President Félix Tshisekedi has unveiled the framework for a national dialogue, a long-standing demand from the opposition, aimed at restoring peace and rebuilding the state. This crucial initiative is set to commence across all 26 provinces before converging on Kinshasa, with a projected duration of up to three months. Stakeholders from the ruling majority, political opposition, civil society, religious institutions, and various segments of the population are all invited to participate. However, armed groups actively engaged in conflict will be excluded from these discussions. The critical questions remain: can genuine success be achieved without the involvement of those actively participating in the conflict, particularly in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo? What distinct elements will enable this latest endeavor to succeed where previous dialogues and consultations have fallen short?
