The African Union's panel of facilitators has called for strict adherence to ceasefire commitments and continued diplomatic engagement to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, following consultations in the M23-held city of Goma.

The panel said on Wednesday that lasting peace would require political dialogue and urged the parties to engage in good faith in the Doha peace process, while cooperating fully with ceasefire monitoring mechanisms.

A delegation led by Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia and deputy chairperson of the panel, held talks in Goma earlier this week with representatives of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, UN and humanitarian agencies, as well as the M23 rebel group, the AU said.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi were also part of the delegation.

"Lasting peace requires political dialogue," the panel said, calling for restraint and warning against actions that could undermine the peace process.

Qatar has mediated talks between the Congolese government and M23 since March 2025. The negotiations have produced a declaration of principles and a framework agreement, with both sides committing to build trust through dialogue, advance stabilization in stages and address the underlying causes of the conflict.

The AU panel also called for greater protection of civilians and safe, unhindered humanitarian access. It said the findings from its consultations would be shared with the AU mediator and the Congolese government, while engagement would continue to build confidence and advance negotiations.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, a politico-military coalition allied with M23, told reporters in Goma on Wednesday that mediators should "go beyond general statements."

Nangaa called for "precise, clear and verifiable commitments" backed by mechanisms to monitor their implementation. He said the Doha process would only be sustainable if it addressed the root causes of the conflict and produced concrete measures to protect civilians.

Since January 2025, the M23 rebel group has intensified offensives in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, seizing several key cities, including Goma and Bukavu.