In brief
Following five days of talks in Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebel group have agreed a comprehensive peace roadmap under the US‑brokered Doha Framework. The roadmap outlines a phased timetable for negotiations, institutional mechanisms to monitor ceasefire compliance, and flexible debate over key issues such as sanctions, detainee release, and political reforms. While the agreement signals progress, both sides have so far accused each other of violating ceasefire commitments amid ongoing fighting in the Kivu regions.
By Dan Sales and Makuochi Okafor, West Africa reporter | 1 hour ago
The Democratic Republic of Congo government and the Rwanda‑backed M23 rebel group have agreed a roadmap for peace talks.
In a joint statement that followed five days of Swiss‑hosted talks, the parties pledged to pursue negotiations towards a comprehensive peace and conflict resolution, and to set up a mechanism to monitor the ceasefire.
The roadmap details a timeline for talks under the US‑brokered Doha Framework Agreement signed in 2025. That deal was intended to halt fighting in eastern DR Congo, yet hostilities have persisted for decades.
Disagreements persist over sanctions against M23, the release of detainees, and the timing of political reforms.
The latest negotiations were attended by representatives from M23, the government of DR Congo, Qatar, the United States, the Republic of Togo, the African Union Commission, and host Switzerland.
"The parties agreed to establish a mechanism tasked with reviewing progress and addressing challenges in implementation of obligations and commitments under the Doha Framework Agreement," the statement read.
Both sides agreed to "sequenced steps and timelines" while also committing to "flexibility and creativity" as mechanisms for ensuring compliance.
The new mechanism includes the establishment of a secretariat and the initiation of a verification mission scheduled for Monday in Minembwe, an area in South Kivu heavily affected by fighting.
Despite repeated ceasefire commitments, fighting continues in North and South Kivu, with the government and M23 accusing each other of violations.
The conflict in eastern DR Congo reflects tensions between the country and neighbouring Rwanda, which claims that DR Congo has failed to dismantle the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons.
In January 2025, the M23 seized parts of eastern DR Congo—including Goma and two airports—causing thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Eastern DR Congo is rich in coltan and other resources vital to the global electronics industry, adding strategic stakes to the conflict.
Rwanda has always denied supporting M23, asserting that its military presence in the region is defensive and aimed solely at countering threats posed by other armed groups.
Source: BBC NewsImage: AFP via Getty Images
