Kinshasa, April 28, 2026 – Ten days after the signing of a key agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 (AFC/M23), no prisoner releases have taken place. The agreed timeframe has now been exceeded.
The agreement, reached on April 17, 2026 as part of the Doha negotiation process, included clear commitments to the swift release of prisoners as a confidence-building measure and to facilitate humanitarian access in eastern DRC. Benjamin Mbonimpa, Permanent Secretary of the AFC/M23 and a central figure in the Doha talks, had publicly announced the impending release of 311 prisoners affiliated with the movement and 166 detainees from the government side.
To date, however, the Kinshasa authorities have taken no visible steps to implement this provision. This delay comes despite the direct involvement of major international mediators including the United States, Qatar, the African Union, and Togo.
The lack of implementation is raising serious concerns about the Congolese government’s commitment to the peace process and further eroding trust between the parties.
Reacting to the situation on X (formerly Twitter), Kennedy Nari Rwema a Congolese citizen did not mince words:
“Félix Tshisekedi does not respect any agreement and has no intention of doing so. He only understands the language of force. He will only honor his word the day he feels his power is genuinely threatened — by losing control of Katanga, the Eastern Province, and Maniema. Only then will he crawl to beg for negotiations.”
This strong statement reflects growing frustration in certain political and military circles in eastern Congo regarding the central government’s sincerity in the peace talks.
A Fragile Peace Process
The April 17 agreement was intended to create momentum toward a lasting ceasefire and the implementation of confidence-building measures. The release of prisoners was seen as one of the first concrete tests of both parties’ good faith.
The current stalemate raises fundamental questions about Kinshasa’s willingness to move forward with a genuine political resolution to the conflict that has plagued eastern DRC for years.
The international community, which has invested significant diplomatic capital in the process, is closely monitoring developments. Failure to implement even the initial commitments could undermine the entire mediation effort and risk a return to intensified violence.
Editorial Note:
The credibility of any peace process is measured by the fulfillment of its first obligations. At this stage, the government of Félix Tshisekedi is accumulating delays and casting doubt on its intentions. Without swift and tangible action, the already fragile trust between the parties may collapse entirely.
Mutwale
