Tshisekedi Launches Three-Month National Dialogue, Excludes M23

President Félix Tshisekedi launched a three-month national dialogue on Aug 28 aimed at peace, national cohesion and state rebuilding, with consultations planned across all 26 provinces before concluding sessions in Kinshasa. He explicitly ruled out participation by armed groups and actors acting on behalf of foreign powers — excluding Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 — saying the process would focus on strengthening state institutions rather than a power-sharing settlement, and that "peace cannot mean impunity" for serious crimes. Participants are to include political parties, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, business representatives, academics, youth and women's groups, and the diaspora. The announcement comes amid rising tension over a June constitutional-referendum bill that opposition coalition C64 says is a vehicle for a Tshisekedi third term.