Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi arrived in Pretoria on Thursday for a working visit at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, days after a peace forum in South Africa that included representatives of the M23 rebellion.
Ramaphosa welcomed Tshisekedi at the Mahlamba Ndlopfu residence for talks on bilateral ties and regional security, according to official statements posted on X. Tshisekedi was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Guy Kabongo, Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba, the Congolese presidency said.
The trip follows an early-September conference convened by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, which Kinshasa declined to attend while members of the M23 movement were present. Former President Mbeki defended their inclusion, arguing that any credible discussion on peace in eastern Congo must involve all armed actors.
Eastern Congo has endured decades of violence. The resurgence of M23 in 2021—allegedly backed by Rwanda—has intensified fighting with Congolese forces, with deadly incidents also affecting regional peacekeepers, including South Africans. In July, Congo and an M23-aligned coalition known as the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) signed a Doha “Declaration of Principles” ceasefire, but clashes have continued in North Kivu, with the group holding territory around key urban centers such as Goma and near Bukavu.