Angolan President João Lourenço, speaking in his capacity as African Union chairperson, has called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The appeal, issued Monday following a meeting with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in Luanda, was co-signed by Tshisekedi, Togolese President Fauré Gnassingbé, and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who serve as the AU’s mediator and facilitators for the DRC peace process.
The statement urged all conflict parties to “declare a ceasefire to take effect on a date and time to be agreed” and to expedite the implementation of verification mechanisms established under a previous Qatar-mediated agreement. The leaders simultaneously endorsed the U.S.-brokered peace accord signed by the DRC and Rwanda in December, tasking Angola with initiating consultations with all Congolese stakeholders.
The call underscores persistent international efforts to quell violence in the DRC’s volatile eastern provinces, a resource-rich region bordering Rwanda and Burundi. The conflict has persisted for decades, intensifying significantly last year when the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group seized key towns. Despite diplomatic initiatives—including the U.S. deal and separate Qatari mediation—attacks have continued.
A Qatari framework for a ceasefire between the Congolese government and M23 was initialed in July. The December U.S. agreement formalized a commitment to a “permanent” ceasefire overseen by a joint monitoring mechanism, with support from the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO. The UN has announced plans to deploy a mission soon to aid enforcement.
However, the diplomatic process remains fragile. Last week, an M23 drone attack on an airport in Kisangani represented a major escalation, highlighting the gap between negotiated agreements and the reality on the ground. The AU’s renewed ceasefire demand reflects growing regional frustration over the failure of prior pacts to halt hostilities, and it places immediate pressure on both the Congolese government and M23 to translate diplomatic commitments into a sustained halt in fighting. The success of any ceasefire will depend on rigorous verification and the political will of all involved, including external actors with influence over the warring parties.
