“Please, Have Pity on Us” – DRC Begs AFC/M23 Amid Escalating Conflict and Collapsing Peace Talks

A new conflict is growing in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the rebel coalition AFC/M23 says the Kinshasa government is no longer fit to restore peace and lead the country. According to the group, only a new government, made up of different political leaders, can bring real change after the root causes of the war are solved. 

The statement comes after a tense meeting in Doha, Qatar, where peace talks between the government and the AFC/M23 group were held. During the discussions, DRC government officials reportedly begged AFC/M23 to let them keep at least a small piece of land. One official was quoted as saying, “Please, have pity on us,” while asking for control of Lubero or even a forested area. 

The AFC/M23 says it now has the final say over who controls the eastern region of Congo. With strong military power and control over major cities like Goma and Bukavu, the group believes the current government has lost its authority and credibility. 

Tensions have grown after AFC/M23 accused the Kinshasa government of increasing attacks on civilian areas, even while the peace talks were still ongoing. The group’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, said that while international leaders were busy discussing peace principles, the Congolese army was attacking villages. 

“These offensives are happening in places where many people live,” Kanyuka said. He also pointed out attacks in the Uvira Highlands, especially in Banyamulenge villages like Rurambo, saying the government forces were joined by militias and even the Burundi Defence Force. 

Many civilians have reportedly died, and the humanitarian crisis is getting worse. The fighting has caused thousands to flee their homes in fear, creating more suffering in a region already hurt by years of violence. 

On July 17, AFC/M23 warned that Kinshasa was not serious about peace. Just two days before, they had accused government forces of killing four of their members during what should have been a ceasefire period. 

In a video message, Kanyuka said the movement would continue defending civilians and would not be intimidated by “a bloodthirsty regime” that, in his words, only cares about itself. 

Meanwhile, Benjamin Mbonimpa, the head of the AFC/M23 delegation at the peace talks, spoke about the challenges they faced in Doha. He said that every time they came to Qatar, they expected to sign a ceasefire agreement. But each time, the DRC government refused. 

Mbonimpa also said that the DRC kept blaming Rwanda for the war, even though the AFC/M23 is focused only on problems inside Congo. “We want to talk with the Congolese government. We believe peace can come through honest dialogue,” he explained. 

However, at the same time that peace talks were happening, Mbonimpa said the government was preparing for war. He claimed that foreign mercenaries, including Colombians and Americans, were in Kisangani to help launch new attacks. 

He also accused the Congolese government of giving weapons, including drones, to local militias such as Mai-Mai and Wazalendo, to retake areas controlled by M23. 

Adding to the tension, Mbonimpa said that the DRC delegation in Doha did not even have official documents showing they were sent by the government. “They didn’t bring any appointment letters or proof. We were negotiating with people who weren’t even official representatives,” he said. 

This lack of seriousness, according to AFC/M23, shows why the peace process is failing. The most important step should have been signing a ceasefire. But the government refused, even while accusing M23 of being the ones who rejected peace. 

In fact, M23 says they have already declared ceasefires five times since 2022, unilaterally, meaning without any agreement from the other side. But the DRC government, they say, has never done the same. 

In July 2025, both sides signed a Declaration of Principles in Doha, promising to reach a peace deal by August 18. While this gave some people hope, others say the timeline is unrealistic. 

Experts warn that rushing to finish peace talks in just ten days is not wise. The war in eastern Congo is not only about fighting, it’s about years of injustice, the exclusion of certain communities, and deep divisions between ethnic groups. 

The M23 group is mostly made up of Congolese people who speak Kinyarwanda. They say they have been treated unfairly, denied citizenship, and excluded from government jobs. These are not problems that can be fixed in one meeting. 

The group also says that their control of key cities like Goma and Bukavu must be recognized as part of the negotiation. Asking them to put down their weapons without real political change is dangerous, they argue. 

The situation is made even more complicated by international politics. In June 2025, the DRC and Rwanda signed a peace deal in Washington. But the Doha talks are moving separately from that deal, and many worry the two processes are not coordinated. 

The United States, which hosted the Washington agreement, is being urged to step in and make sure both peace efforts support each other. Without coordination, peace agreements could become meaningless. 

Finally, for peace to be real, AFC/M23 says it must include justice. Not just prisoner swaps or rebuilding roads, but allowing their people to return home safely, take part in politics, and enjoy equal rights. 

Without these changes, they say, any peace deal will only be temporary. It will be a pause before the next round of war. 

The people of eastern Congo deserve more than that. They deserve peace with dignity, not just silence between gunshots.