Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has held talks with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa at the Mahlamba Ndlopfu presidential residence, focusing on bilateral ties and regional stability, days after Kinshasa snubbed a Pretoria-hosted peace dialogue featuring Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Tshisekedi arrived on Thursday with a delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Guy Kabongo for Defence, Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba, per the Congolese presidency.

Ramaphosa’s office described the working visit as an opportunity to advance mutual interests amid eastern DRC's turmoil. The meeting underscores Pretoria's mediation role in the Great Lakes, despite strains from the recent Thabo Mbeki Foundation conference.

Early September's African Peace and Security Dialogue in Magaliesburg, organized by ex-President Thabo Mbeki's foundation, drew fire for including M23 representatives—designated terrorists by the AU and UN—while Kinshasa boycotted, blocking opposition figures like Jean-Claude Kibala and Jean-Marc Kabund from attending. Mbeki defended the inclusion, arguing, "You can’t discuss peace in the Congo without involving the M23, otherwise, you are joking."

DRC spokesperson Patrick Muyaya accused the event of legitimizing "criminals," while South Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola claimed ignorance of the rebels' presence. The snub highlights Kinshasa's refusal to negotiate directly with M23, whom it views as Rwandan proxies.

Tshisekedi's Pretoria trip, his first since February's Luanda Process fallout, signals efforts to rally SADC support against Rwanda. Ramaphosa, mediating via the bloc, warned Kigali in January that attacks on South African peacekeepers—13 killed near Goma—would be seen as war.

The visit precedes an AU Peace and Security Council summit on eastern DRC, with Angola's João Lourenço pushing face-to-face Tshisekedi-Kagame talks.