DRC President Felix Tshisekedi launches inclusive national dialogue

President Félix‑Antoine Tshisekedi announced on 17 July that a national inclusive dialogue will be convened to address the Democratic Republic of Congo’s security, political and institutional crises. The declaration followed a two‑hour meeting with senior religious leaders, including Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, who conveyed the president’s decision.

Opposition leaders of the C64 coalition, who had scheduled a mass protest for 22 July, postponed the march to give the dialogue a chance, stating they will act again if a formal invitation is not received by 15 August. Party figures such as Augustin Kabuya dismissed a recent ICC complaint against the president as a distraction allegedly driven by external interests, and warned it would not affect the ruling UDPS.

Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya outlined conditions for the dialogue, stressing the need for a unified stance against alleged Rwandan aggression in the eastern provinces and excluding rebel groups and individuals accused of treason. Several political parties, including NOGEC, called for pre‑dialogue de‑escalation measures, the release of detained opponents and the safe return of exiles.

The dialogue’s timetable, format and location remain undecided, but officials said it aims to restore national cohesion, peace and constitutional stability amid ongoing debates over a proposed constitutional reform.