AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa demands president Tshisekedi’s resignation, Threatens to withdraw from peace talks
Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the armed coalition AFC/M23, has declared that President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo must resign from office, accusing him of leading the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in violation of the Constitution. Nangaa made the remarks on July 26, 2025, in response to recent developments in a peace process between the Congolese government and AFC/M23.
The comments come after both sides signed a framework in Doha, Qatar, outlining mutual commitments aimed at restoring state authority across the country. The DRC government later demanded that AFC/M23 immediately withdraw from all territories under its control, insisting that this should happen without preconditions or further negotiations.
However, Nangaa rejected the government’s stance, stating that AFC/M23 itself will be the entity to restore national authority—but only after President Tshisekedi steps down.
“Withdrawal from our zones will follow the restoration of legitimate government authority throughout the country, which AFC/M23 will undertake once Tshilombo is out of office,” said Nangaa. “If he’s truly a man, let him try to remove us. We must address the root of the problem and eradicate it completely.”
He accused President Tshisekedi of being the core problem plaguing the DRC, blaming him for systemic corruption, ethnic discrimination, embezzlement of state funds, manipulation of the judiciary, and persecution of political opponents.
“Article 4 of the Doha Declaration calls for the restoration of state authority across the country. This cannot be achieved by a corrupt, illegitimate, incapable, and unpopular government,” Nangaa stated. “It will be carried out by AFC/M23, the only trusted, structured, and ethically sound force aligned with the will of the people.”
The Doha agreement also calls for confidence-building measures from both sides, including the release of political prisoners. Nangaa used this provision to demand the immediate release of around 700 detainees, including AFC/M23 members and individuals suspected of collaborating with the group.
He warned that unless the DRC government releases these prisoners, AFC/M23 delegates will boycott the next round of peace talks scheduled in Qatar before August 8, 2025.
This latest escalation underscores the fragility of peace efforts in the eastern DRC, where years of conflict have displaced millions and left the region in a protracted humanitarian crisis.
