African Union delegation calls for continued peace efforts in meeting with rebel groups

Three former African presidents have made a combined plea for continued engagement in ​pursuit of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde and Botswana’s Mokgweetsi Masisi, were part of a delegation from the African Union that met with leaders of the ​AFC/M23 rebel group last week.

Fighting has continued despite ongoing ‌and repeated mediation efforts with the Rwanda-backed rebel groups. They control ⁠large areas of North and South Kivu provinces which were captured ​during a lightning offensive in 2025. Congo’s government and AFC/M23 then went on to sign ​a declaration in Doha in July 2025, committing to a permanent ceasefire and negotiations towards a broader peace agreement. Yet attacks have ⁠continued, with recent clashes concentrated in remote parts of South Kivu’s highlands and North Kivu’s Masisi territory.

Parallel mediation efforts involving Congo and Rwanda have also been led by ​the United States ​and the ⁠African Union. These processes and conversations have yielded ​limited progress, including the release of detainees in August and ​the recent deployment of teams responsible for observing implementation of the ceasefire reports Reuters, but the recent unabated attacks are cause for great concern.

In the meantime the people of South and North Kivu are also contending with attacks perpetrated by the IS affiliated ADF. According to a report released by a human rights activist in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have attacked at least 15 communities, killed close to 50 Christians [43], mostly farmers, and set fire to about 53 homes, within the period of August 27 and September 01, 2026. Ram’s Malikidogo of the Association for the Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Children and Women (APEDEF/APDEF) shared the findings following field visits to the affected communities.   

During the attacks, homes were allegedly set ablaze, property looted, and multiple residents reported missing. “Let us pray for the safety of Christian farmers in Mambasa territory who are victims of ADF extremists”, Malikidogo shared, stating that some of the victims’ bodies remained unburied because of the insecurity prevailing in the area. 

Prayer Points

  • Please pray for local church leaders who say the persistent violence is having a devastating impact on Christian communities and church ministry throughout the region. “The situation is not good, but we are still here by faith”, Reverend Mumbere Jackson of the CECA20 Church shared.  
  • Pray for the widespread displacement among church leaders and their families. Pastors have abandoned their church buildings. They have been displaced and are living in poor conditions, and their children have not been able to return to school because of lack of resources, notes Reverend Jackson.  
  • Please continue praying that the Congolese government will take the ADF threat seriously and strengthen protection for civilians in affected communities.  
  • Pray that the bodies of victims still lying in the villages may be recovered and given dignified burials.  
  • Pray for the strengthening of the faith of Christians living in these conflict-affected communities.  
  • Pray for greater unity within the Church as it responds to the ongoing insecurity and the impact of ADF violence. 

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

  • Population: 98,152,000
  • Religion: Christianity
  • Christians: 93,396,000

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