In a statement, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said government forces shelled civilian areas on Saturday and continued the attacks into Sunday.
“The Kinshasa authorities have deliberately chosen to sabotage the negotiation process underway in Switzerland,” the statement said. “On the night of April 11, 2026, between 22:00 and 04:00, drone strikes targeted densely populated areas of Minembwe and surrounding locations.”
Kanyuka further protested that the actions reflect a refusal by the Congolese government to honor commitments linked to the peace process, and were intended to weaken the planned negotiations.
Delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23 coalition are expected to meet for peace talks in Switzerland from April 13 to April 17, 2026.
The talks are being facilitated by Qatar, which requested Switzerland to host the discussions. They were previously held in Doha but were relocated due to regional instability linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has affected several countries in the Middle East.
Media reports indicate that while Switzerland serves as the host, the process remains under the mediation of Qatar, with Qatari representatives expected to facilitate the proceedings via video conference to maintain the “Doha Process” framework.
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