Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is set to host crucial peace talks in Pretoria next month, bringing together the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and representatives of the AFC/M23 movement. The summit, scheduled from September 3–6, 2025, is part of the annual Peace and Security Forum and aims to address the protracted conflict in eastern Congo.
Mbeki, who governed South Africa from 1999 to 2008, has consistently argued that military force cannot resolve the crisis in the DRC. Instead, he insists that sustainable peace can only be achieved through political dialogue, reconciliation, and adherence to past agreements that have too often been ignored.
The Pretoria summit will bring together a wide spectrum of Congolese political and social actors. Invitations have been extended to officials from President Félix Tshisekedi’s government, former President Joseph Kabila, opposition leaders Moïse Katumbi and Martin Fayulu, as well as Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the AFC/M23 coalition. Civil society organizations, church leaders, and figures such as Thomas Lubanga are also expected to attend.
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The discussions are expected to confront the root causes of a conflict that has plagued eastern Congo for decades, displacing millions and destabilizing the Great Lakes region.
For the AFC/M23, the meeting represents a platform to present its grievances and clarify its political objectives. The group maintains that its struggle is rooted in defending the rights of Congolese citizens who speak Kinyarwanda, many of whom continue to face exclusion and discrimination.
M23 leaders argue that the real obstacle to peace is not their resistance, but Kinshasa’s repeated failure to implement peace accords signed over the years. “Without genuine commitment to agreements and equal treatment of all Congolese, armed conflict will inevitably continue,” the coalition has often stressed.
Mbeki has long identified the origins of the current crisis in Mobutu Sese Seko’s decision, more than three decades ago, to strip Congolese communities of Rwandaphone descent of their citizenship. He has repeatedly called for an inclusive political process led by Congolese themselves, free from external pressure or interference.
Earlier this year, Mbeki met with Joseph Kabila in South Africa to discuss the dynamics of the eastern DRC conflict. Both men reportedly agreed that political dialogue remains the only viable path toward ending the violence that has endured for more than twenty years.
Regional analysts view the Pretoria talks as a critical opportunity to reset relations between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23. Many warn, however, that unless the issues of marginalization, broken agreements, and unaddressed grievances are resolved, peace will remain elusive in the DRC.
The summit comes at a time when the conflict has once again escalated, highlighting the urgent need for meaningful engagement between the government and rebel groups.
