The African Union Commission Chair, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, spoke with concern over rising tensions in the Great Lakes, including conflict in South Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and in Cibitoke Province in Burundi. He called on all those involved to stop using arms and seek a political solution.
“Civilians are suffering, and many of them are being harmed,” said Youssouf in a press release issued on Wednesday, 11 December 2025, from Addis Ababa. “This undermines the momentum established by the Doha Framework Agreement between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and AFC/M23, as well as that of the Washington, D.C. Agreement between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the government of Rwanda.”
The Chairperson of the African Union “expressed solidarity with the people of the Great Lakes Region affected by this conflict” and restated “that, for a lasting peace to be achieved in this Region, it has to be accompanied by respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in this Region.” He further “condemned any attempt to establish a parallel administration” in eastern DRC.
Youssouf called on states in the region to heed their commitment outlined in the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement and ICGLR Non-Aggression and Mutual Defense Pact. He restated that the AU stands ready to work with partners in the region and internationally to restart a regional security dialogue with a view of stopping the instabilities in the Great Lakes Region.
This call comes in the wake of fresh fighting, including a move by M23 in South Kivu and cross-border attacks that threaten to undermine a ceasefire agreement reached in early 2025. The involvement of the AU in this matter underscored a commitment to a region plagued by armed groups, with over 6 million internally displaced persons in eastern Congo, according to UNHCR.
