East of Democratic Republic of Congo: AFC/M23 condemns mediators’ silence, accuses Kinshasa of undermining peace efforts
Goma, June 19, 2026 – The Allied Forces of Congo/Movement 23 March (AFC/M23) has sharply criticized the international community’s inaction in the face of what it describes as deliberate attempts by Kinshasa to derail diplomatic peace initiatives in the country’s volatile eastern region.
During a press conference held in Goma, the movement’s Political Coordinator, Corneille Nangaa, accused President Félix Tshisekedi of adopting an irresponsible and bellicose rhetoric following his address to Congolese diaspora in Houston, where he vowed imminent military operations to reclaim territories under AFC/M23 control.
International silence seen as complicity
Nangaa condemned what he termed a “deafening silence” from peace process mediators and international partners, suggesting this amounted to complicity in Kinshasa’s alleged efforts to sabotage diplomatic solutions.
“In light of this tragic situation and the resulting devastation, we must acknowledge, before God, History, and our Nation, the shocking silence from mediators and partners in the peace process, which borders on complicity. The international community possesses detailed information about ground realities, massive civilian casualties, and the perpetrators of these crimes,” Nangaa stated.
He specifically highlighted the deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions in the Minembwe Highlands, asserting that the lack of decisive action by mediators and diplomatic missions only reinforces impunity and encourages further violence.
Allegations of peace process manipulation
The AFC/M23 leader accused Kinshasa of consistently undermining peace efforts through military escalation and continuous troop deployments in violation of ceasefire commitments. He pointed to the non-implementation of reciprocal agreements, despite AFC/M23’s release of hundreds of prisoners of war as a confidence-building measure.
“The reinforcement of military deployments and the continuous sending of new troops to the field are completely at odds with any sincere de-escalation process. Numerous commitments made within the peace framework remain mere words on paper,” Nangaa declared.”
Diplomatic stalemate persists
The exchange of accusations comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the Washington Agreements and Doha peace talks, aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire and reviving dialogue between conflict parties. However, these initiatives have yet to yield tangible results on the ground, where clashes between rebels and government forces continue unabated.
Calls for respect of peace agreement commitments have been echoed at national, regional, and international levels, yet the persistent gap between diplomatic progress and ground realities remains unbridged. Each party continues to interpret agreement provisions through its own lens, rendering their implementation increasingly uncertain.
Clément Muamba
