations in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 6 as part of efforts to support peace talks over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where fighting has continued despite ongoing diplomacy. According to the AU, the discussions focused on security commitments, refugee protection, disarmament and reintegration of fighters, and broader regional cooperation.

The AU delegation included former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. The talks in Kigali followed meetings in Goma on October 5, where the facilitators met UN and humanitarian officials, as well as representatives linked to the AFC/M23 armed coalition. The AU later urged respect for ceasefire commitments, cooperation with verification mechanisms, and protection for civilians and aid access.

In Kigali, the facilitators met Rwandan officials and regional institutions. The AU said the agenda also covered issues such as refugee and returnee protection, mineral traceability, cross-border trade, energy and infrastructure. The consultations are taking place alongside two separate diplomatic tracks: the Washington Peace Agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, and the Doha Framework involving the Congolese government and AFC/M23. The article notes that Kinshasa and Kigali continue to accuse each other of backing armed groups, underscoring the difficulty of turning negotiations into lasting security improvements.