Paul Kagame meets AU peace panel regarding DRC security

Rwandan President Paul Kagame received a panel of African Union (AU) facilitators in Kigali to discuss the peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The panel included former presidents Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, alongside Togolese Deputy Foreign Minister Yackoley Kokou Johnson.

Prior to the meeting in Kigali, the facilitators visited Goma to engage with AFC/M23 leadership. The AU panel emphasized that a lasting peace requires political dialogue and urged all parties to follow the Doha process in good faith. They also called for full cooperation with verification mechanisms and the protection of civilians, specifically focusing on preventing sexual violence against women and girls.

The panel reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC while stressing the need for concrete improvements for local populations, including safe humanitarian access and the protection of essential services and schools.