African Union mediates in DRC as ADF violence claims 1,500 victims

The African Union (AU) is intensifying mediation efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to address ongoing security crises. AU facilitators, including former heads of state Uhuru Kenyatta and Mokgweetsi Masisi, recently met with Corneille Nangaa, the national coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) group, in Goma to seek peace between the group and the Congolese government.

Simultaneously, the security situation remains dire due to other armed groups. According to Awa Dabo, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were responsible for 319 human rights violations affecting more than 1,500 victims between January and September 2026. These attacks, primarily in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, have included kidnappings and sexual violence. UN officials have also noted the expansion of ADF activities into the Haut-Uélé province.