DRC civil society calls for inclusive peace talks and restraint in constitutional debate

The Society of Civil Society of South Kivu released a detailed "cahier des charges" addressed to the Congolese government, international partners and all parties to the peace negotiations. The document, prepared in May 2026, paints a bleak picture of security, political, economic and humanitarian conditions in North and South Kivu, criticises the exclusion of civil society from recent talks in Luanda, Nairobi, Doha, Washington and Montreux, and accuses the M23 rebels – allegedly supported by Rwanda – of occupying large territories, displacing thousands of families, disrupting commerce and exploiting minerals illegally. It calls for the participation of local communities in negotiations to protect civilians and halt the "Rwandanisation" of parallel economic structures.

Separately, the Voice of the Voiceless for Human Rights (VSV) issued a statement in Kinshasa urging political actors to prioritise de‑escalation as scheduled protests over the constitutional revision debate approach. The organisation asked authorities to guarantee freedom of assembly, keep police neutral and avoid rhetoric that could incite violence, stating: "La Voix des sans voix pour les droits de l'homme demande aux organisateurs des manifestations de respecter la liberté de chaque Congolaise ou de chaque Congolais à participer ou pas à une manifestation."